ok, i assume that since u didnt use a ground coat that you sanded the bar down to the metal? if it is not bare metal your using metalcast on you need the ground coat specific to the metalcast line.
L8R-
Sand it with 400 grit, you dont have to remove paint from obje3cts you just have to make sure you have sanded the ENTIRE surface pretty good, good enough that it is dull or rough looking, wont feel rough with 400grit though.
Then wash it to make sure you get all the dust off, on smaller parts or high detail parts it is always good to use a higher grade sandpaper and wwet sand the object once to get the smothest surface for the paint to sit on. This is not normally needed with the metalcast stuff.
After it is all sanded I do 2-3 ground coats with 10 minutes between coats to let it get tacky. then 30-45 minutes between ground coat and color coats. Which I do 3-5 of depending on what finish I want, again with 10-15 minutes between coats(in a dry climate, im in AZ, humid climates will require longer drying times)
Then I let all objects dry overnight before install.
Since metalcast IS a hi temp paint it wil actually cure the first few times you drive and it is soaked in the engine bay heat.
mine didnt crack at all when I put the strut back on and bolted. I tightened to real tight with a torque wrench by hand, the torque specs for a strut bar are kinda pointless as long as it is not loose at all.
