Fulcrum and check discs for shock absorber with optimized bleed range and tuneability

A kit for a shock absorber for a vehicle comprising:

• a pressure tube defining a fluid chamber;
• a piston configured to be disposed within the fluid chamber, the piston dividing the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, wherein the piston defines a pair of bleed passages and a blow off passage that extend through the piston between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber;
• a first fulcrum disc, the first fulcrum disc having a ring, a first fulcrum disc inner diameter, and a first fulcrum disc outer diameter;
• a first check disc, the first check disc having a ring, a first check disc inner diameter, a first check disc outer diameter, and one or more first radial extensions;
• a second fulcrum disc, the second fulcrum disc having a ring, a second fulcrum disc inner diameter, and a second fulcrum disc outer diameter, wherein the second fulcrum disc outer diameter is different from the first fulcrum disc outer diameter;
• and
• a second check disc, the second check disc having a ring, a second check disc inner diameter, a second check disc outer diameter, wherein the second check disc outer diameter is different from the first check disc outer diameter, and one or more second radial extensions;
• wherein only one of the first fulcrum disc and the second fulcrum disc and only one of the first check disc and the second check disc is included in the shock absorber based on a desired damping response.

A shock absorber for a vehicle comprising:

• a pressure tube defining a fluid chamber;
• a piston disposed within the fluid chamber, the piston dividing the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, wherein the piston comprises a first side, a second side, and a fluid passage that extends through the piston between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber;
• and
• a valve assembly comprising:
• a restriction disc proximate to the first side of the piston, the restriction disc including:
• a first ring;
• and
• a first finger extending radially outward from the first ring, the first finger configured to cover the fluid passage, the first finger having a first bleed orifice, wherein the first bleed orifice remains open regardless of position of the restriction disc;
• an orifice disc, wherein the restriction disc is between the orifice disc and the first side of the piston, the orifice disc including:
• a second ring;
• and
• a second finger extending radially outward from the second ring, having a second bleed orifice, wherein the second bleed orifice remains open regardless of position of the orifice disc, wherein the second finger of the orifice disc overlaps the first finger of the restriction disc, and wherein the second bleed orifice is aligned with the first bleed orifice;
• a check disc including:
• a third ring;
• and
• a third finger extending radially outward from the third ring, the third finger of the check disc is above the second finger of the orifice disc;
• and
• a fulcrum disc, wherein the fulcrum disc is between the orifice disc and the check disc, the fulcrum disc including a fourth ring.