Step Bar Powder Coating

Mickey Wilcock · Jun 18, 2013

So I am looking at getting my factory step bars Powder Coated. I have a 2001 Silver.

My question is should I try to match the original color(gray?) with the powder coat (the shop I will use has 100's of color options) or go with black? I am leaning towards black as I have future plans for a black push/bull/brush bar of some sort.

Just looking for opinions and any pics that might be helpful

Richard L · Jun 19, 2013

First you need to realize that the step bars are a metal tube with curved plastic caps on the end. You can powder coat the bars, but not the curved end caps...they will not withstand the 400 degree temperatures needed to cure the powder paint.

On my 2001 Sport Trac, I had my step bars painted to match the paint color of my truck (Toreador Red). The the tubes were clear coated, but the end caps where clear coated with a special "Stone Guard" clear coat that is softer and does not chip if the tires kick up a stone. Worked great...after 3 years of used, they looked like they were just painted.

The Stone Guard clear coat is often used on the lower rocker panels of some cars where the body roll under and that area is susceptible to chipping because it is so low and right behind the front tires.

If you can get a powder coat to match the original grey, then do the bars, but you will not be able to powder coat the plastic end caps.....but you can certainly paint them to match. If they get scuffed up, you can simply remove the end caps and repaint them when needed. They have a metal core and are held in place by a bold through the bottom of the step bar tube.

...Rich

Mickey Wilcock · Jun 19, 2013

thanks for the info. I as aware of the end caps but did not know about a the special stone guard clear coat. Do you know if that is something readily available, perhaps in spray can form if I were to paint them myself?

Richard L · Jun 19, 2013

Don't know if you can buy the Stone Guard clear coat in a spray can? I kind of doubt it. I had a body shop paint my step bars, and they suggested using the Stone Guard clear coat just on the plastic front and rear end caps., so had them used that...It did not cost me any more than a regular clear coat since most of the cost is in the labor, but it works really well for locations near the tires where they are subjected to getting hit by stones kicked up by the tires.

I don't know if the official name is "Stone Guard", but that's what my body shop called it?

...Rich

Duane Foster · Jun 19, 2013

Regular paint is somewhat brittle. That's why it chips when rocks hit it. Awhile back, a flex agent/additive was developed that allows paint, or clear coat, to flex and absorb the blows from rocks instead of chipping. I think it's commonly used on lower rocker panels and all the flexible plastic and rubberized body parts used on cars today. Regular paint wouldn't stay on them when they flex. It's not really a special paint, but rather an additive that can be added to any color paint. It's probably more compatible with certain type paints. If we had our cladding painted by a body shop, I'm sure they would add a flex additive to the paint. It would probably be a good choice for your step bars, and cheaper than powder coating.

If you just want to paint the endcaps yourself, look for Krylon Fusion or another quality paint intended for plastics.

If I'm off base on what I said above, somebody please correct me!

Richard L · Jun 19, 2013

Duane,

Flex paint additives have been around for a long time...ever since plastic bumpbers were put on cars.

There are additives that can be used in color or clear coat paint to allow for flexing of the plastic without cracking the paint. Stone Guard is not an additive it is a clear coat paint that goes on like a clear coat, but when it dries it is very soft like a clear silicone rubber that stones just bounce off. Kind of like a clear LineX coating. You can actually feel how soft it is and how it cushions and protects the color coat from rock chips.

If you look at many cars with painted plastic bumpers you will see that they do chip and they have the flex additive, but it is only to protect the paint from cracking if the plastic bumper flexes.

...Rich