With the larger shaft your JRZ has a large oil displacement so the damper creates damping forces at the smallest movements of the suspension.
The combination of the larger shaft and the use of nitrogen pressure results in a lifting force created by the damper. This lifting force is available through the whole stroke of the damper and works together with the spring, the lifting force is not a spring rate, but gives the car platform. Upgrading to a larger piston rod benefits the lifting force.