The invention discloses a barrel type hydraulic shock absorber of an automobile. The barrel type hydraulic shock absorber comprises a vertical hydraulic cylinder body, a partition plate is arranged in the hydraulic cylinder body, a working cavity is formed above the partition plate and filled with hydraulic oil, a pressure relief compensation cavity is formed below the partition plate, a first piston is vertically assembled in the working cavity in a sliding mode, and a circulation valve and a rebound valve are installed on the first piston. The partition plate is provided with a compression valve and a compensation valve, a second piston is vertically assembled in the pressure relief compensation cavity in a sliding mode, and a spring is connected between the second piston and the inner bottom of the pressure relief compensation cavity. The problem that damping attenuation of the shock absorber is too fast can be avoided, and meanwhile the damping recovery speed can be increased.