Shock absorber including supplemental friction generating device

A shock absorber, comprising:

• a hydraulic fluid-filled cylinder;
• a piston moveably disposed within the cylinder;
• a piston rod attached to the piston;
• a rod guide positioned at an end of the cylinder that slidingly supports the piston rod;
• a piston rod seal including an inner circumferential surface sealably engaged with a peripheral surface of the piston rod to inhibit leakage of hydraulic fluid from the cylinder;
• and
• a friction member engaging the piston rod to provide a select amount of friction damping, the friction member including a flexible membrane that contacts the piston rod and a biasing member adapted to force the flexible membrane against the piston rod such that a given level of friction is developed therebetween, wherein the membrane includes a generally cup-shaped inner circumferential portion and the biasing member comprises a garter spring received in an opening defined by the inner circumferential portion.

A method for providing friction damping in a shock absorber, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hydraulic fluid-filled cylinder, a piston moveably disposed within the cylinder, a piston rod attached to the piston for movement therewith, a piston rod seal sealingly engaging the piston rod and adapted to inhibit leakage of hydraulic fluid from the cylinder, and a friction member engaging the piston rod, the friction member including a flexible membrane that contacts the piston rod and a biasing member adapted to apply a radially inwardly directed biasing force against the flexible membrane such that a given level of friction is developed by virtue of the flexible membrane forcibly contacting the piston rod;
• determining the level of friction damping desired in the shock absorber;
• and
• selecting a biasing member from a group of distinct biasing members, each biasing member adapted to apply a given biasing force against the flexible membrane when installed in the shock absorber.