Abstract: A valve for use in a vehicle damper provides a predictable, repeatable clamping force without requiring close tolerancing of parts. The valve includes a valve body having a compression orifice and a rebound orifice extending therethrough. The valve assembly further includes a rebound disk located adjacent the first surface and covering the rebound orifice, and a compression disk located adjacent the second surface and covering the compression orifice. The valve includes a fastener having a head and a shaft extending through the valve assembly, the fastener holding the valve body, the rebound disk and the compression disk in close engagement such that when the valve assembly is immersed in fluid, fluid can be forced through the compression orifice when the pressure of the fluid urges the compression disk away from the compression orifice and fluid can be forced through the rebound orifice when the pressure of the fluid urges the rebound disk away from the rebound orifice.

Abstract: A damper piston assembly includes a rod, a piston, a rivet disk, and a spring. The piston surrounds the rod between a riveted end and a longitudinal stop of the rod. The piston includes a valve assembly having a valve body with an orifice extending therethrough. The rivet disk surrounds the rod and has an opening for fluid communication with the orifice. The rivet disk is longitudinally secured between the piston and the riveted end of the rod. The spring is positioned in compression longitudinally between the rivet disk and the longitudinal stop of the rod.

Abstract: A suspension damper or shock absorber for a vehicle suspension system includes a piston assembly across which damping fluid is metered to control relative movement between the vehicle body and chassis. The piston assembly includes a piston plate in which a first set of openings are provided for fluid communication during the rebound stroke of the piston assembly and a second set of openings for communication of damping fluid during the opposite compression stroke. A wall circumscribes the first set of openings to define a recess receiving damping fluid from the first set of openings. A valve disc engages the wall and opens at a predetermined pressure differential. At pressure differentials less than the predetermined pressure differential, highly restricted flow is permitted through a bypass passage formed by a coined depression in the rim of the wall having a continuously curved, preferably semicircular cross section, to provide damping for low level inputs.

Abstract: A damper piston assembly includes a rod, a piston, a rivet disk, and a spring. The piston surrounds the rod between a riveted end and a longitudinal stop of the rod. The piston includes a valve assembly having a valve body with an orifice extending therethrough. The rivet disk surrounds the rod and has an opening for fluid communication with the orifice. The rivet disk is longitudinally secured between the piston and the riveted end of the rod. The spring is positioned in compression longitudinally between the rivet disk and the longitudinal stop of the rod.