Shock absorber parts we manufacture
We produce CNC-machined shock absorber components to drawing - for prototypes, motorsport, aftermarket and OEM series, from single pieces to several thousand parts. Our range covers:
- Damper pistons - valve pistons with precisely milled flow ports and a PTFE band groove, machined in aluminium or steel.
- Piston rods - induction-hardened, hard-chrome plated or nitrided, ground and polished for seal life.
- Damper tubes and bodies - seamless tube with a honed bore for a consistent piston fit.
- Rod guides and seal heads - machined with bearing bore, seal grooves and threads.
- Spring seats, preload collars and adjusters - threaded and knurled parts machined to fit your damper body.
- Mounting eyes, clevises and brackets - to standard or custom interfaces.
Materials and surface treatment
A damper piston runs immersed in oil under high-frequency loading; material and coating decide wear, friction and corrosion. Common choices:
- Aluminium alloys (6082, 7075) - light pistons, adjusters and spring seats, hard-anodised (Type III) for wear resistance.
- Rod steel (C45, 42CrMo4) - induction-hardened and hard-chrome plated, or nitrided/QPQ for corrosion duty.
- Free-cutting and case-hardening steels - rod guides, seal heads and bodies.
- Stainless steel (AISI 316 / 431) - for corrosive and marine environments.
- Bronze and polymer guide bands - low-friction piston and rod guidance.
Treatments include hard anodising, hard-chrome plating, nitriding and QPQ, zinc plating and phosphating - handled with audited finishing partners and inspected on return.
Tolerances and batch consistency
In a damper, geometry is the damping curve. If port dimensions drift between batches, the force-velocity characteristic drifts with them. The figures that drive performance:
| Feature | Typical spec | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Piston OD and band groove | f7 / ±0.02 mm | Sealing against the tube, no leakage past the piston |
| Flow-port geometry | ±0.05 mm, repeatable | Consistent force-velocity curve batch to batch |
| Rod surface | Ra 0.1-0.2 µm, chrome 20-30 µm | Seal life, low friction |
| Guide bore concentricity | ≤ 0.02 mm | No side load on the rod seal |
Every batch is inspected on CMM equipment for diameter, roundness, concentricity and surface roughness, and supplied with a dimensional report on request.
How to order shock absorber parts
To quote quickly and accurately, send a drawing (STEP, DXF or PDF) or simply these details:
- Part type and quantity - prototype, batch or recurring series
- Key dimensions - piston OD, rod diameter, tube bore, thread sizes
- Material and surface treatment - or describe the duty and environment and we will propose one
- Seal and band series, if already selected
- For pistons: the port pattern, or the damping intent if the design is still open
No drawing? Send us the worn or original part. We reverse-engineer the geometry and reproduce it to specification - a common route for discontinued dampers and small-series motorsport parts.
Why source damper parts from BIB Parts
We are a single-source manufacturing partner: turning, milling, grinding and honing with surface treatment arranged, backed by in-house engineering and a DFM review on every quote. From one-off prototype pistons to recurring OEM series, you get one supplier, one point of contact and consistent quality. See all our manufacturing capabilities, view our shock absorber work or request a quote.