leaf springs; paint or powder

[dutch]

does anyone here have experience with powdercoated leafsprings?  I was wondering if the thick layers of powder between the leafs will give problems on the long run...

[70_challenger]

Sorry, I can't say that I have experience, but I had thought of doing this.

However, I had a couple of different concerns:
Chipping of the powder coat from the leaf springs flexing/rubbing, and the effect of the heat required for powder coating.  (I don't know if they get hot enough to affect the properties of the spring steel or not).

I'm sure someone with more experience with powder coating springs will chime in here - Maybe it works out OK.  It sure seems like powder coat would look good!

-Tom

[Topcat]

I don't think the heat would damage the springs as long as they were left to cool down slowly overnight in the oven after it was turned off. A slow cool down should keep the steel temper in check. 400 degrees is hot but nowhere near red hot where changes really occur in metal.

I would just spray em with something like this. 

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=128&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=128

[challengerx]

Just painted mine with a base coat of eastwoods rust encapsulator and then two coats of their extreme chasis black and they came out great.

[Chryco Psycho]

Powder coating them definatly will not hurt them , it is 400 * for 20 minutes or so the meatl doesn`t get very warm , I send a diff housing in with the axle seals in place & expected ashes when it returned , the rubber was not only still there but still soft , not crispy even . Powercoat will be more durable especially if you take the springs apart & coaat the whole surface of each leaf

[dutch]

I`m not concerned about heat issues, that won`t be a problem.  I know powder would be the best way to go on any chassis part, but I was wondering if the ammount of paint between the leafs ( I will take the springs apart ) might cause the springs to get loose once the paint cracks up...if that would happen...

[hemiken]

Hi Dutch,

I have seen buddy's do powder coating on 4x4 leaf springs.  They do eventually delaminate and get sand inbetween the springs, have not seen a set become loose from it yet...... But this is a 4x4 problem with powder coating and beach sand.  Not real sure how a street car would go over a long period