I have a feeling I'm going to regret asking this but can I just paint the springs on my rear (Rock Shocks) suspension?

 

Most things can be painted but will need a form of primer or etcher to enable the paint to stick.

A painted spring will not look too good once it has a few scratches on it, maybe that's why most are plated.

And it could rupture the paint when it is bouncing in and out.

 

You can try, and if it does not work, get it coated anyway.

Edited July 31, 201511 yr by crazybond700

My original ossa gripper had telesco shocks and the springs were powder coated orange, they did start to peel off after perhaps 8 months of use. I would think you need a flexible type of paint.        Steve.

I have painted the springs on original Reflex shocks with good results and no flaking.  I sand blasted them first and then used standard

rustolem spray primer and paint.  Getting paint to stick to chrome may be mre difficult.

Thanks. Went for powder coating in the end.

Time will tell whether that was the right choice.

Would think the heat treatment will affect the spring ?

Wouldn't think so. 400 degrees (F) isn't that hot and most springs come powder coated new now.

The issue with powdercoat is once it gets scratched or cut through it allows moisture to get in and it holds it beneath ,then one day a large chunk of powdercoat peals off and you are left with a rusty mess,lots of automotive coil springs have snapped because of rust through. I like epoxy paints best for their toughness.

Can't water get under scratched paint as easily as it can under scratched powder coat though? Given that powder coat is harder to scratch it still seems the better option to me.

Anyway time will tell and, as they're Rock Shocks, I can always save up for new springs next time.