Dual mode hydraulic damper

A hydraulic damper includes a piston rod attached to a slidable piston assembly having a hollow housing with first and second valve assemblies disposed therein and each including a valve body and rebound and compression discs for regulating flow of a working fluid through the piston assembly. The first valve assembly is disposed about a sleeve with a valve nut securing them within the housing. The second valve assembly is threadedly secured in the housing, with a pin holding it together. The housing including a coil and an armature, axially slidable through a plunger guide with a spring biasing the armature to a first position with fluid allowed to flow through the sleeve to bypass the first valve. The armature slides to a second position with fluid not bypassing the first valve in response to the coil being energized by an electrical cable which extends through the piston rod.