The present disclosure relates to a shock absorber having a pressure tube which defines a fluid chamber, and a piston assembly. The piston assembly is disposed within the fluid chamber and divides the fluid chamber into upper and lower working chambers. A reserve tube surrounds the pressure tube to define a reservoir chamber between the reserve tube and the pressure tube. The pressure tube is disposed between a rod guide assembly and a lower mount. A structural integrity of the pressure tube is greater than a structural integrity of the reserve tube, and the pressure tube further operates as a principal load bearing component for the shock absorber.