Picked up this 2001 xlt for a good price,runs good but the bumper had taken a hit and was shifted over towards passenger side,after dropping the bump I was surprised to see that the frame ends had been bent,funny as the bumper did not even have a dent in it.The truck shakes pretty bad at over 50mph and the passenger side front frame rail has a small crease from being bent,the sway bar is making noise because the pillow bushings are out of line now,it appears to be a horizontal bend it did not get bent upwards or downwards,I'm thinking heat and and big hammer or chains/come along don't know as I've never had to bend a car/truck frame back into shape,I'm guessing I'd have to remove the sway bar and do both at the same time?kinda re enacting the hit in reverse?,what does everyone think??? any guesstimations what a shop might charge?

 

The vibration at speed is concerning , could have a bit of crabbing going on.

And trying to re-straighten could make things worse.

If you have a flat level area, or go to a parking lot, lol, you can use a plum bob and tape to mark spots on the ground from various spots on the frame, then move truck and measure distances.

Bit of a "how-to" here: https://www.vintagepowerwagons.com/p...ts/15frame.pdf

Bumper could be new and frame already tweaked back via come along enough to sell it but not actually repaired.
Look around for other signs of possible repaired damage.

Frame straightening cost is based on time it takes, and that is based on how many directions frame has to be pulled and what disassembly is needed to do it.
It isn't "cheap" but really depends on value of vehicle, which may be why you got a good deal on this one.

4-wheel alignment is not too expensive, and that might tell you if frame is bent too much.

 

thanks for the info ron,It certainly needs the wheels aligned,I guess I'll do that and see how bad the vibration is then,I'm not looking for perfection,this is just going to be be a dump/errand runner,if it drives ok after an alignment I'll probably bend up some brackets to get the bumper to mount somewhat in line unless I can find someone to tweak the rails for $200 or so,the truck was bought from a company that was getting rid of some of the fleet,it was really cheap but my cap on it is $300 as far as getting work done.So if after an all wheel alignment if it drives ok-ish you think it's ok to bend back with a come along???

 

Sure, if can be aligned.

Find a couple of trees and chain frame to one then come along to the other.
Don't use vehicles weight as the resistance or you can bend something else.

And always put a mat or something over chain and cable, if one "lets go" it can ruin your whole day.

 

I have a bent frame piece under my bumper. The frame is bent where the bumper bracket connects and idk how to straighten it please help. It is only bent on the driver side at around a 35° angle first picture is for referance.

 

Quit the necro-bump, but looks like you need to cut off that bumper mount and weld on a new one. I cut mine off and welded on a pair from a 4WD ranger so I could install tow hooks, maybe a good excuse to do that?

 

Sounds good what is that part called im not sure i cant find a name for it

 

Bumper Bracket,

Truck Parts and Truck Accessories <- link

illustration # 16

 

Front frame crossmember. You might be able to find a junkyard that will just cut the frame behind that crossmember and then you can cut off what you don't need at home.

 

Brute force and fire got it

 

I did that on a friend's truck. The oil based liner they used on these trucks kept melting and dripping all over the place. lol.

 

Mines the same way what type of brute force?