Piston Rods Lifting Cylinders

Piston rods for lift cylinders – hard-chromed and corrosion-resistant

Piston rods for lift cylinders transfer the pressure force from the cylinder tube directly to the lifting frame of the tail lift and slide through the rod seal and guide bushing in the process. They carry the entire platform weight and at the same time are the maintenance focus of every cylinder. At SULEJ Ladebordwand you will find piston rods for lift cylinders in different diameters and lengths, matched to the installed component and available in various sizes and connection variants – as a pure spare part or as a set with rod head.

Stainless steel and hard-chromed steel – material comparison

Classical piston rods are made of quenched and tempered steel that is induction-hardened and then hard-chromed. The hard chrome layer is typically around 20 to 30 micrometres thick and reliably protects the running surface against road salt, water and dirt. For particularly aggressive environments – such as food or chemical logistics – rods made of stainless steel are used. They save part of the protective coating and reduce the risk of pitting. The surface is in any case ground and polished so that the rod seal and scraper run cleanly over time.

Wear inspection and replacement – what matters

When replacing a piston rod for a lift cylinder, three points are decisive: the diameter, the overall length and the geometry of the rod head. Inspect the old rod for grooves, corrosion spots and a straight run – even a slight bend in the rod tube leads to rapid failure of the seals. During installation, rod seal, scraper and guide bushing are replaced as well. A cleanly ground rod with a thin oil film then runs smoothly through the rod guide package.

Benefits at a glance

• Hard-chromed surface or stainless steel for long service life
• Ground and polished running surface protects rod seal and scraper
• Available in different diameters and lengths
• Compatible with common rod heads and rod guide packages

A high-quality piston rod is the basic building block for a sealed, permanently working lift cylinder on the tail lift.