Suspension arm coating?
Discussion
Hello, does anyone know what coating the wishbones etc have? In this image from the radical shop it looks like yellow zinc plated (don't think the lowers are the same).
http://secure2.cyberware.co.uk/~rad-shop/acatalog/...
Cheers,
Dunc.
http://secure2.cyberware.co.uk/~rad-shop/acatalog/...
Cheers,
Dunc.
Edited by dunc_sx on Saturday 25th September 16:13
[quote=dunc_sx]... does anyone know what coating the wishbones etc have?
It's passivated zinc, If you give it a rub with an old kitchen scouring pad (not too coarse) it loses its mottled yellowness and looks more like bright nickel plate...
which looks nice
but might affect the corrosion resistance
It's passivated zinc, If you give it a rub with an old kitchen scouring pad (not too coarse) it loses its mottled yellowness and looks more like bright nickel plate...
which looks nice
but might affect the corrosion resistance
GeoffW said:
Any recommendations for refurbing old wishbones? I was thinking of shot blasting (too harsh?) then powder coating (is that going to hide too many future sins?). All advice welcome as per u.
Geoff, powder or even PU/plastic coating can, as you suggest, hide hairline cracks and make wishbone inspection difficult. Personally, given that stone chips, etc are likely to not be a problem, I'd get them plated or passivated, rather than coated.Hi Geoff.
Whatever finish you decide to go for (prep will vary accordingly), make sure you get them crack tested first.
If you want them to look that nice gold colour they come out of the factory with, then that (a zinc based passivation process) can be done, but as I've said previously (on a similar thread a while ago), don't forget to ask yourself "OK, they've got a bit tired looking, I can make them LOOK like new, but I am actually going to be simply dressing up a sow's ear to make it look like a silk purse?; is this tired looking component usefully reminding me that it's now lifed out and it'll still be lifed out even if it no longer looks it?"
By all means, get the 're-plating' quotes, then compare those with the cost of new components and make your decisions accordingly.
PS. Meant to state the obvious i.e. that these are critical components; so much so that every wishbone on currently produced Rads is now individually numbered (punched and welded in) so that it's actual fabricator / provenance can be tracked.
Whatever finish you decide to go for (prep will vary accordingly), make sure you get them crack tested first.
If you want them to look that nice gold colour they come out of the factory with, then that (a zinc based passivation process) can be done, but as I've said previously (on a similar thread a while ago), don't forget to ask yourself "OK, they've got a bit tired looking, I can make them LOOK like new, but I am actually going to be simply dressing up a sow's ear to make it look like a silk purse?; is this tired looking component usefully reminding me that it's now lifed out and it'll still be lifed out even if it no longer looks it?"
By all means, get the 're-plating' quotes, then compare those with the cost of new components and make your decisions accordingly.
PS. Meant to state the obvious i.e. that these are critical components; so much so that every wishbone on currently produced Rads is now individually numbered (punched and welded in) so that it's actual fabricator / provenance can be tracked.
Edited by splitpin on Monday 27th September 18:59
PS if you go down the coating route, these guys are very good:
http://www.ripley-eng.co.uk/surfacecoating.htm
http://www.ripley-eng.co.uk/surfacecoating.htm
What about Kephos coating lads? I found this on a forum discussing the same thing for single seaters,
"Kephos is a black, solvent-based coating made from a blend of resins, pigment and a phosphating base material.
Kephos is sprayed on and when stoved it offers an attractive low gloss finish with good corrosion resistance. Kephos also offers a high level of resistance to solvent, oils and lubricants, while allowing for crack testing of the component without disturbing the coating. These properties make Kephos an ideal coating for the motor sport industry."
No idea where you'd get this done however.
Dunc.
"Kephos is a black, solvent-based coating made from a blend of resins, pigment and a phosphating base material.
Kephos is sprayed on and when stoved it offers an attractive low gloss finish with good corrosion resistance. Kephos also offers a high level of resistance to solvent, oils and lubricants, while allowing for crack testing of the component without disturbing the coating. These properties make Kephos an ideal coating for the motor sport industry."
No idea where you'd get this done however.
Dunc.
GeoffW said:
Mmmm, choices, choices. Should have said the wishbones are not from a Radical, they're from a SHHHHHDONTTELLTHEWIFE, it's just that I know I can get some sensible advice on this forum.
Now you tell us ................ sounds like you've been or are about to be a very naughty boy ............... still tubular fabricated?Chris Wilson said:
Hot dang, thought that was going to be a pic of my new car, phew, it wasn't. Must not let the wife see, you see... Splitpin - your first guess was incorrect
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