Tenneco Automotive Inc.

Jan Driessan

Koen Vermolen

Jan Carleer

A shock absorber having variable damping characteristics for damping the movement of the body of an automobile is disclosed. The shock absorber includes a variable flow control valve which modulates the rate of fluid flow between the upper portion of the shock absorber working chamber and the shock absorber reservoir. The valve is variably controlled in accordance with the vehicle load so that the shock absorber damping characteristic is stiffened during high vehicle load and softened during low vehicle load, thereby varying the damping characteristic to improve vehicle ride and handling.

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Vliermaalroot, Belgium

Jan Driessan