Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube containing a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber further includes a piston rod extending within the pressure tube along a longitudinal axis, and including a piston end disposed within the pressure tube. The piston rod includes a rod chamber defined within the piston rod and extending along the longitudinal axis from an upper chamber end distal to the piston end to a lower chamber end proximal to the piston end. The piston rod further includes at least one first opening disposed proximal to the lower chamber end. The shock absorber further includes a first piston assembly, an auxiliary housing, and a damper assembly including a sleeve received within the rod chamber.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube containing a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber further includes a piston rod extending within the pressure tube along a longitudinal axis, and including a piston end disposed within the pressure tube. The piston rod includes a rod chamber defined within the piston rod and extending along the longitudinal axis from an upper chamber end distal to the piston end to a lower chamber end proximal to the piston end. The piston rod further includes at least one first opening disposed proximal to the lower chamber end. The shock absorber further includes a first piston assembly, an auxiliary housing, and a damper assembly including a sleeve received within the rod chamber.

Abstract: A method of forming a dirt shield on a shock absorber includes positioning a mold over a portion of the shock absorber, heat shrinking a sleeve onto the mold, and removing the mold from the portion of the shock absorber such that the sleeve after heat shrinking remains on the shock absorber and forms the dirt shield. The shock absorber includes a piston rod, a mount rigidly attached to the piston rod, and a bushing secured to the mount. Prior to heat shrinking the sleeve, the sleeve slides over the bushing, and after heat shrinking the sleeve the bushing has an outer dimension greater than an inner dimension of the dirt shield. Also, a plurality of sleeves having the same inner dimension is used to form a plurality of dirt shields having different inner dimensions.

Abstract: A method of forming a dirt shield on a shock absorber includes positioning a mold over a portion of the shock absorber, heat shrinking a sleeve onto the mold, and removing the mold from the portion of the shock absorber such that the sleeve after heat shrinking remains on the shock absorber and forms the dirt shield. The shock absorber includes a piston rod, a mount rigidly attached to the piston rod, and a bushing secured to the mount. Prior to heat shrinking the sleeve, the sleeve slides over the bushing, and after heat shrinking the sleeve the bushing has an outer dimension greater than an inner dimension of the dirt shield. Also, a plurality of sleeves having the same inner dimension is used to form a plurality of dirt shields having different inner dimensions.