Digressive valve for a damper

A damper having a shimmed piston, comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a first end and a fastener configured to retain the piston on the first end, the piston having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first valve extending therethrough;
• and
• a first shim assembly disposed around the elongate shaft at the first end and adjacent to the distal end of the piston, the first shim assembly comprising:
• a first shim having a first bleed port in fluid communication with the first valve and a central aperture configured to receive the elongate shaft, the first shim configured to overlap the first valve at the distal end of the piston;
• a first ring shim assembled to the first end of the elongate shaft and configured to abut the first shim;
• a second shim installed at the first end of the elongate shaft, the second shim interfacing a radially inward projection of the first ring shim and having a first bleed relief such that when the second shim abuts the radially inward projection of the first ring shim, the first bleed relief provides a fluid path across the second shim along a surface of the first ring shim;
• and
• a third shim positioned at a distance from the second shim, wherein the third shim is configured to deflect away from the piston as a result of a contact force by the second shim during deflection of the second shim as a result of damping fluid flow through the first valve.