Monotube damper

A monotube damper comprising:

• cylindrical tube:
• a piston sealingly and slidably carried within the cylindrical tube, the piston separating the cylindrical tube into extension and compression chambers:
• a piston rod connected to the piston and extending therefrom:
• a rod guide assembly surrounding the piston rod and including a one piece rod guide body with a lower annular leg with a hub and an upper annular skirt:
• a lower bushing supporting the piston rod and carried by the hub;
• an upper bushing spaced away from the lower bushing, supporting the piston rod and carried within the upper annular skirt;
• and
• an outer seal assembly contacting the rod guide and positioned outside the upper bushing and an inner seal assembly contacting the rod and positioned inside the upper bushing;
• wherein the cylindrical tube includes an upper end formed closed with an annular leg and a radial groove together capturing the rod guide assembly in an aligned orientation and wherein the damper includes a maximized active travel length due to a mating overlap of the rod guide assembly with the piston.

A monotube damper comprising:

• a cylindrical tube;
• a piston sealingly and slidably carried within the cylindrical tube including an annular skirt and a lower rebound cutoff element, the piston separating the cylindrical tube into extension and compression chambers;
• a piston rod connected to the piston and extending therefrom;
• and
• a rod guide assembly surrounding the piston rod and including a lower annular leg with a hub and an upper rebound cutoff element wherein when the damper is in a fully extended position the lower annular leg is received within the lower rebound cutoff element the lower rebound cutoff element is received within the upper rebound cutoff element and the upper rebound cutoff element is received within the annular skirt of the piston.

A monotube damper comprising:

• a cylindrical tube;
• a piston sealingly and slidably carried within the cylindrical tube including an annular skirt and a lower rebound cutoff element, the piston separating the cylindrical tube into extension and compression chambers;
• a piston rod connected to the piston and extending therefrom;
• a bearing washer positioned around the piston rod adjacent the lower rebound cutoff element;
• and
• a rod guide assembly surrounding the piston rod and including a lower annular leg with a hub and an upper rebound cutoff element wherein when the damper is in a fully extended position the lower annular leg is received within the lower rebound cutoff element, the lower rebound cutoff element is received within the upper rebound cutoff element, the upper rebound cutoff element is received within the annular skirt of the piston and the bearing washer is contactable with the lower annular leg providing a positive stop.

A monotube damper comprising:

• a cylindrical tube;
• a piston sealingly and slidably carried within the cylindrical tube including an annular skirt and a lower rebound cutoff element, the piston separating the cylindrical tube into extension and compression chambers;
• a piston rod connected to the piston and extending therefrom;
• and
• a rod guide assembly surrounding the piston rod and including a one-piece rod guide body having a lower annular leg with a hub, and having an upper annular skirt offset outwardly and upwardly from the lower annular leg, and, the rod guide assembly including an upper rebound cutoff element, wherein when the damper is in a fully extended position the lower annular leg is received within the lower rebound cutoff element the lower rebound cutoff element is received within the upper rebound cutoff element and the upper rebound cutoff element is received within the annular skirt of the piston.