Vibration damper for motor vehicles

A method for producing, providing corrosion protection for, and reducing friction in a vibration damper for a motor vehicle, the vibration damper of reducing transmission of vibrations between a wheel suspension of the motor vehicle and a frame of the motor vehicle, the vibration damper comprising an external tube, at least one fastening part disposed adjacent the external tube for fastening the external tube to one of:

• the wheel suspension and the body of the vehicle, the external tube having a first surface for being disposed in contact with the fastening part, and the fastening part having a second surface for being disposed in contact with the external tube, said method comprising the steps of:
• providing the external tube;
• providing the fastening part;
• depositing a protective layer of metallic aluminum on at least the first surfaced of the external tube and the second surface of the fastening part to at least one of:
• reduce friction between said first surface and said second surface during alternating loads produced during use, and
• increase corrosion protection of said first surface and said second surface,
• when said first surface and said second surface are disposed in contact with one another;
• welding the fastening part to the external tube with the first surface of the external tube being disposed in contact with the second surface of the fastening part;
• and
• performing said welding at a temperature such that the adjacent first and second surfaces do not attain a temperature at which a substantial portion of said protective layer of metallic aluminum on the first and second surfaces is vaporized.

A vibration damper for a motor vehicle, said vibration damper for damping transmission of vibrations between a wheel suspension of the motor vehicle and a frame of the motor vehicle, said vibration damper comprising:

• a tubular member;
• fastening means disposed on said tubular member for fastening said tubular member to one of:
• the vehicle body and the wheel suspension;
• first and second chambers disposed within said tubular member;
• piston means for separating said first chamber from said second chamber;
• a piston rod connected to said piston means, said piston rod for being connected to the other of the vehicle body and the wheel suspension;
• said tubular member having a first surface disposed in contact with said fastening means;
• said fastening means having a second surface disposed in contact with said tubular member;
• at least said first surface and said second surface comprising a protective layer of metallic aluminum disposed thereon, said protective layer of metallic aluminum being configured to provide at least one of:
• reduced friction between said tubular member and said fastening means during alternating loads produced during use, said reduced friction being less than friction between said tubular member and said fastening means without said protective layer of metallic aluminum;
• and
• increased corrosion protection for at least said contacting first and second surfaces, said increased corrosion protection being greater than corrosion protection without said protective layer of aluminum
• when said first surface and said second surface are disposed in contact with one another;
• and
• said vibration damper having been produced by a method comprising the steps of:
• depositing the protective layer of aluminum on at least the first surface of the external tube and the second surface of the fastening part;
• and
• welding the fastening part to the external tube with the first surface in contact with the second surface, said welding having been performed such that a temperature of the contacting surfaces did not attain a temperature at which a substantial portion of the metallic aluminum on the contacting surfaces was vaporized.