A method for servicing a dual-stage, mixed gas/fluid shock strut may comprise measuring a servicing temperature, charging a secondary gas chamber with compressed gas, wherein a secondary chamber pressure corresponds to the servicing temperature, pumping oil into a primary chamber of the shock strut, and charging the primary chamber with compressed gas.

A vibration damper for a motor vehicle includes an outer tube and an inner tube arranged coaxially within the outer tube. A guide unit closes the outer tube and the inner tube in each case at a first end. A bottom unit has a bottom valve. The bottom unit is arranged at a second end of the inner tube. The outer tube and the inner tube are deformed plastically, such that the guide unit is connected in a positively locking manner to the outer tube and the inner tube, and the inner tube being deformed plastically, such that the bottom unit is connected in a positively locking manner to the inner tube, and/or the outer tube and the inner tube is connected in an integrally joined manner to the guide unit, and the inner tube being connected in an integrally joined manner to the bottom unit.

A method of manufacturing a damper tube is provided. The method includes providing a tube having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The method includes providing a reinforcing insert, at least partly, within the first end of the tube. The method includes flattening a portion of the first end of the tube. The method also includes bending at least one of the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion of the first end of the tube into a loop. The method further includes connecting an edge of the loop to the tube.

A mechanism for electronically adjusting a shock absorber includes a cartridge that is located on the fluid path between the main body of the shock absorber and a damping reservoir. A piston valve is mounted for reciprocal movement inside an elongated chamber of the cartridge, and a solenoid is mounted on the cartridge to interact with the piston valve. In operation, the solenoid is electronically controlled to selectively move the piston valve into various positons in the cartridge chamber to thereby vary the volume of liquid flow along the fluid path which will adjust the response characteristics of the shock absorber.

A method of manufacturing a shock absorber includes inserting a floating piston into a tube, disposing oil into the tube, and inserting a piston-rod assembly into the tube. The piston-rod assembly has a piston coupled to a rod. The method includes inserting a rod guide assembly into the tube. The rod guide assembly includes a sintered metal rod guide having a seat and a seal disposed in the seat. The rod extends through the seal. The method also includes deforming a wall of the tube into engagement with the sintered metal rod guide to provide a piston-cylinder assembly and inhibit axial movement of the rod guide assembly relative to the tube. The method further includes pressurizing the piston-cylinder assembly and forming a flange portion of the tube over an upper surface of the sintered metal rod guide.

An electronically controller external damper reservoir assembly (eRESI) can be connected to a passive damper and/or substituted for an existing external reservoir to provide semi-active damping control. The eRESI includes a reservoir and a variable base valve assembly actuated by an actuator. A controller is in communication with the actuator and a sensor providing input signal indicative of vehicle movement and is programmed to generate a damping control signal to the actuator based on the input signal, to dynamically control the damping force outputted by a passive damper hydraulically connected to the eRESI. A P/T sensor can be installed to a gas chamber of a vehicle damper to generate a P/T signal indicative of the pressure and temperature of the gas. The controller is programmed to determine a damper position of the damper based on the P/T signal.

An electronically controller external damper reservoir assembly (eRESI) can be connected to a passive damper and/or substituted for an existing external reservoir to provide semi-active damping control. The eRESI includes a reservoir and a variable base valve assembly actuated by an actuator. A controller is in communication with the actuator and a sensor providing input signal indicative of vehicle movement and is programmed to generate a damping control signal to the actuator based on the input signal, to dynamically control the damping force outputted by a passive damper hydraulically connected to the eRESI. A P/T sensor can be installed to a gas chamber of a vehicle damper to generate a P/T signal indicative of the pressure and temperature of the gas. The controller is programmed to determine a damper position of the damper based on the P/T signal.

A bracket comprises a body extending along a center axis between a first end and a second end. The body defines a first groove and a second groove. The first groove, located at the first end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a first slanted surface. The second groove, located at the second end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a second slanted surface. A pair of coupling members including a first and a second coupling member are respectively located in the first and second grooves for engagement with a housing of a hydraulic damper assembly. The first end includes at least one first deformation for retaining the first coupling member. The second end includes at least one second deformation for retaining the second coupling member. A hydraulic damper assembly including the bracket and a method of joining the bracket and the hydraulic damper assembly are also disclosed herein.

A shock strut servicing assistance system may comprise a controller including a display, and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller. The tangible, non-transitory memory may have instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising calculating, by the controller, a first fluid level, generating, by the controller, a first datum corresponding to the first fluid level, receiving, by the shock strut, a fluid in response to the first datum, calculating, by the controller, a second fluid level, generating, by the controller, a second datum, and storing, by the controller, a final fluid level.

A torque link assembly for a shock strut includes an upper torque link that is selectively retained in a stowed position when uncoupled from a lower torque link. The upper torque link includes first and second coaxial lugs that rotatably couple the upper torque link to an alignment feature. A latch mechanism includes a latch fitting rotatably coupled to either the upper torque link or the alignment feature. The latch mechanism further includes a stop fitting fixedly coupled to the other of the upper torque link and the alignment feature. The latch fitting engages the stop fitting to maintain the upper torque link in the stowed position. At least one of the latch fitting and stop fitting is positioned between the first and second lugs of the upper torque link.