painting steering components....what do you use?

I've got the steering arms off my truck, I bead blasted them and am fixin' to paint and re-install..with modern tie-rod ends, after I get the old ball studs off.

My question is what to paint them with. My instinct is to just grab some rustoleum and spray bomb the ****er... But is this the right thing to do? What do you suggest?

 

it all depends on how fancy you want to get...if it's just a driver a spray bomb may be fine.Kylon is my favorite

if you are going for the Ridler Award you may want to step it up

 

I'm just doing a driver, and this is a full fendered 58 chevy 1/2 ton truck. My only concern is toughness and durability.

 

My Ft Worth painter buddy told me to use Hi-Temp paint or appliance paint for toughness. He said the appliance paint was very tough and available in severial colors at a hardware store.
Jay

 

For durability with spry paint, LOW heat tremedously toughens the paint. I balance parts on top of the exhaust pipe from the water heater, on light bulbs, etc. I'm guessing somewhere in the 200's, very low oven if wife is going to be out for a while. The difference in toughness is really dramatic.

 

How about using por 15? the product is tough and can be easily brushed on and it lays down pretty nice I think.

 

Not to mention it is hard as a brick when it dries...don't get it on your hand though

 

If you use POR-15...make sure the surface is rough. It does not
stick well to smooth surfaces and may flake off.

 

I think Krylon 1613 semi-flat black was invented exactly for this purpose. Walmart sells it cheap. You can pay a lot more for fancy stuff but why? Is it really necessary for your project?

 

Thanks for the tip Bruce. Given it's January I'll have to rig up a low heat bake on these parts. Ordinarilly, I would just set them out front of my shop during the day, which in Houston, will hit the low 200's on asphalt in front of a metal building.

 

Prep is the biggest key to a paint job that will stick/last. I personally like to wipe metal parts down with acetone an a lint-free rag, then let them dry before painting- outdoors, of course (otherwise, you can kiss those brain cells goodbye).

 

when I raced, nothing held up like powder coating. on the dirt track the clay/sand would sandblast the paint away in 2-3 races but I could get two seasons out of a powder coated frame (if I didn't wreck it first)

 

Rustoleum- Durable, inexpensive, can be put on with a gun or bug bombed, and after a little experience laying it down, it goes on smooth enough to look professionally done. And unlike powder coating it's easily repaired if the need ever arises.

 

Use engine paint, mine has been my 58 chevy 1/2 ton truck on since 2003. And we have plenty of weather extremes in OKC.