Yes, might want to stabilize that rocket you're sending up - you don't want it tilting off and exploding once the "Launch" button is pushed.
Went looking for some info, so I took a guess...
Found this thread which mentions the "caps" and tuning for lowest SWR reflection - might be worth a read...
http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=19940.0
But too, the thing if it's what I think it is, uses an anodized aluminum tube to house this all in, if it's oxidized, then there is part of your problem - trying to make goo contacts with all parts thru the tubing.
Can you spare a pic to show us that filter - lots of members out here - one or two may know how to help you in aligning that filter.
In my efforts with "filtering" - there were several ways to "fix" goofy SWR but it never truly made the system any better - you were just "less worried" about the radio blowing it's finals. Hence the "Tuning Stub" methods. They helped when I was in an Apartment complex and needed to fix TVI problems. It's not a cure all, but if you post a pic of the Filter - you may have several "wave traps" in there for fine trimming or "notch filter" for specific TVI problems.
The filtering from back then was for NSTC stuff, the Analog days, with everything digital now, those methods are now moot - now they are more concerned with Out Of Band interference stuff.
Considering the design, the filter innards appear to be accessible - with would not be a bad idea to carefully back out the screws and see if you can use some alcohol wipes and even some elbow grease to burnish some of those connection points clean - you may need to "drill out" the SO-239's rivets and reinstall more dedicated bolt/nut stuff.
This is a labor of love - you have some work ahead of you but CB was never about simple forever - you start out simple - it gets more complex from there...