An actuator has: a rod having a socket portion at one distal end of the rod; and a swivel cap including: a base portion having an inner surface and an outer surface having an origin of the radius at the center of the plane that defines the outer surface; a raised domed portion disposed on the inner surface of the base portion and mounted in the socket portion of the rod; a raised region located on at least one of the raised domed portion or the socket portion; wherein the swivel cap tilts relative to the rod in response to angular misalignment with a load to a tilt angle; a housing having an interior elongated hole wherein the rod is dimensioned to fit in the elongated hole; a piston dimensioned to fit in and move along the elongated hole while connected to the rod; and mating structure located on at least one of the piston and rod, the mating structure configured to allow the rod to attach to the piston in a manner to create clearance between the rod and the piston to allow the rod and piston to move with respect to each other.