Options for plating a steel part on a car?

[A930Rocket]

I’m getting a car suspension part (wheel spacers) that are raw steel and the mfg doesn’t do any kind of coatings. 30mm x 6” each. Obviously, it needs to be very thin and durable so if it doesn’t wear and loosen the wheels.

Are there any options for DIY?

If not, anybody I can send them to?

I did a Google search and it looks like anybody in South Carolina only does large scale coatings.

[masraum]

There are DIY powder coating kits, but I don't know if that would be thin and uniform enough.
Baked on paint?
Send them to Shaun?
Have them chromed?

[unclebilly]

Phosphating is cheap.

[A930Rocket]

I saw this on a Haggerty video... A DIY black oxide. The only part I didn’t like, was the sealant, because it adds a thickness.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=939Kvbtb8is

https://www.epi.com/insta-blak-333.html

[Marine Blue]

Electroless Nickel. I have it done on my brake rotors and it holds up extremely well.

[juanbenae]

i think shawn@tru6 does coating. his stuff has looked very good from what ive seen on other platforms.

[A930Rocket]

Calling Shaun! What’s your advice?

Thanks

[asphaltgambler]

Originally Posted by Marine Blue

Electroless Nickel. I have it done on my brake rotors and it holds up extremely well.

Please share source / info - I'm in on this...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Calling Shaun! What’s your advice?

Thanks

Lot of good answers. Spacers I would either plate them with zinc/cadmium chromate or Cerakote them. Local plater can do them for you. I do an electroless nickel strike (flash) and then cadmium so everything will last forever. So just say you want these done with a nickel strike and then yellow zinc (cadmium is rare-ish but if they do it, go with that).

You probably have a firearms shop nearby that can also shoot these with Cerakote. I would recommend E-series Blackout. It's very durable and a nice satin black. Big word of caution, both plating and Cerakote, research the shop. I get parts in from customers who had their window frames and other things done in Cerakote and it's an absolute crap job. It seems anyone with a Harbor Freight detail gun thinks they can shoot the stuff. Applies to plating shops too.

Good luck!

[A930Rocket]

Thanks, Shaun and everyone else. I didn’t think about a firearms guy, that’s a good lead.

[URY914]

Shaun, I need my sway bar and drop arms refinished. What would you suggest?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Paul, I use Blackout for all 911 suspension. I actually use a custom black mix but straight Blackout will be fine. Your challenge may be finding a shop that has an oven big enough for a sway bar. Don't use Cerakote's air cure line. It's high temp and UV safe but it isn't very durable.

[David Inc.]

I wouldn't do it. Look at the wheel and hub faces where they meet, they're just machined surfaces. Those surfaces really need to be perfect. Maybe coat the rim, but otherwise you're just scrubbing rust off every so often with a metal brush.

Are the spacers available in aluminum?

Edit: I have 25mm spacers on the rear axle of my '82 and they're some sort of aluminum alloy. Three years and no corrosion.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by David Inc.

I wouldn't do it. Look at the wheel and hub faces where they meet, they're just machined surfaces. Those surfaces really need to be perfect. Maybe coat the rim, but otherwise you're just scrubbing rust off every so often with a metal brush.

Are the spacers available in aluminum?

Edit: I have 25mm spacers on the rear axle of my '82 and they're some sort of aluminum alloy. Three years and no corrosion.

I was thinking about the mating surfaces and based on the thickness, would decide what to do. It's not a part I would remove very often, so I want it to last.

The part is 30mm thick and might be ok with aluminum, but I thought as a track car, steel might be better.

[A930Rocket]

Thes grey MSI studs are not as long as I’d like, but they might work in this spacer. The gold stud is an ARP, but they don’t make one in the knurled width I need.

Looking at the dimensions, should I try to open the hole a bit?

From MSI: This stud is designed to work with a 14mm (.551 -.557) diameter hole in the hub.

Then it would be find the drill bit to work.

[Superman]

Shaun is my guy for coatings and platings. Very impressed with Shaun in many ways.

[otto_kretschmer]

I would just rattle can them with flat black

I've done this to wheels on my 911, 944 and my Ducati and was happy with the results.

Go to your local hardware store, $6 for a can, paint, let dry, install and then forget about them and move on to the next problem.

[beran earms]

The rattle can seems to be the quickest cheapest and easiest solution. I've done this but only a full coverage on the outside and a fine coat on the mating surfaces. Then I put a thin film of never seize on the mating surface. This has worked well for me.

[Jeff Alton]

Are you looking to make it orginal or do something that looks close and may be more durable?

Pros and cons to both options. Value being the largest one to consider if a car that had lower production numbers.

Cheers

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Are you looking to make it orginal or do something that looks close and may be more durable?

Pros and cons to both options. Value being the largest one to consider if a car that had lower production numbers.

Cheers

Just to protect the part and having it rust weld itself to other parts. It’s not a high value part.