By Joanna Smith
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April 2, 2025
We’ve all seen this on a video. Some guy comes out of the grocery store and notices a big dent in the side of his car. He drives to the gas station, blows pressurized air into his tailpipe – and BOOM! – the dent magically disappears. If only it were that easy! At Pro Auto Spa, we often have customers come in, point at a dent, and say, “Can’t you just pop it out?” Well, we hate to be the bearers of bad news, but dents don’t work like those expandable sponge dinosaurs you put in water. There’s a real science behind Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), and today, we’re going to break it down. Why Dents Don’t Just “Pop” Back Out Your car’s body isn’t made of rubber – it’s made of steel or aluminum, and metal doesn’t just snap back into place. When a dent happens, the metal stretches, bends, and sometimes even warps. That means fixing it takes more than just pushing from behind – it requires precision, patience, the proper tools, and the right techniques. Common Myths About Dents Can’t you just use a plunger or suction cup? We appreciate the DIY spirit, but unless you want your car looking like it lost a battle to a toilet, we don’t recommend it. Plungers can actually make dents worse by pulling unevenly or damaging the paint. If I park in the sun, the heat will make the dent pop out. Nice try, but unless you’re driving a car made of memory foam, that dent isn’t going anywhere. Heat can help make metal more pliable, but it won’t reverse the damage on its own. If I push the dent from the inside, it’ll go back to normal. While enthusiasm is great, this is more likely to create a lumpy mess than a smooth repair. Believe us, we’ve seen it more than we’d like to recall throughout the years. Besides, cars have reinforcement beams, sound-deadening materials, laminated glass, and many other obstacles, making this a bad idea. Don’t be a DIYer when it comes to PDR. The Right Way to Fix a Dent: Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) At Pro Auto Spa, we use Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) to restore dents to their original contour without repainting or body fillers. This process is superior than traditional body work and requires: Specialized Tools – We use precision tools and other equipment to gently massage and move the metal back into place. A Trained Eye – Every dent is different requiring a skilled technician to analyze the depth, size, and accessibility to determine the best approach. Patience and Skill – PDR isn’t about brute force. It is a very delicate process that requires years of experience. Why Choose PDR? Maintains your original paint. No need for fillers or repainting. Faster repair than traditional body work. No diminished value to your vehicle. Moral of the Story: Bring It to the Pros If your car has a dent just bring it to us or your trusted PDR shop. We’ll assess the damage and let you know if PDR is the right solution. Whether it’s a rogue shopping cart, a high-flying baseball, an aggressive parking lot ding, or a deer running into the side of your car, we’ve got you covered. Got a dent that needs fixing? Give us a call or stop by Pro Auto Spa – we promise we won’t use a plunger.