88 vert guy

Hello Everyone:

Looking for some information on painting (e-coating) vs powder coating steering and suspension parts......

First of all, can anyone verify if the steering linkages (tie rods, relay rod, etc), control arms, springs, etc. were painted from the factory? I bought some NOS parts and were received without paint.

The one concern I had about either method is potential damage to ball joints from media-blasting to remove surface rust and prep before finishing. How does one protect these critical joints from being contaminated?

Looking for tips and secrets from anyone who has gone down this road.

Thanks!

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

A arms were painted, but the early ones (not sure of later) had a unpainted part by the balljoint. Like the arm was hanging by a hook from the balljoint hole and dunked in paint up to about a inch away from the ball joint

To refinish the arms you take them completely apart as in removing bushings and balljoints b4 you blast/paint them.

88 vert guy

TTOP350, yeah I recall seeing a photo somewhere on TGO with the missing paint near the ball joint. I'm thinking GM, or the supplier at the time, painted after ball joint installation and didn't want to contaminate the ball joint. Maybe bushing were already installed and coverage with e-coat didn't matter, unless bushings pressed in later. Do you know anything about the other parts like steering linkage, sway bar or springs?

Project 3.4 Camaro

Yeah, just remove the balljoint, unless you replaced it, you probably should anyways.