What type of damage occurs when measurements from the center line are no longer equal?

• A. Dents
• B. Sway
• C. Warp
• D. Twist

Answer: (B)

Centerline symmetry is used to assess structural alignment. When measurements taken from the centerline on opposite sides no longer match, the structure has shifted laterally. This condition is called sway. It means the frame or unibody has moved relative to the reference, causing misalignment of panels and floor rails and indicating a structural displacement that may require straightening. Dents are localized surface deformations and don’t necessarily imply a centerline shift. Warp is curvature across a panel, bending the surface, and twist is torsional deformation along the vehicle’s length; both involve shape changes rather than a simple unequal centerline measurement, which is what indicates sway.