Don't paint them. I pulled the spring packs apart and wirebrushed them, then wiped them down with WD-40 before reassembly. That alone made them "lively" beyond belief for a few weeks, so teflon would dribble the driveline unless you have 4x4 shocks under it. After a while the WD-40 loses it's viscosity but it still protects the steel; over a year and not a speck of rust has formed.
