Painting Leaf springs

[lousblown55chevy]

I just received my new springs and they have a black coating on them instead of paint. I'm wanting to make them look better and so far the only option I can think of is taking them apart and sandblasting then painting them and then put them back together. Has anyone found an easier option ?

[kwmech]

So what is this 'black coating' if it is not paint already?

[HO455]

I would talk with the vendor or manufacturer before attempting to remove it as some springs come coated with an antisqueek/lubrication coating. If this is not the case with your springs then removing the coating by sand blasting isn't the best idea. The grit will get between the leaves and cause squeeks and the springs will not slide properly against each other causing your springs not to have the same reaction to bumps. The same problem will result if you sandblast each leaf individually as there will no longer be nice smooth surfaces for the leaves to slide against. Over time the leaves will slowly polish themselves but you also take the risk of two (or more) of the leaves not polishing and instead gauling each other.
Properly designed srings will have some form of lubricant (even if it doesn't look like it) between the leafs to prevent noise and premature wear. In the past when I have rebuilt old springs I have disassembled, wire brushed, polished any wear patterns out of the leaves. Before reassembly I coat the mated surfaces with thick graphite grease. (I.E. semi truck fifth wheel plate grease). After reassembly carefully clean the tops bottoms and sides so not to wash the grease from between the leaves with mineral spirits. Then I spray paint them with flexible bumper paint.

[jeffahart]

Disassembling the springs is a needless exercise. There is no need to baby the spring pack... they are going to take a beating! I just spray with rustoleum gloss black. Lately I've started using the canned rustoleum for touch up. I cut the paint a bit, about 10 to 1, it lays down a bit better. I use a small roller. Once everything is in the truck the rattle can over sprays everywhere you don't want it. So I just use the can for touch up. But, I am doing U-Joints soon. So, I will probably clean up the drive shaft and roller paint it. Canned rustoleum is my new friend ever since I did inside my bed with it.

['63GENIII]

Not sure if you're looking for a show finish but a simple prime and paint works fine. The paint will actually lubricate the springs as well. There is a paint called Dacromet (I think that's how its spelled) that is used on a lot of springs when new.

Ive just used Duplicolor engine paint that I had left over and their engine paint primer. Previous to the new springs, Ive used Rustoleum with good results.

Ive heard of powder coating springs and actually had a set of powder coated leafs on the front of the '63. Didn't work out too well in my case. Might have been the heat? Whether it was the heat or not, I'll never look to powder coat as an option for my springs. These pics are of the passenger side front. I didn't get any pics of the 8" long piece that fell off of the driver's side that was the spring right under the main.

['63GENIII]

Just looked for pics of the new springs but guess I didn't take any. I was in a big hurry to get them back in for a trip.

Matte black is the color I had. It was Duplicolor Engine paint with Ceramic and was called "Low Gloss". They also had a "Semi Gloss" and "Gloss".