A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim, said damper valve comprising: a fluid path formed through a piston, said shim disposed proximate said fluid path; a stiffness adjustment feature coupled to said shim; said shim disposed between said piston and said stiffness adjustment feature, said stiffness adjustment feature configured to adjust said effective stiffness of said shim without affecting a preload applied to said shim; wherein said stiffness adjustment feature comprises: a stiffness adjustment plate; a spring component coupled to said stiffness adjustment plate; and an adjuster coupled to said stiffness adjustment plate, said adjuster comprising: a first position which disposes said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component in a first orientation with respect to each other, said first orientation of said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component generating said effective stiffness of said shim; and a second position which disposes said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component in a second orientation with respect to each other, said second orientation of said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component generating a second effective stiffness of said shim wherein said effective stiffness of said shim differs from said second effective stiffness of said shim; and wherein said stiffness adjustment plate comprises: a first surface disposed facing said shim; and a second surface disposed facing said spring component. a fluid path formed through a piston, said shim disposed proximate said fluid path; a stiffness adjustment feature coupled to said shim; said shim disposed between said piston and said stiffness adjustment feature, said stiffness adjustment feature configured to adjust said effective stiffness of said shim without affecting a preload applied to said shim; wherein said stiffness adjustment feature comprises: a stiffness adjustment plate; a spring component coupled to said stiffness adjustment plate; and an adjuster coupled to said stiffness adjustment plate, said adjuster comprising: a first position which disposes said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component in a first orientation with respect to each other, said first orientation of said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component generating said effective stiffness of said shim; and a second position which disposes said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component in a second orientation with respect to each other, said second orientation of said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component generating a second effective stiffness of said shim wherein said effective stiffness of said shim differs from said second effective stiffness of said shim; and a stiffness adjustment plate; a spring component coupled to said stiffness adjustment plate; and an adjuster coupled to said stiffness adjustment plate, said adjuster comprising: a first position which disposes said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component in a first orientation with respect to each other, said first orientation of said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component generating said effective stiffness of said shim; and a second position which disposes said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component in a second orientation with respect to each other, said second orientation of said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component generating a second effective stiffness of said shim wherein said effective stiffness of said shim differs from said second effective stiffness of said shim; and a first position which disposes said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component in a first orientation with respect to each other, said first orientation of said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component generating said effective stiffness of said shim; and a second position which disposes said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component in a second orientation with respect to each other, said second orientation of said stiffness adjustment plate and said spring component generating a second effective stiffness of said shim wherein said effective stiffness of said shim differs from said second effective stiffness of said shim; and wherein said stiffness adjustment plate comprises: a first surface disposed facing said shim; and a second surface disposed facing said spring component. a first surface disposed facing said shim; and a second surface disposed facing said spring component.