Rebuilding Konis...oil in strut?

[Fishcop]

G'morning Gurus (well it is here anyway).

I've just pulled out all my Koni shocks for a rebuild. Inside the fronts, I found the cartridges to be sitting in an oil bath....what is the purpose of this? Should I get rid of it, use it again, or replace it with new oil (what weight and how much)?

When I have the shocks rebuilt, is there anything extra I should have done whilst they are in there? These units are the adjustable ones.

Thanks

[Tyson Schmidt]

The oil is in there to help transfer the heat from the strut insert out to the strut body where it can be dissipated. I usually use ATF, but it really doesn't matter what you use.

[Fishcop]

Thanks Tyson,

Do I put the insert back in and then fill oil to the brim, or just half-way or what?

Cheers

[Tyson Schmidt]

Fill it up about 2/3rds of the way, so you don't end up with a mess. Put the insert in first, then fill. If you fill it first, then install the insert, it will almost certainly overflow all the oil and make a big mess all over your brakes, etc. and you'll be cursing and cleaning. (just a guess you know, never happened to me personally... )

[Fishcop]

Terrific Tyson, thanks for your help.

PS to anyone reading this: Real easy job, much easier than I thought it would be!