The nonlinear damping force model is made to identify the properties of the ER (electro-rheological) fluid suspension damper. The instrumentation is carried out to measure the damping force of the ER damper. The higher order spectral analysis method is used to investigate the nonlinear frequency coupling phenomena with the damping force signal according to the sinusoidal excitation of the damper. The distinctive higher order nonlinear characteristics are observed. The nonlinear damping force model, which has the higher order velocity terms, is proposed with the result of higher order spectrum analysis. The higher order terms coefficients, which vary according to the strength of the electric field, are calculated using the least square method.