Abstract: A tie rod is provided having an abutment on one end portion thereof spaced a predetermined distance inwardly of the terminal end of the rod. A tubular sleeve is slidably mounted on the one end portion of the rod outwardly of the abutment for endwise abutting engagement with the latter and the sleeve includes structure which renders the sleeve substantially incompressible in an axial direction, but enables the sleeve to be expanded in radial directions. A wedge sleeve is slidably mounted on the end portion of the rod outwardly of the first-mentioned sleeve and includes a tapered end portion receivable within and operative to radially expand the adjacent end of the first-mentioned sleeve.