Well thats the first time I've seen rusty shock shafts, disappointing to say the least.. I have had similar arguments with the shock cap orings, and for me they seem to go better the less oil they have on them, others say oil them up, but they worked better dry. I have since taken an xacto knife to the caps, and created a slight bevel where the cap and oring meet, and that seems to have all but cured the issue for me..