10 replies to this topic

[LTW2]

So I have finally got round to rebuilding my wish bones.

 

Earlier today I ordered a set of ball joints, a pair of drop links etc. from Paul @ Oakmere. 

 

I must say it is always a pleasure to deal with Paul. He sorted me out with new abs sensor brackets earlier in the year and when I mentioned I was thinking of rebuilding my wishbones he said to give him a call when I was ready and he would sort me out. Well he was true to his word and I would recommend giving him a call if you need any Lotus sourced parts.

 

The wishbones and hubs are currently at the shot blasters. They are able to powder coat them but I was going to use POR15 after reading some positive posts on here.

 

For those of you who have used POR15 are you still happy with the result. Is there any negative feedback?

 

From my research I would say:

 

 Negatives:

 

 1. Finish not as good as powder coating.

 2, Time consuming three step process.

 

 Positives:

 

 1. Super hard finish.

 2. Very good at preventing future rusting

 3. Can be touched in if needed.

 

 Also if any one has any advice on how to get the best results out of it, that would also be appreciated.

 

[fezzasus]

Chemical bond beats powder coating every time. As soon as you break the powder coating finish you'll trap moisture and it will flake off.

[FLD]

Galvanise before painting too. I triple plated then baked then passivsted then coated.

[larres]

If you will do a chromate conversion coating you don't even need to shot blast before...

[Aerodynamic]

Rebuilding your wishobones? Are you making them longer/wider or in which way are they rebuilt?

 

I´m thinking myself in making my fronts ~15mm longer.

 

Br, Per

[navx]

How does this get done and what would be the rough costs? I googled it and several sites seem to suggest this cannot be done for iron or steel.

If you will do a chromate conversion coating you don't even need to shot blast before...

[oblomov]

When I first had the VX I went to a lot of trouble to paint the wishbones with Hammerite and considering the car seldom sees a wet road except getting caught out in the occasional summer shower, it was useless.  Hammerite actually made things worse because of moisture creep beneath the coating actually trapping and holding moisture and encouraging rust.  When I did a wishbone/suspension refurb I used POR15.  I wanted to zinc plate but the local guy who does it had broken his ankle and was off work for six weeks and the nearest other possibility was 50 miles away so it was plan B (I live in the sticks).  I didn't shot blast the wishbones, instead I opted to use a commercial de-rusting agent before prepping for POR 15.  The results have been very good.  As I tend to go OTT with this sort of thing I went overboard and finished the job off once the POR 15 had cured for a month or so by coating the wishbones with Mike Sanders underbody sealer.

 

https://www.amazon.c...t/dp/B00FK019YG

 

Again I have previously down the years used Waxoyl and Dinitrol etc but they all dry out and start flaking off after a year or so.  This stuff does not, it's widely used in the automotive industry:  I had to import it from Germany.  It's messy to put on unless you spray but a spray kit is expensive so I painted it on with a brush and the results are excellent.  However if you want to admire your lovely coloured wishbones best avoid this stuff.  It remains very sticky and collects loads of dust and dirt on the surface and so the suspension looks very sh!t, but, underneath it remains pristine, and after all that's the point of the treatment unless your car is 'garage jewellery'.

 

As has been said I would avoid powder coating (POR15 is definitely better) and go with that or galvanising etc.

[larres]

How does this get done and what would be the rough costs? I googled it and several sites seem to suggest this cannot be done for iron or steel.

If you will do a chromate conversion coating you don't even need to shot blast before...

Hi,
I ve got a company not far from here.
For the wishbones including the four hub carrier it is about 100€.
If you are intersted I can organize that for you. Shipping to uk isn‘t very expensive,

[Johnboyhgt]

Por15 for me too. 2yrs on and they look like the day I did them.

I recently had the gearbox out and took them off for room, close inspection revealed no cracking or flaking at all, well worth the money.

Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk

[Pidgeon]

Looks like I'm the odd one out again.  POR 15 has lifted and flaked on my wishbones, particularly around the BJ.

 

But I do use my car

[TazN]

My wishbones looked immaculate 5 years after powder coating them. We t the full hog as mentioned by others. Drove it in awful weather plenty of times...

Both can work, both can fail.