Abstract: A rod-piston connection uses a split ring, having two or more segments, provided with a plurality of shallow internal grooves which are adapted to mate with a corresponding plurality of shallow grooves on the piston rod, the outer periphery of the split ring having a tapered surface extending over the entire width of th split ring and adapted to mate with a corresponding wide tapered surface defined in a bore of a compression bushing which has a peripheral surface provided with threads which engage with an internal threaded surface in a cavity in the pistion. By applying a threading torque to the compression sleeve, a force is generated by the two tapered surfaces to force the compression sleeve into better contact with the pistion and to force the split ring into a better contact with the piston rod.