Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper

A suspension fork and an air bleed assembly combination, comprising:

• a lower fork tube and an upper fork tube, wherein the lower fork tube and upper fork tube are configured to engage telescopically, and further wherein the lower fork tube contains an oil bath lubrication within an area thereof;
• a seal configured for closing a gap between the lower fork tube and the upper fork tube when they are telescopically engaged, such that the oil bath lubrication within the lower fork tube is prevented from leaking out from the lower fork tube;
• an upper bushing positioned within the lower fork tube and adjacent to the seal;
• a fluid passage disposed between an interior of the lower fork tube and an exterior of the lower fork tube, wherein the fluid passage is located below the seal when the suspension fork is properly mounted on a vehicle;
• and
• an air bleed assembly disposed on the lower fork tube, said air bleed assembly configured for equalizing air pressure within the lower fork tube with local ambient air pressure, said air bleed assembly comprising:
• a manually operable valve coupled to the fluid passage, wherein the manually operable valve is configured to prevent substantially all of the oil bath lubrication in the lower fork tube from leaking out of the lower fork tube when air trapped inside the lower fork tube at an air pressure higher than a local ambient air pressure is relieved to equalize air pressure between the interior and the exterior of the lower fork tube.