Technical Primer Chassis Parts or Not?

When painting chassis and suspension components black, do you primer the bare metal first before spraying them black, or just hit them with the black?

I'm doing some upgrades on my 30 pickup front end, and while I have it apart I figured it was a good time to freshen up the paint, make it purty. I'm just curious if I sand the old paint down if I should cover it with primer first or not. The plan is to just use a rattle can.

 

Yes - I use a Wal-Mart primer rattle can . Cheap and quick.

 

SPI black epoxy is all I use on inner fenders,frame,chassis parts.

 

I don't bother. I'm using VHT chassis & roll cage matte black and it holds up well.

 

Ditto on the "rough and ready" stuff like my truck, but on the nicer stuff, I primer it and paint it with a gun. But yes, as rattle can paint goes, the VHT is very durable.

 

How often do you want to do it- the better the prep the better the long term results.

 

If it's bare metal I always prime HRP

 

I have shot the vht rattle can chassis black straight on bare metal on stuff like home-made cal-trac knock offs and suspension parts and stuff with relative impunity. It really does hold up pretty good. But I wouldn't do it on something I really cared about.

 

I stripped the front end on my '59 to the bare chassis. Powerwashed, degreased, wire brushed and cleaned with solvent. Shot the VHT and let it go at that. 2 years later it looks fine, but the car is garaged and I don't take it out on wet days.