Suspension with hydraulic preload adjust

A remotely controllable shock absorber system for a vehicle comprising:

• at least two dampers associated with at least two wheels of the vehicle, each damper comprising:
• a cylinder with a piston for movement therein, the piston metering fluid in at least one direction therethrough;
• a first and second springs mounted coaxially around the damper, the springs constructed and arranged to become compressed during a compression stroke of the damper;
• a preload adjuster for partially compressing at least one of the springs independently of the compression stroke, the preload adjuster operable with a preload piston and expandable chamber, the chamber having a volume that remains constant throughout a compression stroke of the damper;
• and
• a remotely actuatable valve for expanding and contracting the expandable chamber.

A shock absorber for a vehicle, comprising:

• a fluid-filled damper having a piston and rod for movement therein;
• at least one spring retained adjacent the rod at a first end and retained adjacent a damper cylinder at a second end whereby the spring becomes compressed during a compression stroke of the damper;
• and
• a preload adjuster for partially compressing the at least one spring independently of the compression stroke, the preload adjuster including an annular cylinder moveable independent of the damper cylinder and including an abutment structure formed on an outer surface thereof, the abutment structure constructed and arranged to maintain the at least one spring at the second end whereby the second end moves with the annular cylinder.