Vibration damper assembly with a floating rod guide

A vibration damper (10) for a motor vehicle includes an inner tube (12) concentrically aligned within an outer housing (14). A piston shaft (16) having a piston (18) attached at an end thereof is slidably inserted into the inner housing. A support ring (22) encloses the inner housing defining a pumping chamber (24) inside the inner housing. The piston shaft is inserted through the support ring. The support ring includes a seal cover (52) having an inner surface (54) with a rim (56). A rod guide is inserted into the seal cover and abuts the rim. The rod guide guides the shaft through the support ring and provides lateral support to the shaft. A retainer sleeve (72) is secured to the rod guide having the rim disposed between the rod guide and the retainer sleeve securing the rod guide to the retainer sleeve.