Sound-dampened driving apparatus for fasteners

In combination, a braking assembly and a fluid operated fastener driving apparatus, the apparatus having a working cylinder and a substantially closed lower end thereof, a driving plunger guided in the working cylinder and mounted to a driving piston, the driving piston having a mounting portion tapering downwardly towards the driving plunger and a surface portion extending radially outwardly from the mounting portion, the braking assembly comprising a ring shaped buffer element positioned in the closed lower cylinder end and surrounding the driving plunger, said buffer element including two radially spaced inner and outer annular bead portions such that upon the downward movement of the driving piston against said buffer element, the mounting portion thereof engages and deforms said inner annular bead portion radially outwardly and upon the further downward movement of the driving piston, the outer annular bead portion is engaged and axially deformed by said surface portion of the driving piston.