Steve,
I have shock replacements on the way to do the front and rear of my 1975 911S. If there is oil in the old shock/strut tubes like the other guys found, do I leave it there when I put in the new inserts?

 

NO! Take an old fashioned suction gun (available at Pep Boys/Auto Zone), fit a longer hose, that will reach the strut bottom, to it (5/16th" usually works) and suck that oil out of there. It doesn't have to be dry, but there can't be standing liquid. Good luck with it...
Pete

 

Traditionally when you put in new inserts, most people will put some oil around the inserts to help conduct heat away from the insert and into the body of the strut. You really need some oil in there.

Matt

 

So I have one vote for take out tje oil and one vote for leave it in the strut tube. Anyone else?

 

I just did mine, I turned them upside down and cleaned them out.

 

Put some oil back in the tube as it provides a heat sink for the shock should it get too warm.

 

JFH75: (Steve, sorry I answered this, I didn't see that the question was originally directed to you!) However, now I have to say something: Factory manual, Volume 1, page SS 53, step "6" states, "Drain the hydraulic fluid from the strut casing and install the new insert." Original struts are assembled as though the outer tube of the strut is the actual shock body. When the strut is disassembled its oil is left behind in the strut's tube. The new shock is self-contained, and if the oil is not removed it will bottom out against that oil, which will prevent its retaining nut from being tightened. Also, there is no requirement for a "heat sink"...
Pete

 

Voting is good for policy; not the way to determine facts. ALso not all votes are equal. Consider or look up the backgrounds of the voters.

 

Hi Pete:

No worries man,.....please feel free to step in anytime you want!! I think everyone who reads these BBS's appreciates your experience & knowledge.

There are two schools of thought on this procedure; the factory one and the Bilstein one (who recommend a bit of oil in there to help transfer heat).

IMHO, its a question of degree,...... There is no question that if too much oil remains in the tube, you'll not be able to properly tighten the retaining nut. I've simply left 2 oz or so of the old oil and the nut tightens up very well.

One must be sure that the remaining shock oil is not up to the opening of the tube otherwise the nut may not tighten up properly.

On the whole, I don't think its critical unless someone is doing a lot of track events.

 

I put new Koni Classics in my car ('67 S) last year and the instructions called for adding a small amount of oil to the cases. Not sure about the heat factor, but another Porsche fan told me that it does help to reduce potential noise from shocks/struts.

Good luck!

 

Steve: Thank you!

Pete

 

The shocks and struts came today and thanks to the great discussion of my questions I think I'm ready to proceed (with a couple how-to manuals to guide me). Thanks guys.