Tidying up my coil springs.

[Iamzod]

Being in the middle of restoring a Ford Capri i've come up against another obstacle where i'm not sure of what the best solution would be. I've started stripping the suspension components from the car so that they can be cleaned up & painted, but what's the best way of getting the surface rust from the coil springs short of spending £90 on a new pair or spending a week cleaning them with wire wool?

I've been told a weak caustic soda mix would work well, however after reading about it and watching a few videos on youtube of it dissolving aluminium I feel that i'd rather avoid the stuff.

Also once all de rustified and shiny what do i paint them with? As i'm pretty sure normal paints won't last 5 minutes on springs before flaking off?

 

[vanpeebles]

Bilt Hamber do a power that you mix with water and you soak the bits in to remove the rust. Works well To paint them I'd maybe try a plastic coat flexi type paint.

 

[Dogbreath]

With springs you are better off removing the rust mechanically, e.g. with a wire wheel and or emery strip, or shot blasting. Most rust eating chemicals release hydrogen during the process and this can cause embrittlement which is not a good idea on a spring.

 

[Will]

Surely given the age of the car, new springs would be beneficial? A chance to get some uprated shocks too (Bilsteins or Konis), if you're going to restore it you may as well improve the mechanics as well as just aesthetics!

 

[Iamzod]

Surely given the age of the car, new springs would be beneficial? A chance to get some uprated shocks too (Bilsteins or Konis), if you're going to restore it you may as well improve the mechanics as well as just aesthetics!

It is being mechanically improved, it's having a cosworth V6 dropped in it along with bigger brakes & rear disc conversion (sierra cosworth brakes). The shocks are already bilsteins and the springs are not as old as the car as they were fitted in 2005. But seeing as the inner wing is now spotless i want the springs to match.

 

[sovietspybob]

Can you not get them shot blasted then powder coated?

I'm sure a lot of springs are powder coated from factory so should be able to stand up to the flexing

 

[Jonny69]

I sprayed my rear leaf springs with Hammerite about 8 years ago. Admittedly mine lives in a garage, but it's all still on there.

I'd probably use a knot wheel in a grinder to clean them up.

 

[Iamzod]

I've looked into this bilt hamber deox-c and it sounds like amazing stuff, how long does it keep for and does it lose effectiveness the more it's used as if i get some i'd like to fill an old plastic bin with the stuff and use it for dunking some larger parts also.