The structure of an automobile body is just the same as that of a house. It has similar components, including the roof, pillars, and floor. The car pillar in the vehicle stands in the near-vertical position, which supports the vehicle’s roof. However, the A-pillar and the D pillar stand inclined in some vehicles for aerodynamic reasons.
Furthermore, the manufacturers identify the car pillars from the side while moving from front to rear of the vehicle. They name the car pillars the A-pillar, B, C, and D pillars. The vehicle designers sometimes refer to the car pillars as ‘posts.’
Why call them the A/B/C/D Pillar?
The naming system adopted for the pillars may have possibly been originated from their shapes as seen from sides. The A-pillar resembles the shape of the alphabet “A.”
The other pillars resemble “B,” “C,” and “D” letters, respectively. Is it a mere co-incidence or designer’s creativity? For example, if the vehicle has a stretched body structure with additional doors, such as a limousine, it gets more than one B pillars. In these cases, manufacturers name them B1, B2, B3 & so on while moving from front to rear. For example, rescue teams communicate the names of pillars (A/B/C/D) while cutting the pillars with cutters. Hence, the naming of pillars is important while rescuing the passengers trapped in accident-damaged vehicles.
Manufacturers provide the A-pillars on both sides of the vehicle. Manufacturers use strong steel alloys to make the A-pillar. Thus, it is to make it withstand a crash and meet safety standards. However, the vehicle’s roof and doors are the most expensive parts to carry out repairs. In addition, the blind spot occurs due to the blocking of the driver’s vision by the A-pillar. So, some makers make the A-pillar slimmer and chamfered to decrease the blind spots. And, thus it improves the driver’s vision.
B Pillar:
Furthermore, B Pillar is the most complex component/structure of the vehicle body. It is because the front door closes on the B pillar while the rear door hinges on it. Manufacturers make the B pillar or the center pillar of steel in vehicles. Manufacturers weld it to the roof panel on top and the vehicle’s floor pan at the bottom. This pillar provides structural support to the vehicle’s roof.
Manufacturers skipped the B pillar while naming other pillars. Hence, some vehicles do not have a B Pillar. The carmakers call those cars ‘Hardtops.’ Instead, the vehicle specification shows the rearmost pillar as the C pillar. The manufacturers offer the Hardtops in nearly all four-door body styles. These include sedans, coupes, and wagons/MPVs. The cars without B pillars increase passengers’ visibility. However, they have limited structural support and strength. General Motors later started providing B pillars in Hardtops. Thus, it created a new vehicle body type and thereby broadening the definition of Hardtops.
However, the C pillar is the rearmost pillar in sedans and hatchbacks.
C Pillar of a Hardtop
D Pillar:
Technically, the D pillar is the rearmost pillar of the vehicle’s body. However, manufacturers provide the D pillar mainly for the Station Wagons or Multi-Purpose Vehicles.
Repairing the Car Pillars:
Like the house, the vehicle pillars carry the roof’s weight and support the vehicle’s body structure. The pillars provide structural strength to the vehicle’s body. So, repairing the vehicle’s body is a very critical process. Any unauthorized modifications to the pillars could jeopardize the vehicle body’s structural strength and, thereby, the safety of the passengers. Hence, one needs to take care while repairing any part of the car pillar.
Manufacturers provide specifications to maintain the critical dimensions and detailed procedures while carrying out any repairs on the vehicle body, especially the pillars. Therefore, only trained and skilled mechanics could precisely carry out the car pillar’s modifications.
However, some manufacturers do not recommend repairing the car roof in severe damage due to an accident. In such situations, they recommend replacing the complete body shell if it is beyond repair. In such cases, carrying out repairs of the roof may reduce its structural strength to a large extent. Thus, it may make the vehicle unsafe and underperform.
To carry out the vehicle body’s structural repairs, you need specialized equipment such as the repair bench, five-dimensional fixture sets, a pulling arm, and a three-dimensional electronic laser measuring system. These are necessary to maintain the vehicle body’s critical dimensions and structural strength.
Watch vehicle body Car Pillar repairing in action here:
Please click here for more information on the correct vehicle body repairing practices.
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In the case of cars, “pillars” refer to roof pillars, and they're lettered front to back. A-Pillars straddle the windshield, B-Pillars are in the middle of the passenger compartment (just behind the front doors) and C-Pillars are those at the rear of the passenger compartment.
The rear most roof support structure on an SUV, minivan or wagon. It corresponds with the C pillar behind the rear doors, the B pillar between the front and rear doors and the A pillar on either side of the windshield.
Manufacturers make the B pillar or the center pillar of steel in vehicles. Manufacturers weld it to the roof panel on top and the vehicle's floor pan at the bottom. This pillar provides structural support to the vehicle's roof. Manufacturers skipped the B pillar while naming other pillars.
An A-post is part of the bodywork of a vehicle that supports the roof at the front corner of the passenger compartment next to the windshield. The A-post at the front of the door frame was damaged.
What is the body of a car? The vehicle body could be the main supporting structure or its particular element. The Vehicle Body of a modern car consists of an engine section, saloon, trunk. The vehicle body is the main supporting structure of a vehicle, to which all other components are attached.
(B pillar damage would almost certainly write it off - thats a significant structural area (for side impact protection), and would take specialist repair).
Most vehicles have three or four pillars, labeled A, B, C, or D-pillar. Previously, people could identify coupes by their lack of a B-Pillar, serving as a clear divider between the front seats and rear seats.
Blind spots may occur in the front of the driver when the A-pillar (also called the windshield pillar), side-view mirror, or interior rear-view mirror block a driver's view of the road. Behind the driver, cargo, headrests, and additional pillars may reduce visibility.
AS-1 lines are parallel to the top of your car's windshield, or a line five inches underneath and parallel to the top of your windshield. This refers to the area above the rear-view mirror, also known as the visor strip for most automobiles.
The term ABC-pillar identifies the six pillars or columns that support the roof of a sedan. There are different types of cars where there are also D- and E-pillars, depending on the length of the vehicle. The A pillar, between the front window and the first side window, often incorporates a side airbag.
A quarter panel (British English: rear wing) is the body panel (exterior surface) of an automobile between a rear door (or only door on each side for two-door models) and the trunk (boot) and typically wraps around the wheel well.
The B platform or B-body was the name of Chrysler's midsize rear-wheel drive passenger car platform from 1962 through 1979, and the name of a later, unrelated front-wheel drive platform used by the Eagle Premier / Dodge Monaco from 1988 through 1992.
Most cars intended for mass production and consumer use have bodies made from either steel or aluminum. Both are strong metals, but steel is cheaper than aluminum. Aluminum, however, is lighter and does not rust, and so is used for more expensive luxury and performance models than steel.
If the crash results in a broken axle, dented or tweaked pillar (the parts that “hold up” the roof, including the front windshield frame, the part between your front and rear doors, and the rear roofline), or extensive damage to the drivetrain or under-hood components, you could be looking at a total loss.
For repairs this is the simplest type of construction to repair, section or replace. Often upper A-pillars may be three or more pieces to increase strength and at the same time complicate the repairs needed.
If the owner wishes to keep the vehicle - whether because it is only a Category N write-off and it can still be driven, or because they are able to repair the damage for less than the cost of a replacement - they can refuse the offer and keep the car.
Can Cars Be Designed without a B-Pillar? Yes, there are plenty of cars that do not have a B-pillar. Three of the most popular among the newer models are Mazda MX30, 2021 Renault Kangoo, and the Mercedes Benz E-Class coupe. Pillarless cars are safe and have been around for decades.
Thus a two-door hardtop or a three box designed coupé could have its rearmost pillar called the C-pillar even in the absence of a B-pillar. Conversely additional doors, such as on limousines, will create additional B-pillars; the B-pillars are then numbered, B1, B2, and so forth.
To identify them, one needs to look at the car from one of its sides. The sloping pillar between which the windshield glass is fixed is the A Pillar. The second pillar from the front is the B Pillar, onto which the front doors click shut. The rear doors are hinged to the B Pillar as well.
Of course, if a car lands on its roof and crushes down, then there's nothing that can repair that unless the body is in good shape. If the body is in good shape and the roof is crushed, then the same types of decompression straighteners can often reconstruct the roof quite easily.
As engineers have designed cars to better protect occupants, the A-pillars have grown wider, and as they have designed cars to be more aerodynamic, windshields have become more sloped. On the plus side, drivers get a car that has improved crash protection, room for an airbag in the A-pillar, and improved gas mileage.
If your car is in the center of the lane, your head will be in the left half of the lane. If your head is in the center of the lane, you're too far to the right. If your head is on the center line, you're obviously too far to the left.
Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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C Pillar of a Hardtop
