Control arm paint options

[srh3trinity]

I need to paint my c5 control arms since I have brand new uppers and grimey lowers. No chance they would ever look the same. I was thinking about black crinkle. Subframe is matte black. Will this hold up? Any suggestions on getting the grime off? Any suggestions on painting aluminum?

[astroracer]

I would suggest having them bead blasted. They will look brand new afterward and a coat of clear will help keep them looking nice.
Black Krinkle has a nice look but, if you have ever tried cleaning it, you will stay away. All of those little crevices really hold the dirt and the only way to clean it is a power washer. Nine times out of ten the power washer will blow the paint off anyway so it is a lost cause.

[srh3trinity]

I thought about bead blasting, but you can't remove the ball joints on c5 arms. You are right about the texture. Maybe I will look for a clean silver or grey.

[astroracer]

Mask the ball joints and inner pivots with duct tape and don't hit them directly. Easy to do, I've done it many times.
Mark

[srh3trinity]

Now to find somebody with a blast cabinet.

[DEIGuy38]

Easy off oven cleaner used to work real well on cleaning tansmission cases. Give that a try

[coolwelder62]

Scotch brite works awesome.Could DA with 120grt first then 220, then scotch brite.Shephen Thanks for becoming a customer.

[71RS/SS396]

If you want to be lazy this stuff works well http://www.eagleone.com/mag-wheel-cleaner

[srh3trinity]

I tried degreaser and scotch brite. I will probably give it another good scrubbing and then get a little more aggressive.

[bretcopsey]

I had an old car guy once tell me that lamp oil will take gasoline stains off of a cast aluminum manifold. It worked for me, may work on your control arms? Not saying i would be better than any other methods suggested.