All I can add to this is, if you decide to leave them raw (colored) and just clear over them, the regular acrylic enamel spray can clearcoat does NOT seal the metal. I scuffed my tie rod with a scotch brite pad, cleaned it good with wax and grease remover, and cleared over the raw metal. It looked great...for about a week...then it began to rust, right under the clearcoat, so you could see it plain as day. I talked to a body shop, and they said either use automotive grade clear mixed with a hardener, so it seals the metal, or paint it with a metal color paint, and then the spray can clear will be fine.