A shock absorber assembly includes a motion damping means that is filled with a fluid in operation and has a pair of relatively moveable parts (12, 14) and valve means (26) permitting flow of the fluid between the parts. The parts comprise a first part (12) and a second part (14) in which the first part is receivable whereby the parts are arranged for relative retracting and extending movement during which fluid is forced through the valve means (26) at respective predetermined controlled flow rates so as to dampen the movement. The relatively moveable parts contain respective primary chambers (24, 29) for the fluid. The first part is substantially smaller in cross-section than the second part to define an intermediate chamber (52) about the first part within the second part. Lateral portmeans (56) communicates the intermediate chamber (52) and the primary chamber (24) of first part (12). The flows at respective predetermined controlled flow rates are limited to respective flows (i) directly from the primary chamber (24) of the first part (12) to the primary chamber (29) of the second part (14) and (ii) via the intermediate chamber (52) and lateral port means (56) from the primary chamber (29) of the second part (14) to the primary chamber (24) of the first part (12).