Best way to clean King shocks??

What's the best way to remove the oxidation and surface rust on these shocks. I tried the 0000 steel wool and wd40 method with little success?

 

Those are pretty rusty. Maybe break them down 100% tape up parts you don’t want to be touched and take them to be bead blasted. Then spray some high quality clear on them and keep them coated with some fluid film.

 

I’d also get some new hoses from King or have a hose shop in town to make some. Just make sure the hose shop blows the hoses out with compressed air well before installing.

 

Wondering if I should send them to king for a rebuild, supposedly they only have about 5k miles on them and spent about 6 months on the truck.

 

Just use a wire wheel on a grinder to get the oxidization off ( it's aluminum so it's not rust ) then use some grey scotch bright to give it that brushed look and last but not least clear coat.

 

It would cost you more. They would more than likely replace the shock bodies, and maybe the hoses.

It’s a lot of work finding a shop that will remove/replace springs for a decent price then to find a ship to gas them but you could salvage the shock bodies. Just really depends on how pitted the threads are as well.

They’ll have a different look. They won’t look like brushed metal either. They’ll have a duller texture but in the end it will probably be cheaper. If you google bead blasted metal you’ll get an idea of the look. You just need to make sure they’re protected with a coating or they will quickly look way worse.

 

I have the ability to recharge them with nitrogen, and do a rebuild. I just would like them cleaned up a bit. Overall they are in pretty good shape they just arent aesthetically pleasing just thought king could do a better job.

 

I don't think that's on King. I think that's on the seller. Those look terrible for 5k miles.

 

I mean cleaning them up. They could do a better job.

 

I mean give them a call and see what they say. But a good light bead blast would clean them up completely.

A wire wheel would probably do just as well. Just make sure it’s pretty soft because it’s aluminum. I’d prefer a bead blast as it would be a more even and clean finish.

Either way I’d call king AND maybe down south to get some opinions and recommendations....post some pics of you do anything yourself. I’d like to see the finished product.

 

Ohhh gotcha. Haha sorry confused

 

I'm going to email downsouth tomorrow. That's where they were originally purchased from.

 

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/s_trmt_alum/overview/Loctite-Aluminum-Jelly.htm

 

Maybe CLR would work?

 

In the garage now, decided to try different grit sand paper. Im using a fine steel brush on the fittings, and having a lot better success. Really didn't want to sand on them but oh well it's working.

Before:

After:

 

Looks good. Just step down a few times to get a smooth finish. Also thinner wipe and clear with something....I was reading the other night that a lot of guys use S.C. Johnson paste wax to coat table saws so they won’t rust. Maybe a product like that could work. But if probably wouldn’t last long in the elements. I’d Look into unsung a urethane as well.

 

Looks like you got it figured out. Get a quality coating on it before they rust again, Steel-it is a good choise and close to the Zinc color.


FYI those are steel bodies with a Zinc coating. New bodies are about $80 each from King and getting them stripped and replated is about the same. They will need to be completely broken down and rebuild to do either.

 

What about this stuff? Would y'all still clear coat after sanding and wire wheeling them?

 

Same or very similar

http://www.steel-it.com/automotive-..._zYJf2gYAI4oB8haT0-HZ0qgCz-rg39xoC_KkQAvD_BwE

I would not clear over either coating, I know a few that use it without any clear coating and holds up fine since it's a poly coating.

 

If that's really what Kings look like after 6 months I'll never buy them.

That doesn't look like normal 6 month old oxidation. I'd wanna know where they stored that truck. Bottom of a pool with a high Chlorine content?

Flood damaged truck?