Can you paint shocks?
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Can you paint shocks?
Just got my skyjacker shocks and steering stabilizer, can i paint these to match the truck? What about the boots? (black and gold truck with white and red shocks dont mix). If i can should i use a certain kind of paint? Thanks Jaret
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
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From: Central Florida
You can paint them, but keep in mind the shocks do get warm. Good prep with a good paint should do fine. For the boots, you can get new ones in your choice of color for under $5 ea and would hold up better than painting them.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 537
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From: Linden USA
Most of the aftermarket shocks have very poor paint. They don't use primer and won't take long being beat up under the truck and lose paint and starting to rust. I almost always use a wire wheel and remove the existing paint, which is usually pretty easy to do, clean well with a wax & grease remover or a good brake clean, then prime and paint. I have done these with good quality automotive paint while doing a vehicle body, and also spray cans. When I have done spray cans I use a clear coat on top and they seem to stand up pretty well. One vehicle we did back in the early 90's was a 4x4 60 Ford truck on a 3/4 ton chassis. We had a pair of the big Monroe shocks at each wheel and actually painted up the shocks to match the truck and even some pearl in the clearcoat. They looked sweet.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,924
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From: Richmond BC
easily repainted and run them without the boots..
they just hold in more moisture then they stop long term anywho...
p.s. as a side note i prefer to run my shocks with the shafts facing down..tend to keep the shock cleaner...crap doesnt sit on the shock body seal were the shaft enters it..
plus i think it looks better..
they just hold in more moisture then they stop long term anywho...
p.s. as a side note i prefer to run my shocks with the shafts facing down..tend to keep the shock cleaner...crap doesnt sit on the shock body seal were the shaft enters it..
plus i think it looks better..
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Fanatic- when you mean the shafts facing down, do you mean the body of the shock connected to the axle? and idk much bout the shocks, but should i be able to pull and push the shafts in and out? i always thought they were loaded and would come flying out if i didnt hold them in?
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
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From: Central Florida
They will not fly apart, or at least shocks in good condition will not. They should have a good bit of pressure, but if you lean on them with a 200+ lbs body, then they will collapse. If you have to pull them out or can easily push them in, then they have lost their gas.
The tube is the fat part of the shock and the shaft is the skinny. Some shocks need to be mounted in a certain direction, something about how the valves are constructed. I would run boots either way, they keep some debris from getting to the shaft. As the shaft goes in and out, debris or pitting can wear down the seal.
The tube is the fat part of the shock and the shaft is the skinny. Some shocks need to be mounted in a certain direction, something about how the valves are constructed. I would run boots either way, they keep some debris from getting to the shaft. As the shaft goes in and out, debris or pitting can wear down the seal.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
As long as debris doesn't ride on the shaft and score it or the seal, removing the boot will do no harm. It's just to keep the shaft relatively clean and smooth. You can run without boots if that's what your asking, but it may cause the shocks to fail before their time.
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