Special paint for suspension??

[9000rpm]

I'm sure I read on here somewhere where some people use a flexible? black paint for painting their suspension/diff??

Can anyone help?

Matt

[shelldrake]

...powdercoating.

[Bahnugget]

yep powdercoatings the way to go for sure.

[9000rpm]

It wasnt powdercoating but I reckon ill go that way.

I want to get my hubs and lower arms gold zinc plated but transport doesnt allow it, because it can hide cracks apparently according to the rule book...but powdercoating wouldnt be any different either..

[restorolla]

I think the "flexible black paint" used for chassis/undercoating that you are thinking of is probably Por-15.

[Rodger]

I have and still do all my suspension components; diff, suspension arms, struts and even springs and shocks with two pack Acran (I think also known as 3K system).

Have yet to see any cracking on my rear springs.

Very tough durable paint system. In fact the whole car is done with this paint.

Regards

Rodger

[Ben Wilson]

The whole underside of my ute is coated with some sort of black rubberised paint, I think it's some sort of anti-chip coating. It seems to be holding up great (it's 20 years old and still looks new underneath - I don't know if the coating is factory though).

[oldcorollas]

It wasnt powdercoating but I reckon ill go that way.

I want to get my hubs and lower arms gold zinc plated but transport doesnt allow it, because it can hide cracks apparently according to the rule book...but powdercoating wouldnt be any different either..

zinc chromate?

it's more for the surface pitting (crack starter) or hydrogen embrittlement, that you can't chrome plate (or otherwise electroplate) onto suspension components.

[restorolla]

I coated my suspension components as well as the engine bay, underbody & interior surfaces (floor pan, inside of the roof, under dash,etc.) with Por-15 about 4 years ago & all of it still looks like new.
Now I'm looking for a nice,durable 2-pack to refinish the exterior surfaces.

[BigWorm]

All the suspension components I've bought (from either Whiteline or K-Mac) have been powder coated, and the coating seems to crack & chip off if you just look at it! Particularily the K-Mac orange powder coating, but also the light blue coating on the Whiteline springs, has cracked over time from constant flexing and also on installation if the component happens to bump anything.
Dunno how good a proffesional power coating job would go, I would expect it to be a little sturdier.

[lumpy]

2 pack (also known as 2k) polyurethanes are probably at the top of the heap when it comes to the combination of flexibility and durability.Por 15 is a mositure curing polyurethane which gives similar performance. I suspect Ben Wilson's underbody coating is tar based which is why it feels rubbery but also why it's chip resistant. Most coatings can be modified to improve flexibility however enamels will always but pretty inflexible due to their chemical composition and drying mechanisms. Epoxies can be fairly brittle as well but depends on their formulation. Powder coatings can be flexible or hard wearing but usally not both. I'd say the poor performance of the brand name spring/suspension coatings is more to do with film build/cost than the inherent nature of the technology. Adding extra plasticiser is one way to improve flexibility of poweder coatings but some at the detriment of exterior durability.

Why would you want to get you control arms etc gold zinc plated? For increased corrosion resistance or bling?

[4agte]

we spray all ours in matt/flat black as it helps show any cracks alot easier and dosent show up dirt that easily but having said that we have formula cars not street cars

[fade-e]

im currently getting all my suspension parts powder coated... and everyone i know does it too... now im not sure on the durability and cracking of powder coating but then again i dont care cause the car wont be driven everyday let alone every week

cheers

[MWP]

I think the "flexible black paint" used for chassis/undercoating that you are thinking of is probably Por-15.

Yeah, i used POR15 black on my suspension parts.
Comes up well if you like super glossy parts, and of course is very strong too.