Authentic Suspension Finish?

[bobmagyar]

My main suspension members are ready to be refinished and I need to decide which way to go.
The options seem to be:

1: POR15 (Good function but not original looking?)
2: Powder Coating (Too thick a coating and traps moister under chips)
3: Rattle Can (Not hard enough to be durable?)
4: Have body shop paint them black. (Expensive and what paint to use?)

I am going for the most original finish possible. I don't expect to be entering the car at Pebble Beach but want the parts to look as factory new as possible.

If anyone has had good success with a finish process I would appreciate hearing what it was.

Thanks.

[70SATMan]

I'm going to be doing the same thing on my 70. Having them painted is the best thing for them. Good paint will flex with components and be more resistant to chipping . Powdercoating will crack. I haven't looked into the paint or the cost yet but, paint is the way I'm going to go.

[bobmagyar]

Hopefully someone can share what is the best choice of paint and how to apply it.

A good spray can product would be great. Wurth, SEM?

[Rennman]

I have done semi gloss balck powdercoating. To me it is the only way to go. It will far outlast anything else and if done right with the proper cad plating looks better than factory. The factory did powdercoat parts from at least the 964 series on some of the suspension bits ect.

Best,

Don

[Steve@Rennsport]

FWIW,.... I've done a LOT of powder coating on these particular parts and if they are done properly, nothing is more durable.

I have my powdercoater use a semi-gloss black (or grey) and I do all the preparation including masking off the areas where I do not want painted.

[pwd72s]

Alas, if you drive her at all, gravel, small rocks, sand, and other stuff bounces around under there...I'd hate to count the number of times I've removed, sanded down, and resprayed my rear sway bar...in a mere 50,000 miles of use. They sure don't build 'em like they used to. The point of all this? I'd urge consideration of touch-up here. Unless, of course, you're willing to create another "dead" car...one of those that rolls on & off an enclosed trailer for shows & concours. My solution? To still drive & enjoy, but taking care as I do so, in order to avoid as many bottom washings as possible. As I age, those 3-4 day sessions become less & less "fun". I have only jackstands & floor jack here...

[Rennman]

Powdercoated suspension is not just for show cars. My 68 has lives on the track not the concours field. No dead cars here. The powdercoating really makes sense especially if you DO drive your cars. It really holds up great. Painting swaybars is no fun Tom!

Best,

Don

[jashford]

Glass bead and then powdercoat semi gross black. It's held up very well on my track car. Just make sure they tape off areas where clearance is an issue such as bushings. Ask me how I know.

John

[john_cramer]

Don, any chance of a photo of a powdercoated component?

I've seen the work done on the trunk of one of your cars (with 100l tank)-- very very nice.

Are you planning to attend Kurt's get-together? I'll be bringing my '66.

[Neunelfer]

I've been using "Zero-Rust" on my suspension systems as of late. I bead blast to bare metal and spray 3-4 coats for the proper thickness. You'll need a couple cans for a front suspension @ $7.40. It's the proper semi-gloss finish and it's what the military uses on the underside of the Hum-Vees.

I'm "very" happy with it and if you're the type who takes your sway bar off every other weekend... well, it's good for touchups

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