A magneto-rheological fluid damper includes a damper body having a reservoir (108) for a magneto-rheological fluid, a piston rod (114), a piston rod guide (106) disposed within the damper body, where the piston rod guide has a passage (112) therein for receiving the piston rod. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes at least a first piston rod seal and at least a second piston rod seal (124, 128) arranged to seal between the piston rod guide and the piston rod. The magneto- rheological fluid damper further includes a fluid chamber (134) defined between the piston rod guide and the piston rod, the fluid chamber being in communication with the reservoir. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes a piston rod guide filter (120) arranged in a communication path between the fluid chamber and the reservoir to filter particulates out of the magneto-rheological fluid entering the fluid chamber. The magneto-rheological fluid damper further includes an accumulator (144) arranged between the piston rod guide and the damper body.