Everything You Can Powder Coat: Beyond Wheels and Calipers

When people think powder coating, they think wheels.

That's fair—wheels are the most popular item we coat. But powder coating is far more versatile.

If it's metal, it can probably be powder coated.

What Makes Powder Coating Special

Quick refresher:

• Electrostatically charged powder adheres to grounded metal
• Baked at 400°F+ to fuse into solid, continuous finish
• 3-5x more durable than paint
• Chemical, UV, and impact resistant
• Doesn't peel, crack, or fade like paint

This durability makes it perfect for parts that take abuse.

Suspension Components

What You Can Coat

• Control arms (upper and lower)
• Trailing arms
• Subframes (if removable)
• Sway bars
• Strut tower bars
• Tie rods (outer housing)
• Suspension links

Why Bother?

Appearance: Clean, uniform color throughout suspension. Visible when looking through wheels.

Durability: Resists rock chips, road salt, and underbody contamination far better than factory coating.

Restoration: Brings corroded suspension back to better-than-new condition.

Considerations

• Parts must be removed (labor cost)
• Bushings and ball joints need protection or replacement
• High-temp powder for components near exhaust

Cost

• Individual arms: $50-100 each
• Complete front suspension set: $400-800 parts + labor
• Full undercarriage: $1,500-3,000+

Roll Bars and Cages

Perfect Candidates

• Aftermarket roll bars
• Roll cages
• Harness bars
• Seat braces
• Cross-braces

Benefits

Durability: Won't chip when loading gear or from contact.

Appearance: Clean, professional look in any color.

Texture options: Wrinkle finish hides imperfections and adds grip.

Popular Finishes

Cost

• Single roll bar: $150-300
• Full cage: $400-800
• Matching harness bar: $75-150

Intake and Engine Dress-Up

What Works

• Intake manifolds (aluminum)
• Valve covers
• Throttle bodies
• Intercooler piping
• Catch cans
• Oil filter housings
• Engine brackets and mounts

Heat Considerations

Engine bay components see extreme temps:

• Intake side: 150-250°F (standard powder fine)
• Exhaust side: 500-1000°F (ceramic coating instead)
• Valve covers: varies (high-temp formula)

Critical: Not all powder is heat-rated. We use appropriate formulas for each application.

Popular Looks

• Wrinkle black: Vintage muscle car vibe
• Wrinkle red: Classic hot rod
• Satin black: Modern OEM+
• Contrast colors: Match or complement body

Cost

• Valve covers: $100-200 (pair)
• Intake manifold: $150-300
• Intercooler piping: $100-200 (set)
• Full engine dress-up: $500-1,000+

Exterior Trim and Accessories

Metal Parts That Transform

• Grille inserts (if metal)
• Tow hooks
• Mirror caps (if metal)
• Antenna bases
• Hood hinges
• Trunk hinges
• License plate frames
• Door handles (some metal models)

Why Not Just Paint?

Paint on door handles, tow hooks, and frequently-touched parts:

• Chips immediately
• Wears at contact points
• Needs regular touch-up

Powder coating on the same parts:

• Resists daily contact
• Maintains appearance
• Lasts years

Cost

• Small parts (hooks, brackets): $25-75 each
• Grille components: $75-200
• Full trim set: $200-400

Motorcycle and Powersports

Powder coating excels on:

• Frames
• Swingarms
• Triple clamps
• Pegs and brackets
• Wheels (spoked or cast)
• Engine cases (with proper prep)
• Crash bars

Motorcycle Frames

One of our favorite projects:

• Completely transforms the bike
• Any color imaginable
• Restoration to better-than-new
• Protects against weather and chain lube

Cost: $400-800 depending on complexity

Classic Car Restoration

Perfect Applications

• Drum brake backing plates
• Brake calipers (drums to disc conversions)
• Suspension arms
• Control arms
• Axle housings
• Brackets and mounts
• Engine accessories
• Transmission cases (external)

Benefits for Classics

Authenticity: Original colors available. Options: Choose factory look or custom.

Durability: Better than original factory coatings.

Restoration: Corroded parts look factory-new.

What CAN'T Be Powder Coated?

Materials That Don't Work

• Plastic/composite: Won't survive bake temps
• Rubber: Melts
• Electronics: Destroyed by heat
• Glass: Doesn't work
• Wood: Burns

Parts That Shouldn't Be Coated

• Brake rotors: Need bare metal for friction
• Bearing surfaces: Need precise tolerance
• Threaded interfaces: May need masking/re-tapping
• Heat sinks: May affect thermal performance

Parts That Need Special Handling

• Aluminum: Different prep required
• Cast iron: May need special powder
• Zinc/galvanized: Outgassing requires bake-out
• Chrome: Must strip first

Color and Finish Options

Standard Colors

The basics—always available:

• Gloss black
• Satin/matte black
• White
• Silver/gunmetal
• Red, blue, yellow (primary colors)

Specialty Finishes

Color Matching

Need to match an existing color?

• Body color: We can match most automotive colors
• RAL numbers: Industrial color standard
• Custom: We can attempt to match samples

Getting the Most from Powder Coating

Prep Work You Can Do

Before bringing parts:

• Remove all rubber, plastic, bearings
• Clean off major grease and grime
• Remove broken bolts if possible
• Note any areas needing masking

What We Handle

• Media blasting (sandblasting)
• Chemical pretreatment
• Masking critical areas
• Coating and curing
• Quality inspection

Making the Investment Worthwhile

Batch your parts: Coating 10 items at once is more efficient than 10 separate visits.

Plan ahead: If suspension is coming apart for other work, coat while it's off.

Think restoration: Perfect time to coat is when rebuilding.

Powder Coating at Blackout

We coat far more than just wheels.

What we offer:

• Wheels (obviously)
• Brake calipers
• Suspension components
• Roll bars and cages
• Engine parts
• Restoration work
• Custom color matching

Our setup:

• Large batch oven (handles full suspension, cages)
• Media blasting for proper prep
• Wide powder selection
• Quick turnaround for common projects

📞 Get a powder coating quote — describe what you want coated.

📍 Visit our Gilroy shop — see color samples and discuss options.

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Related Services

• Wheels: Wheel Powder Coating vs Paint
• Calipers: Brake Caliper Coating Guide
• Paint Protection: Ceramic Coating Services

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Powder Coating FAQs

Is powder coating more expensive than painting?

Initially yes—but it lasts 5-10x longer. Cost per year is often lower.

How long does powder coating take?

Most projects: 2-3 business days. Large batches or custom work may take longer.

Can you powder coat over existing coating?

Sometimes, but stripping to bare metal produces best results. We assess case-by-case.

Do you handle disassembly?

For wheels and calipers, yes. Complex disassembly (full suspension) may require additional labor or customer prep.

What's your minimum order?

No minimum—we'll coat a single bracket. But batching items is more cost-effective.