An extension assembly for a damper includes an extension post having an upper end and a lower end opposite to the upper end. The extension post includes a coupling portion, a narrow portion defining a deformed section, and a wide portion disposed between the coupling portion and the narrow portion. A diameter of the wide portion is greater than a diameter of the narrow portion. The extension assembly includes a retaining member having a sleeve portion received on the narrow portion of the extension post and a plurality of support portions extending from the sleeve portion. Further, the deformed section of the narrow portion secures the retaining member to the narrow portion. The extension assembly further includes a sealing ring disposed around the retaining member. The sealing ring is disposed between the wide portion of the extension post and the plurality of support portions of the retaining member.

A control apparatus for a suspension apparatus, includes: a vehicle speed acquiring section which acquires a vehicle speed as a speed of a vehicle; an acquisition section which acquires a stroke velocity of the suspension apparatus; a contribution ratio determining section which determines a contribution ratio between a first parameter and a second parameter based on the vehicle speed, the first parameter serving for controlling a damping force in a first speed region of the vehicle, the second parameter serving for controlling the damping force in a second speed region which is a speed region higher in speed than the first speed region; a change amount restricting section which restricts a change amount of the contribution ratio; and a damping force controlling section which controls the damping force of the suspension apparatus based on the restricted contribution ratio and the stroke velocity.

A mounting eye (21) is fastened to a rod by pushing, partially or over an entire periphery, an outer periphery of a joint portion of a mounting eye into an annular groove of the rod. Accordingly, an axial length of a fastening portion can be set shorter than that of a related-art structure (screw fastening), thereby being capable of securing a stroke of the rod of a shock absorber in which the mounting eye is fastened to the rod.

A damping force adjustable shock absorber includes a flow path (an oil passage of a piston) in which a flow of hydraulic fluid is generated due to a movement of a piston rod, and a damping force adjustment valve provided in the flow path and configured to be subjected to an adjustment of an opening/closing operation by a solenoid. A frequency adaptive mechanism is provided in the flow path in series with the damping force adjustment valve. The frequency adaptive mechanism is configured to reduce a damping force for a high-frequency vibration. The frequency adaptive mechanism includes a second valve mechanism (a compression-side damping force generation valve and an extension-side damping force generation valve) configured to apply a resistance force to a flow of the hydraulic fluid from an upstream-side chamber (an upper-portion chamber or a lower-portion chamber) to a downstream-side chamber (the lower-portion chamber or the upper-portion chamber).

A shock absorber for a vehicle includes an inner tube at least partially defining an inner fluid compartment and an outer tube enclosing at least in part the inner tube therein. Together, the inner tube and the outer tube at least partially define an outer fluid compartment therebetween. The inner tube defines a bypass zone having a plurality of bypass apertures that fluidly communicate the inner fluid compartment with the outer fluid compartment. A piston is movably mounted within the inner tube and moves in compression and in rebound. The piston defines a piston passage extending through the piston for permitting fluid flow between a first side and second side of the piston. An electronically controlled valve is connected to the piston and controls fluid flow through the piston passage. A method for controlling the shock absorber is also disclosed.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

An anti-roll bar link for a vehicle suspension may be positioned between an anti-roll bar and an articulating arm. The link selectively transfers movement of the arm to the bar, depending on a locked or unlocked state. The link includes a body interfacing a slidable shaft. A valve selectively controls flow of a damping fluid between an inner chamber of the body and a remote chamber. In the locked state, flow of the damping fluid is restricted at least in a direction from the inner chamber to the remote chamber, and movement of the arm is transferred through the link to the bar. In the unlocked state, flow of the damping fluid is permitted in this direction, and movement of the arm causes the shaft to translate with respect to the body such that at least a portion of the movement is not transferred to the bar.

A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.

Altering the damping rate of a vehicle suspension damper. A pressure of a damping fluid is exerted against a second valve mechanism connected to the vehicle suspension damper. The pressure of the damping fluid is increased beyond a threshold of the second valve mechanism that is adjustable by an adjustment member. The adjustment member is exposed through a high pressure side of the vehicle suspension damper. The second valve mechanism is then opened.

A shock absorber includes a first passage (92) through which a working fluid flows out from a chamber that is an upstream side to a chamber (23) that is a downstream side due to movement of a piston (21), a first damping force generating mechanism (41) provided in the first passage (92) to generate a damping force, a second passage (182) provided separately from the first passage (92), a second damping force generating mechanism (183) provided in the second passage (182) and opened to generate a damping force when a piston speed is lower than that of the first damping force generating mechanism (41), a third passage (512) provided separately from the second passage (182), a volume variable mechanism (186) provided in the third passage (512), a fourth passage (521) provided separately from the third passage (512), and a relief mechanism (522) provided in the fourth passage (521) and opened after the second damping force generating mechanism (183) is opened.