A damping characteristics control apparatus is provided for a vehicle suspension having a shock absorber mounted between a sprung member and an unsprung member for each wheel. Damping force of the shock absorber is controlled on the basis of damping coefficient obtained by C(absorber)=(Gain*|y−z|/|y′|)*[(T|z′|+L)/|y−z|]p wherein C(absorber); damping coefficient, z′; sprung velocity, y′; unsprung velocity, |y−z|; relative displacement, T; interval time of sprung member moving relative to unsprung member, L; displacement of sprung member stopped against unsprung member, Gain; control gain, p; parameter for determining effective range for control about neutral position of absorber.