My new project and problems

I found the pitman arm nut, so the front suspension is complete except for my mistakes. I tore two brand new PST boots and PST doesn't sell them without balljoints. Any ideas, please?
I'm trying to paint everything, but I don't know much about painting and now the weather is too hot and dry to paint. Do I need to strip the old paint or can I paint over it? If I paint over do I primer bare metal? And how do you clean the drums, lca and other parts that can't use a wire wheel? I don't think a shop can dip some things because I have nice rubber in them.