Any recommendations on a good durable paint finish for wishbones, hubs, uprights etc.

Powder coat.

Satin chassis black, or POR15 if you're feeling flush.

I'm sure someone will now suggest hammer/smoothrite, but you specified durable

You were right IanK
I wouldn't touch powder coating. It's not as durable as people like you to believe (I've seen it wear through on a hand-rail in under two years) and, more to the point, it can continue to look good (ie flat and shiny) long after the steel or aluminium beneath has started to rot away. And it's expensive.

Bitumastic paint is cheap and cheerful, tolerant of poor surface preparation and easy to apply (no mixing or primer required). But in my experience it does not offer any longterm protection against corrosion and often passes a visual inspection whilst the corrosion underneath is only inhibited, not stopped.

If it were me I would , etch-prime, reprime with Rust Stop or Zinc 182 then use smooth Hammerite or a good quality semi gloss paint to your chosen colour.

[Edited on 20/6/07 by pauldm]

Etch primer followed by 2 coats of Aldi's gloss black metal paint for me

Cheers
Alex

zink baised etch primer followed by high build primer. flatted back and then 2coats of base 2k paint and 2coats of 2k laqure.

I did this for the whole car, Took aggggess and cost a fair bit but looks the nuts

Well my favoured method is.....

1. Shot blast (cheap to get done)
2. Wash and dry thoroughly
3. Wram the part using a heat gun (or SWMBO's hair dryer )
4. 3 light coats of Red Oxide spray can primer
5. Warm again
6. 3-4 light coats of Plastikote spray can satin enamel paint
7. Leave to fully harden for 2-3 days
8. 2-3 light coats of clear laquer.
9 Leave to fully harden for 2-3 days
10 Fit the painted part, stand back and admire

Cheap enough to do if a little time consuming, but provides a good looking durable finish IMHO.

Yup. Just like it's just been said.
Another vote for Plasticote. It seems to be less fragile than Hammerite. Although good, Hammerite seems to chip off quite easily (I think it goes quite rigid and therefore fragile)...

Also, Plasticote black satin creates a very similar appearance to my powder coated parts....

Hammerite 50-50 with petrol is a bit softer and lasts longer than std Hammerite very very shiny like glass on smoothrite.
(takes a bit longer to dry )