My '02 CAV is getting a much needed suspension upgrade which includes fabricated steel uprights (front and rear) to replace the alloy uprights which aren't exactly "track worthy" due to some inherent design limitations. I'm also installing new lower A-arms in the rear (with better geometry).
Most of the original suspension pieces (upper/lower A-arms in front, and various adjustable links in rear) were plated with what appears to be chrome. The plating job wasn't great as many of these pieces have some surface marks and in a couple small places the plating has peeled away.
I'd like to get these pieces re-plated with the primary goal being corrosion resistance. If the best way to achieve this is with heavy chroming that's just fine with me, appearances ("bling factor") don't really matter. In other words, what's the hardest wearing, most durable finish that can be used here? I'm guessing it's chromium, applied with a lot of care at a good plating shop.
Is there anything to be aware of? Does chroming somehow negatively affect the metallurgy from a strength/brittleness standpoint in a significant way? Is there a different finish that may be better? Nickel?
While I like the look of powder coating, I'm not a big fan of it for suspension pieces given the occasional rough wear they get.....whoops, just dropped the lead hammer used to take off the tri-spinners on the upper A-arm....
Any advice/help is much appreciated.
ps. I know there was a similar thread a year or two ago but it didn't really answer the above questions (seemed to be more focused on appearances).
Most of the original suspension pieces (upper/lower A-arms in front, and various adjustable links in rear) were plated with what appears to be chrome. The plating job wasn't great as many of these pieces have some surface marks and in a couple small places the plating has peeled away.
I'd like to get these pieces re-plated with the primary goal being corrosion resistance. If the best way to achieve this is with heavy chroming that's just fine with me, appearances ("bling factor") don't really matter. In other words, what's the hardest wearing, most durable finish that can be used here? I'm guessing it's chromium, applied with a lot of care at a good plating shop.
Is there anything to be aware of? Does chroming somehow negatively affect the metallurgy from a strength/brittleness standpoint in a significant way? Is there a different finish that may be better? Nickel?
While I like the look of powder coating, I'm not a big fan of it for suspension pieces given the occasional rough wear they get.....whoops, just dropped the lead hammer used to take off the tri-spinners on the upper A-arm....
Any advice/help is much appreciated.
ps. I know there was a similar thread a year or two ago but it didn't really answer the above questions (seemed to be more focused on appearances).