Suspension strut metal-to-metal jounce stop

A shock-absorbing assembly for use in a suspension system for an automotive vehicle, the assembly operatively connected between sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle, the assembly comprising a shock unit having a piston rod extending through an opening in one upper end thereof disposed for reciprocal movement along a principal axis of said unit, a mount fixed on an upper end of the piston rod adapted for attachment to the sprung mass, an annular support member located subjacent the upper mount, a metal-to-metal jounce stop arrangement for the assembly comprising:

• means supporting an annular radially extending jounce stopper ledge adjacent said unit upper end;
• a cylindrical metal canister fixed to and extending downwardly from an underside of the support member concentrically disposed on said unit principal axis, an elastomeric jounce bumper concentrically positioned on an upper portion of the rod having an upper end face in flush abutment with a central portion of the support member and a lower end face spaced a predetermined dimension above said unit upper end with the assembly in a static design mode;
• said canister in said design mode concentrically encircling an upper portion of said bumper with its lower extremity defining an annular stopper edge vertically positioned intermediate said bumper upper and lower end faces so as to define a predetermined maximum axial jounce dimension between said canister stopper edge and said unit stopper ledge;
• wherein upon the assembly undergoing maximum jounce travel said canister stopper edge contacting said unit stopper ledge said jounce bumper being compressed a predetermined axial dimension between said support member and said unit upper end obviating over-compression of said bumper thereby increasing the service-life thereof.