Best paint for suspension parts - epoxy or ?

[lunarkingdom]

Looking for the best paint I can use when rebuilding my suspension and front/rear subframes and parts. Black specifically. What do you guys use? I was going to have them powder coated but will be doing some custom stuff that might make that hard to do and also painting would be cheaper. I will be sandblasting everything. What lasts the best and keeps the parts rust free?

Thanks! Looking forward to hearing your ideas and learn from your experience.

Edited October 5, 2023 by lunarkingdom

[OldRoller]

Hard to beat POR-15 for coating rust protection. I have also had good luck with Rustoleum spray paints. Key is always prep, prime and 3 or 4 building coats.

[TobyB]

I have had poor luck with POR- it's brittle, and chips very easily.

 

It is also misnamed- if you paint it over rust, it will encourage more rust.

 

Me, I like an etch primer, epoxy over that, and then something pretty bouncy.

Like, I dunno, truck bed liner or something like that.

 

No, I lie- I don't bother painting undercarriages any more.  Maybe some rustoleum

if it's bare metal.

 

t

 

[tech71]

Do you spray equipment? Compressor?

I have all that and yet these days I use this VHT rattle can product.

Comes in gloss or matte finish, covers well, doesn’t clog like crappy rustoleum.

Affordable, durable, needs no primer.

Works great if you follow the directions!

Edited October 7, 2023 by tech71

[Son of Marty]

I like the Hammerite smooth finish, build up 2 or 3 coats and it'll look like powder coating but resists chips and can be touched up easily. Hammerite is now owned by Rustolem so the spray cans are found mostly on line and not in stores.

[Mikesmalaga72]

Used Imron over etch on some Tii struts. looks great.

[BarneyT]

This two-part  paint from Eastwood is the best i have used for block and sub frame..

Edited October 5, 2023 by BarneyT

[dlmrun2002]

Pickelx 20 is a rust convertor.  Not known by many but this is the best rust convertor I've found. Then use some "Zero Rust"on top. I found the Zero Rust better then Por15, not as brittle and sticks better. Quality epoxy paint (PPG-Glasurit-Axalta) would also work well as a protecting coat.

HTH

dlm ny country

[BarrettN]

5 hours ago, Mikesmalaga72 said:

Used Imron over etch on some Tii struts. looks great.

Imron is amazing stuff.

 

Sorry to go a bit off topic - but as a kid my family's body shop got the contract to paint the city fire trucks - with high visibility yellow green Imron paint. There was some paint left over, and being incredible paint, my Dad decided that our 62 International Scout should be painted with it. I can't hear mention of Imron paint without remembering this - police would wave me through at traffic accidents, because obviously who else but someone with the fire department would have that color?I never understood how they could see a 17 year old kid and think, "He must be with the Fire Department? Sure a 6' 128 lb 17 year old kid, that's a fireman!" 🤣  @Mike Self Did you ever see that little Scout running around Beavercreek?

[bergie33]

This is what I have been using, Spray Max 2k Hot Rod Satin Black.  I don't like their primers, but the paint is really nice.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2023 by bergie33

[OldRoller]

Love this forum. One query gets a kaleidoscope of experiences with evidence! 

Tip o'da Hat!

[jgerock]

My tii had almost everything covered in POR by a previous owner - it’s peeling off.

 

For my 69, I had pretty much every suspension component and some engine items powder coated 50% gloss black by a local company.  If you can afford to do it, this is what I’d do again for another project car.

[markmac]

IMO, the only bad thing about powder coat on suspension parts is that it is super hard and therefore chips.  Unfortunately powder coat doesn't 'touch up' (at least last time I checked), that means a total re-do.  Any of the epoxy paints are good I think, I ended up using the VHT satin black.  Not too glossy, not too flat.

[slowbert]

1 hour ago, markmac said:

Unfortunately powder coat doesn't 'touch up' (at least last time I checked), that means a total re-do.

 

Maybe I was gullible, but I bought a rattle can of touch up paint from my powder coat guy when I did my suspension.  I have not had to touch up anything so far, so I don't know if it works well or not.

[scanner]

Lechler ( or any) 2 part epoxy primer worked for me, dried to a satin black and has held up well, it’s supposed to degrade with exposure to UV but it’s under the car so not a problem