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Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 09:08
by KarlT
Hi All.
Spent yesterday stripping down my front suspnsion. Mostly all off now (apart for the lower arms, can't get my breaker bar on the inner nut!!

) anyhow, I'd like it all to look like I've done something & help make them last alittle longer.......
Springs, bottom half still have good powdercoating (?) but top half have surface rust. Same with anti-roll bar.
Up-rights & arms are muddy & surface rust.
What do you guys recommend? Powder coating is expensive, Hammerite? Any else?
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 10:27
by bigherb
I always use chassis black (available in other colours). Tough polyurethane paint with rust inhibitors and no primer necessary as it name suggest it's made for chassis and suspension components.
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 15:20
by KarlT
Cheers, Sounds good. Would that be available in a Halfwits, sorry Halfords? Is Chassis Black the trading name?
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 17:04
by bigherb
chassis black is a type of paint haven't seen it in Halfords. I get mine from a car paint factors like Brown brothers or Jawel.
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 25 Jul 2010, 23:47
by T-3PO
I wanted Chassis Black, couldn't find it in anywhere locally to me in small enough quantities ... 5 litres no problem, 500ml no chance! You can buy it from Ebay if you're really desperate!
In the end I settled for Hammerite Smoothrite, i believe it does have a rust inhibitor, looks nice and shiney to start off with but soon dulls down. I painted up some suspension parts, the ARB, front brake calipers and rear drums 18 months ago and they all still look ok now, just dirty, as you'd expect after a couple of 1000 miles.
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 00:11
by jed the spread
KarlT wrote:Hi All.
Spent yesterday stripping down my front suspnsion. Mostly all off now (apart for the lower arms, can't get my breaker bar on the inner nut!!

) anyhow, I'd like it all to look like I've done something & help make them last alittle longer.......
Springs, bottom half still have good powdercoating (?) but top half have surface rust. Same with anti-roll bar.
Up-rights & arms are muddy & surface rust.
What do you guys recommend? Powder coating is expensive, Hammerite? Any else?
What did VW put on it 25 years ago for it to look a bit tatty now? I would go for the same.
jed
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 06:05
by eatcustard
http://www.frost.co.uk/item_detail.asp?productID=9070" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
but out of stock
http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8202" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
not cheap
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RX4070B" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 09:24
by Ian Hulley
KarlT wrote: What do you guys recommend?
Black waxoyl.
Ian
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 11:58
by HarryMann
Clean, de-rust (manual scraper/wire-brush usually enough), degrease powerfully/thoroughly, dry...
Dintrol RC900 - optional second coat where missed (you'll see after an hour or so)
Warmish, humidity < 50% ? then
Eastwoods Chassis Black spray
(optional 2nd coat) Follow instructions...
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Ge ... l_Rust-off
IMHO - Fairly cheap, fairly chearful, can be done DIY, if scratched badly, should still retain a degree of protection, can be touched up easily
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 17:32
by KarlT
Will any of these products be good for the springs or will they all crack & flak off?
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 17:46
by HarryMann
Well, the RC900 finish itself won't (crack)... and in it's own way, if applied to a fairly consistent surface (dry smooth matt rust

) - can give quite a pleasant 'engineering phosphate-style' look & feel - IMO
On bright shiny metal, quite different, glossy purpley, again, maybe to someone's taste
Will try to dig an example image or two out
== I should think most quality finishes will stand up reasonably well to some flexure, certainly Eastwoods make that claim for their Chassis Black (Classic/Original) - in fact the latest Frost ads do go into a bit of detail about two toughness standards for EW Chassis Black, one now being more expensive than t'other.. so presumably they have been 'trying hard' to engineer better and better chassis type paints recently

Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 19:36
by steveo3002
please dont use hammerite , theres better stuff available with a little effort finding it
i done some of my golf bits with rustoleum combi paint
£13 ish for a litre, all sorts of colours avail , spray or brush on
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 21:37
by HarryMann
What sort of prep? They look great.. !
..so that post is now in the 8090 T25 Wikipedia, here:
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Ge ... leum_Combi
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 23:00
by Simon Baxter
POR51 gives good results.
Re: Best paint/covering for suspension bits?
Posted: 26 Jul 2010, 23:38
by HarryMann
Thanks Simon..
Presume that's POR15 painted on the back of the panel
