[chrisf]

you are missing a very important detail here. When you order new inserts, you are going to recieve a fully assembled, self-contained unit. SELF CONTAINED. The new insert is the shock itself. The strut (assembly) serves merely as a housing for this new insert. You will toss that mess you pulled out of the strut housing away. No need for it. (wait till your car is back on the road again.)

LOOK AGAIN AT MY PICTURE ABOVE. it's fully self contained. YOU ARE NO LONGER USING THE STRUT ASSEMBLY AS THE OUTER HOUSING FOR THE SHOCK.

This is, off course, if you are infact going to order new, replacement inserts. Now, if you are going to have your old original shock inards rebuilt, that's another story and I really don't have any knowledge on that.

Look at my picture above, again. FULLY SELF CONTAINED. No oil/fluid needed for any damping action.

Hey Fritz, take a look at your picture from above. The upper part is what I call the strut or strut assembly. The lower part is what I'm referring to as the "inards". It looks original. There is relative motion between these two parts, originally. If you order new inserts, there will be no relative motion between your strut assembly, and what you will drop down inside. The new insert will simpley drop in (I actually had to push and use the new top gland nut to fully seat the new insert).

I hope this helps.

~Chris