Painting the bars behind the front bumper.

[ben g]

The paint on mine has flaked off and so need refreshing.

Has anyone painted these? If so, did you spray them in situ or did you remove them? If removed, was this easy?

Also, what's the best paint to use? I think the paint flaked off due to me being over zealous with the pressure washer, so would plastidip be more durable over standard Halfords specials?

Thanks.

 

[Autovisiondetailing]

Behind the grilles?

I've touched these up with some hammerite black paint. Cleaned up before hand, scoured then gave it 5-8 coats if i remember.

 

[Yorkie Z]

I sprayed mine in place with black Hammerite. Obviously bumper off and some masking. Worked a treat.

 

[ben g]

Autovisiondetailing, there are 2 diagonal metal bars in front of the radiator and just behind the kidney grilles.


Yorke, cheers. Guess my best bet is masking and spraying in situ then. I just don't want to spray them up nice and then end up with loads of stonechips afterwards :lol:

 

[Number5]

I know what you mean Ben g and its a good question I haven't seen raised before. Surprising really as most of the Zeds I have had, have had flaking paint around the ends of these bars, so obviously a common problem.

 

[Autovisiondetailing]

Autovisiondetailing, there are 2 diagonal metal bars in front of the radiator and just behind the kidney grilles

Ah yeah sorry, mine started to flake so masked up and painted with hammerite.

 

[JINGLE]

do u mean the 2 diagonal struts in front of radiator, similar to the 2 diagonal struts in the engine bay?

i was looking at these the other day as wondered what they would look like in red to maybe compliment the white/red combo from my brakes etc, or if it would look over kill :/

 

[ben g]

Yes those are the ones Jingle. Seems a lot of people have the same issue. Not a problem spraying on the car as I've removed the front bumper about 20 times now :lol: just obviously can't spray them until it get's a bit warmer and need to be a bit more careful with regards to overspray.

 

[JINGLE]

yea ive had my front bumper off loads so thats not a problem, id much prefer to remove them and sand down, prime and spray properly etc but like u say, need warmer weather for that. also if they get removed id be worried about reusing the nuts/bolts in case there 1 time use or i put them back on slightly out and maybe pull the front geometry out?? (or am i being over dramatic lol)

 

[Beetlegav]

I just sprayed mine with some black paint I had in the garage, think they are holding up ok... I haven't noticed them since so I guess it's still painted :lol:
I just sprayed through the grille with the bumper on, nowhere for the paint to go really other than onto the rad which isn't an issue

 

[Number5]

You can just pull the grilles out by hand, then pop them back in afterwards.

 

[frazell]

Had mine powder coated last year. Popped the grilles out and removed the bar and took them to a local powder coaters who shot them back and recoated them for £20 casheesh.

Probably a bit on the expensive side considering the size of the bar but got a nice durable finish. Drove the car for a week without the bar in place with no ill effects.