What does the term unibody mean?

Does the frame on our cars include just the bottom stuff or does it include 3 dimensional metal that goes up vertically(I dont know if i said this right but, do our cars have framing all the way up and through the roof or just on the bottom)?

I just want to know for sure.

I drove my car into a ditch during a rainstorm a few months ago and one collision shop said my frame was bent. I changed my lca that was bent for sure, and had a little bit of trouble getting it aligned but it all came through and the mechanics said there was nothing to worry about when i asked them about it.

I've also heard since our cars are unibodys, they bend easily just from the power of the car and there is no way to get the exactly as they left the factory. Car drives great but i was wondering if i should do anything about it or can i just not worry at all? My collision shop estimate said k-member bent and when i talked to the guy he said frame. Im guessing thats the thing the motor sits on and it appears to be alright.

 

well most unibodys consist of a cradle or frame in the front of the vehicle, that is usally what the motor sits in and the suspention bolts on to. it also has a frame or rear cradle as well, with a unibody vehicle there isn`t actually a frame under the car as like a full frame vehicle whitch has a steel frame from the front of the car to the rear, our cars have a front frame and a rear frame making the center section very weak and prone to bend if twisted the right way.

now for racing purposes you can install sub frame connectors that connect the front and rear frames together but im not sure how that would hold up in a collision.

 

Thanks for clearing that up, that helped me a ton. I think i got a minimal bendage in my front cradle and it doesnt cause any trouble so its alright.