A shock absorber includes a tube and a piston rod carrying a piston. The
piston is configured for reciprocal movement within the tube. A floating
piston, or other type of accumulator, is configured to move to
accommodate fluid displaced due to successive portions of the piston rod
entering the tube during compression of the shock absorber. The shock
absorber includes a valve mechanism that utilizes the movement of the
floating piston to move the valve between a first and second position,
which preferably are open and closed positions.