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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Suspension Cleaning

Posted by: fiid Sep 29 2003, 04:51 PM

What are our favorite ways of cleaning suspension components? Inspired by brads awesome looking powder coated suspension bits, I am going to pull mine off and clean them up and give them a lick of paint.

I am thinking I will attack them with a wire brush drill bit (my usual favorite technique). Are there chemicals that can help?

I don't have a bead or sand blaster - is that something I should get for this kind of work?? Can I get a decent one for cheap? Do I need a compressor for that? Is my bank account ever going to recover??

Fiid.

Posted by: vortrex Sep 29 2003, 04:57 PM

you'd need a decent sized compressor. I had a 5HP 20 gallon and it blasted good for smaller (suspension type) parts. trailing arms looked great after 30 min. of course then you need the blaster too. a siphon works ok, but pressurized is much better. probably best off with a wire brush and some brake cleaner.

Posted by: seanery Sep 29 2003, 05:01 PM

sand blasting is cheap.
I found a local company that did a bunch of stuff for my dad and I for $31.

Posted by: Mueller Sep 29 2003, 05:06 PM

large plastic garbage can , filled with water and Castrol SuperClean, it'll eat the grime and paint off in a few days if left submerged (not a good idea for your wheelbearings if you didn't plan on replacing them, but blasting not too good for them as well)

Posted by: SirAndy Sep 29 2003, 05:12 PM

get a case of brake cleaner ....

Posted by: fiid Sep 29 2003, 05:50 PM

I take it brake cleaner can be had from Kragen or some other similarly clueless establishment??

(Not a Kragen fan, but it's close and has parking (which is good if you live in the city - unlike MUNI, which is not good))

Fiid.

Posted by: vortrex Sep 29 2003, 06:02 PM

yup, get it anywhere. probably walgreens too.

if you need other body/paint stuff there is a auto body supply store close to you on south van ness, maybe somewhere around 20th st?? they have lots of stuff, including zero-rust.

Posted by: r_towle Sep 29 2003, 06:54 PM

For Sandblasting of small items (suspension parts are small in these terms) Try any local grave stone fabrication shop. they have sandblasters and usually will work cheaply for cash.