Internal retaining tabs for a filled piston

A process for the production of a lightweight piston of the type used in fluid translating units, wherein said piston includes a base portion for engaging said piston with said unit and an attached skirt portion having a trailing end, said method comprising:

• forming a cavity within said skirt portion extending axially from a plane rearward of said base portion to an opening in said trailing end, said cavity including a first bore coaxial with said skirt portion and communicating with said opening and a second bore coaxial with said first bore and communicating therewith, said second bore being of lesser diameter than said first bore and forming an annular shoulder therewith;
• introducing into said first bore a tool having a base member including a working head having a plurality of cutting teeth formed thereon, said working head and said cutting teeth having a combined diameter less than that of said first bore and greater than that of said second bore for engagement of said cutting teeth with said annular shoulder;
• axially cutting portions of said shoulder in a one step operation to deflect inwardly a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections extending into said cavity;
• and
• filling said cavity with a core of lightweight filler material engageable with said projections.