A method of manufacturing a cylinder apparatus, the cylinder apparatus including:
- a cylinder;
- a piston fitted in the cylinder;
- a piston rod secured at one end thereof to the piston, the other end of the piston rod being configured to project out of the cylinder and to be connected to a mounting member;
- and
- a protecting cover configured to cover the piston rod and at least a portion of the cylinder;
- the protecting cover including a first protecting cover member and a second protecting cover member split from each other in an axial direction of the piston rod, the first protecting cover member and the second protecting cover member being fittingly connectable to each other;
- the first protecting cover member being secured to one of the piston rod and the mounting member;
- the second protecting cover member having an overall length shorter than that of the cylinder and being secured to the first protecting cover member with a predetermined radial gap between itself and the cylinder;
- the cylinder apparatus further comprising:
- a dust boot connected to an opening end of the second protecting cover member, the dust boot covering the cylinder;
- and
- a spring seat provided to an outer periphery of second protecting cover member,
- wherein an end of the cylinder, from which the other end of the piston rod projects out of the cylinder, is provided with a staking portion,
- wherein when the piston rod projects to a maximum out of the cylinder,
- the first protecting cover member has an axial length that allows the staking portion to be accessible, and
- the second protecting cover member has a length to cover the staking portion,
- wherein when the first protecting cover member is fittingly connected with the second protecting cover member the first protecting cover member and the second protecting cover member include abutting portions, which are axially tightly in abutment with each other, and cylindrical portions, which axially extend and are radially tightly in abutment with each other,
- wherein the second protecting cover member is urged to the first protecting cover member by a spring seated on the spring seat, and
- wherein the first protecting cover member is secured to the second protecting cover member by the abutting portions being axially tightly in abutment with each other and by the cylindrical portions being tightly in abutment with each other,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- securing a spring seat to an outer periphery of the second protecting cover member by press fitting;
- temporarily assembling the second protecting cover member to an outer periphery of the cylinder;
- and
- securing the first protecting cover member to one of the piston rod and the mounting member by welding and staking an end of the cylinder from which the piston rod projects out of the cylinder and, thereafter, securing the second protecting cover member, which has been temporarily assembled, to the first protecting cover member by press fitting.