A-Arms - What to do? Also New Seat picture

[Boomer]

I'm in the middle of upgrading my 03 suspension and need some advice. I ordered the the 11mm sway bar and straight rate springs from Bruce at Pioneer and will be putting in the Ohlins Clicker in the rear (Thanks 4Fighter!!). So as long as I had to take the front A-Arms half off, I figured take them all the way off and repaint, since they are showing some rust spots. (With a Silver LE, I hate the mono-chromatic paint theme, so I'm putting some Red accents on and want to paint the A-Arms red.)
What is the best way to get these stripped and covered - Sandblast? Sand? What? Also paint recommendations.
I took them to a local Powder Coat shop, but he wanted about $600 to strip,sandblast and coat!!! Give me some advice - please!! He also said it would cost more cause he claimed the arms are powder coated already! I didn't know Yamaha sent these things out of the factory already powder coated. Are they?
Also - just got the seat back from upholsterer- WOW. This guy did the best job I've seen yet. I took lots of pictures of the stock newer seat with me so he would know what to do. He did it. He had to replace the low triangular section, but it looks fantastic and feels great. Now I guess I 'll need risers too.

 

[welterracer]

I would get out some 220 sand paper or have them sand blasted and find a cheap local painter to paint them or you could always have some paint made and put in spray paint cans to use (although not as good)

$600 is he out of his tree??LOL

P.S. if i were you, i would have ordered the 13mm bar... its 10 times better than the 11mm

 

[Tork]

I second the 13 MM

Are the arms the red ones, those do look powder coated, the silver I cant tell.
Do you have a compressor? Could go to an Auto paint store and get the color you want and clear coat over it is good. Tell them what you want to do. Hardener might be good. I like Binks guns the best, get the nozzle they recommend.
or hit an auto body shop when you dont see a lot of wrecks in the lot, they may be slow and give you a great price.

 

[impalapower]

I don't think Yamaha powdercoated them. You could put epoxy primer and finish on them they surely will outlast the paint, however, I don't know the costs.

 

[Tork]

I don't think Yamaha powdercoated them. You could put epoxy primer and finish on them they surely will outlast the paint, however, I don't know the costs.

I use 2 part epoxy industrial coatings quite often. Very durable, but metallics are tough to find. The 'epoxy' in the cans is junk IMHO. If you use the 2 part dont leave it in your gun overnight

 

[Boomer]

From what I could tell the 13mm made the front a lot stiffer than I would like. I just wanted to reduce the ski lift some. I'm not a real aggresive rider so hopefully 11mm will be an improvement. I'm only a couple years from AARP membership so I'm slowing down
They are silver and most of the rust is on the flat brackets and around the welds and especially back in those areas you can't get to except with sandblasting. How about rustoleum?

 

[MOTOWN SPEEDFREEK]

Have them powder coated By CCP. CURT over there is a hell of a nice guy. GO to LINKS to get the number. Buy the way ,tell him SPEEDFREEK sent you.

 

[DaveyBoy]

Get them powder coated But not for $600.00 that guy is outta his mind I just got mine done and was nowhere near that price But i then traded some work so it wont cost me as much either and we are both happy

 

[Red2003]

I second the powder coating. $600.00 is rediculous. Should be able to beat that by half or better. If not, have them sand blasted and sprayed. Or, go get a set of aftermarket arms. They'll be wider, if you want, and already powder coated. I believe you can get aftermarket arms in aluminum as well and never have to repaiint them because of rust.

 

[4Fighter]

Hey Boomer, you're welcome!

How about some pics of that seat, who did it, how much, and how do we contact them...PLEASE?

 

[Boomer]

OK New Info.
Took the arms to a couple new places today. $50.00 to blast them and $215.00 to powder coat them for total of $265.00 + tax.
Is this a reasonable price?

Here's a pic of the new seat with 2" of foam and a new Red bottom piece to go with the new red accents. This cost $100. Anybody who wants me to help get theirs done, PM me.

 

[xc8j]

WOW that seat is HOT! Jay

 

[98Slim]

Boomer the seat looks awesome. Ready for my red hand guards yet? I had the 11mm on my 03, with longer links and straight rate springs...still would lift the ski. 13mm might be the way to go. later D

 

[4Fighter]

Very nice For $100, and the color change, you got a heck of a deal.

 

[STORM-CHASER]

I like the seat. are you ging to add more red? look sweet