Paint for the control arms

[AviP]

I was working on the rear control arms and they were quite dirty with grease and dirt and years of grime. After cleaning, there are still some spots that don't look as bright as new. While this is of very minor discomfort to me, given that I have the control arms and knuckles disassembled, I figure I might as well paint them wherever needed.

Does anyone know what kind of paint to use? I'm guessing some sort of high temp enamel paint but I don't have any knowledge in this area.

I thought I read about it somewhere but just can't find it.

-Avi

[river rat]

Didn't think they are painted, just raw aluminium.

[dave6666]

If you do want to paint them any standard silver paint will work. Average paint is rated at way higher of a temperature than an average control arm will see.

[daveg]

Get a good aluminum cleaner.. The kind you use for A.C. coils etc....

[GTS Dean]

I'm not sure what they are coated with, but it obviously isn't bare aluminum.

[10PISTNZ]

I have cleaned mine several times over the years. I agree they have some kind of anti-corrosion coating on them. Probably clear.
I would clean them with a paint remover of some kind and just paint them Silver.

[Boosted Motorsports]

Get engine block paint that says "aluminum" on it and it will be a perfect match. I did that with mine a couple years ago.

[AviP]

Thanks Boosted. I knew I read it somewhere. Now I realize it's in your video. BTW, thanks for those videos. Awesome show and tell.

And for those suggesting it's just aluminum, they would look corroded in 20+ years if they didn't have some sort of protection: paint or coating.

I'll try out the VHT Engine Enamel Aluminum paint suggest by Boosted and let you know.

[ACR_Matt]

They're painted from the factory. Aircraft remover works great to remove the old coating. I've powder coated and painted them with engine enamel. Both options work equally well in my opinion.
Before:IMG_5431.JPG
After:IMG_5486.jpg

[SHELBYVIPER]

They're painted from the factory. Aircraft remover works great to remove the old coating. I've powder coated and painted them with engine enamel. Both options work equally well in my opinion.
Before:IMG_5431.JPG
After:IMG_5486.jpg

Nice Job!

[Boosted Motorsports]

Yeah mine looked pretty scary looking before I did the same as Matt. I just dug up the video on my install and its a huge difference. I did confirm that I used VHT "aluminum" engine enamel on mine as seen in the vid too

https://youtu.be/UMnHuaaL5Jc?t=552

[AviP]

Thanks Matt and Boosted. I've ordered the paint. I'll try and do a video as well but my editing skills are sorely lacking.