Vannin' Home Forums General Discussion Paint and Bodywork painting new parts

How many of you put a coat of paint (and or primer) on new parts before you install them? I've got new control arms and a few other things and wondered if I should give them a coating of primer / paint before I install them. Of course, they are 'black' and supposedly painted but I'm pretty sure that wouldn't hold up long.

My opinion....can't hurt. I'd do it.

If you're willing to do it... Just do it.

I painted some brake parts on our old Camaro, just because of how the old parts looked when they came off.
I figured it wouldn't hurt, and if they get rusty anyway, they'll be rusty and red now. LOL

It doesn't hurt, the paint on them doesn't hold up well

Original paint on replacement parts does not usually hold up well.. When I had mine apart, I had all of the solid metal parts powder coated, and the parts that have bushings and joints in them were painted with POR15 Gloss black, or various other heavy duty paints. The result is well worth the effort in my opinion.

Thanks, ya'll. Would you scotchbrite them and put primer first or just paint over the paint? I can't decide. I want the best protection over the long term.

Tuner4... Interesting set up on your sway bar... It looks solidly attached to the control arm instead of having the links like ours does???

I would scotch-brite them before painting. Sand-blasting would be best, but just make sure that they are thoroughly sanded and the paint should stick, Make sure to wipe them down with wax/grease remover after sanding. My painting improved tremendously after I started doing that.

Not sure on the sway bar.. That is how mine came originally. The red parts are poly bushings so it can still move. Just stiffer/tighter than stock.

Huh. Interesting on the sway bar. The angle is also different than what I always read about being parallel to the ground. Glad it works for ya! Since the new parts have a coating on them I will not take them all the way down to metal just but a coat on them to hopefully prevent what typically happens to these 'coated' parts.

After it stops raining.... that is.