A method for operating a controllable
shock absorber may involve damping movement of a valve body by loading the valve body with a
back pressure on an outflow side. Further, the controllable
shock absorber may include a cylinder tube, a
piston within the cylinder tube that divides the cylinder tube into two working spaces and includes a couple fluid leadthroughs connecting the working spaces, and first and second valve assemblies for damping
piston movement in first and second actuating directions that are disposed on the leadthroughs. Each valve
assembly may have a
pilot control chamber and a valve plate that is either seated on or spaced apart from a
valve seat in closed and open valve positions. Each valve plate can be prestressed closed by pressure loading the
pilot control chamber. The pressures of the
pilot control chambers can be set by a pilot control valve that comprises a movable valve body. As a result, an outflow cross section between the pilot control chambers and the working spaces can be set. The valve body may be loaded on an outflow side with a
back pressure, as a result of which movement of the valve body is damped.”