A fluid pressure operable actuator includes a housing (20), with an end wall, and a pushrod (26) projecting through an opening in the end wall for reciprocation upon service pressure application or release. A shield (42), configured as an annulus, is disposed on the pushrod to restrict contamination of an interior chamber of the actuator housing through a gap existing between an edge of the opening and a pushrod outer surface. To facilitate connecting the shield and the pushrod together, the annulus has a slit (60) with an enlarged void (66) at a radially outer end of the slit. This enlarged void engages an outer pushrod surface as the shield and the pushrod are joined.
