The present disclosure relates to a shock absorber having a pressure tube forming a pressure chamber. A piston rod is disposed within the pressure chamber. A reserve tube defines a reserve chamber adjacent the pressure tube. A rod guide assembly is concentrically disposed about the piston rod and the pressure chamber and houses a plurality of digital valves. Each one of the digital valves includes a component which is moveable between an open state and a closed state, and thus helps to control a fluid flow between the pressure chamber and the reserve chamber. An electronic control system is disposed on a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and controls actuation of the digital valves. At least one additional valve is associated with one of the digital valves for further controlling a flow of fluid between the pressure chamber and the reserve chamber.

A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.

A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.

A monotube shock absorber which is capable of high compression damping forces while operating at low pressure for reduced friction is disclosed. The monotube shock absorber includes a pressure tube, a piston assembly, a piston rod, a fixed valve assembly and a floating piston. A variety of methods for securing the fixed valve assembly to the pressure tube are disclosed including use of single piece pressure tubes and pressure tube assemblies. In addition, a method for assembling the monotube shock absorber including an oil filling technique is described.

A damper assembly includes a housing having a tubular shape defining a main chamber extending along a center axis. A piston is movable along the center axis and divides the main chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. The piston includes a piston body defining a frequency-adaptive orifice (FAO) passage providing fluid communication between the compression chamber and the rebound chamber. The piston includes an FAO valve assembly having an FAO cover member configured to block fluid flow therethrough in response to application of a low-frequency excitation, and allowing fluid flow through the FAO passage in response to application of a high-frequency excitation. The FAO valve assembly also includes a tappet configured to translate relative to the piston body to bias the FAO cover member to selectively cover the FAO passage in response to the application of the low-frequency excitation.

A suspension system configured to exhibit low variance in vehicle ride frequency over a large range of vehicle loads. The suspension system includes a strut having a cylinder and a piston configured to reciprocate in the cylinder. The suspension system also includes a vessel coupled to the strut, and a valve in an interior chamber of the vessel. The valve divides the interior chamber into a first liquid volume and a second liquid volume. The suspension system also includes a hydraulic accumulator having a volume and a liquid volume. The suspension system further includes a compressible liquid in the cylinder, the first liquid volume in the vessel, and the second liquid volume in the vessel, and a spring element in the volume of the hydraulic accumulator.

A damper includes a damper housing, a fluid chamber in the damper housing, a damping fluid in the fluid chamber, a piston displaceable in the fluid chamber, a piston rod connected to the piston, and a volume compensating device in the damper housing. The volume compensating device compensates for a displaceable volume of the damping fluid when the piston rod is immersed into the fluid chamber, and includes a seal to seal the fluid chamber relative to the piston rod and/or relative to an inner wall of the damper housing, a support element to guide the seal, a spring element to reset the seal after a damping stroke at least partially into an initial position. The spring element, the seal, and/or the support element form a common compensating member having an integral one-piece configuration. The compensating member is configured to bear loosely against a cover for closing the damper housing.