So i am in the process of collecting a complete rear suspension to rebuild. i hate how the alum parts get all nasty. so im thinking of powder coating them (hub housings, arms, cross member. anyone have any experience with that? pros or cons?

 

There's a product I saw called SharkHide that's supposed to protect raw metal. Wipes on with a rag and supposedly last a year or so. Saw it on Dream Car Garage... I think. Looked promising, and you gotta like the name.

 

http://www.sharkhide.com/sharkhide_metal_protectant.htm

 

Powder painting hides cracks in suspension bits. Generally a no-no in competition circle. Cleaning with a chemical wheel cleaner for unpolished/unanodized wheels will get alumium control arms bright. They need to be clean of grease, dirt, undercoating and cosmoline before using the harsh wheel cleaner. And they need to be off the car, washed and rinsed thoroughly after the cleaning. Store the parts in heavy plastic bags only after they are completely dried. You can spray the parts with marine preservative coating that you can buy at marine supply stores. It will slow the oxidation process while they are stored.

HTH!

 

thats not a bad idea. i never thought of wheel cleaner..... and its cheaper! :-)

 

If you just keep it washed and clean, youll really have something to be proud of when people take a look under there. Get it all stripped and clean with; engine degreaser, mineral spirits, brake clean, scrub it with scotch brite pads, parts cleaning brushes etc, then keep it washed with simple green or fantastic or car wash every month or two.

 

getting the parts clean will be fun for sure... lots of grim and gunk on the parts i snagged.

 

Very true. When I was cleaning my engine I started cleaning the A Arms. Now they are clean and I try to keep them that way. The really look good

 

When all my aluminum castings were blasted clean, I gave everything 2 coats of clearcoat. My theory is the smoother surface of clearcoat will help dirt to not stick? Just a theory....
I looked for the wheel cleaner for cast aluminum, but couldn't find it around here.

 

There is an acid for pre paint cleaning of aluminium, I cant think of the part # but it is a PPG product. It will get into the aluminium , but should only be used when a complete part is stripped and no rubber parts will be contaminated

 

here is a question. how do you think the lower rear arms would look yellow-zinc plated...? to much BLING?

 

Yup..

You could go with clear-cad tho.

 

hummm. thats not a bad idea. i have a box and two large coffee tins full of parts to go to the platers. ill have to check on the clear plating..... that might work better then paint...

 

Ya... Iknow what clear cad looks like...

My LAST batch of stuff for the intake job was mistakenly done in clear, and I couldnt get it on Friday...gotta wait till Tuesday now.

Grr.

 

i had that happen before as well. drove me nuts waiting...