The invention describes an electrically controllable mono-tube shock absorber wherein the damping of the shock absorber is controlled by a solenoid valve. The valve includes a poppet valve which is mechanically independent of an electrically actuated armature. A second valve is also disclosed which includes a poppet valve having a cylindrical wall which prevents the poppet valve from contacting the armature. A third valve, carried by the shock absorber piston includes two axially extending passages one of which cooperates with a poppet valve to increase fluid flow thereacross to reduce damping. Each valve can be actuated in accordance with the direction (sign) of a derived velocity signal.