A shock absorber for a vehicle, the shock absorber comprising:
- a pressure tube containing a hydraulic fluid;
- a piston rod extending within the pressure tube along a longitudinal axis, the piston rod comprising a piston end disposed within the pressure tube, 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, and at least one first opening disposed proximal to the lower chamber end and extending through the piston rod to fluidly communicate the rod chamber with the pressure tube;
- a first piston assembly slidably fitted in the pressure tube for movement along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first piston assembly is coupled to the piston rod and separates the pressure tube into a first working chamber and a second working chamber, the first piston assembly comprising a first valve assembly that controls fluid flow between the first working chamber and the second working chamber;
- an auxiliary housing disposed in the pressure tube and coupled to the piston rod proximal to the piston end, such that the first piston assembly is disposed between the rod chamber and the auxiliary housing relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the auxiliary housing is disposed in fluid communication with the rod chamber, the auxiliary housing comprising a second valve assembly that controls fluid flow between the second working chamber and the rod chamber;
- and
- a damper assembly comprising:
- a sleeve disposed at least partially within the rod chamber and extending at least between the upper chamber end and the lower chamber end, such that an inner chamber is defined within the sleeve and an annular chamber is defined between the sleeve and the piston rod, the sleeve comprising at least one second opening disposed proximal to the upper chamber end and extending through the sleeve to fluidly communicate the inner chamber with the annular chamber, wherein the at least one second opening is axially spaced apart from the at least one first opening relative to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a floating piston slidably received within the sleeve and separating the inner chamber into an upper inner chamber and a lower inner chamber, such that the at least one second opening fluidly communicates the upper inner chamber with the annular chamber and the lower inner chamber is disposed in fluid communication with the auxiliary housing.