A piston for a paint sprayer configured to reciprocate on a piston axis, the piston comprising: a piston rod body having a first cylindrical exterior surface; a shank extending the piston rod body; a piston end having a second cylindrical exterior surface, the piston end being detachable from and re-attachable to the piston rod body and including a shoulder; and a sleeve mountable on the piston rod body and having an inner cylindrical surface, wherein an end of the sleeve engages the shoulder; wherein the inner cylindrical surface rests on and overlaps each of the first cylindrical exterior surface and the second cylindrical exterior surface when the sleeve is mounted on the piston rod body and the piston end is attached to the piston rod body; wherein the piston end forms a piston component of the piston, the piston component comprising: a socket configured to receive the shank; and a ring projecting from the shoulder and defining at least a portion of the socket, the ring having a cylindrical ring exterior, wherein the shank is configured to fit within the socket and the sleeve is configured to rest on the cylindrical ring exterior such that the shank, the ring, and the sleeve radially overlap each other; wherein the second cylindrical exterior surface includes a first centering control section, which defines at least part of the cylindrical ring exterior, configured to engage the inner cylindrical surface and align the sleeve relative to the piston axis; wherein the first cylindrical exterior surface includes a second centering control section configured to engage the inner cylindrical surface and align the sleeve relative to the piston axis; wherein the piston rod body comprises at least one non-centering section disposed along the first cylindrical exterior surface, wherein the piston rod body has a first diameter at the second centering control section and the piston rod body has a second diameter at the at least one non-centering section, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter such that the inner cylindrical surface of the sleeve does not contact the at least one non-centering section when the piston rod body is within the sleeve due to the sleeve resting on the second centering control section; and characterized in that the at least one non-centering section has a greater total surface area than the first and second centering control sections (154, 150). a piston rod body having a first cylindrical exterior surface; a shank extending the piston rod body; a piston end having a second cylindrical exterior surface, the piston end being detachable from and re-attachable to the piston rod body and including a shoulder; and a sleeve mountable on the piston rod body and having an inner cylindrical surface, wherein an end of the sleeve engages the shoulder; wherein the inner cylindrical surface rests on and overlaps each of the first cylindrical exterior surface and the second cylindrical exterior surface when the sleeve is mounted on the piston rod body and the piston end is attached to the piston rod body; wherein the piston end forms a piston component of the piston, the piston component comprising: a socket configured to receive the shank; and a ring projecting from the shoulder and defining at least a portion of the socket, the ring having a cylindrical ring exterior, wherein the shank is configured to fit within the socket and the sleeve is configured to rest on the cylindrical ring exterior such that the shank, the ring, and the sleeve radially overlap each other; a socket configured to receive the shank; and a ring projecting from the shoulder and defining at least a portion of the socket, the ring having a cylindrical ring exterior, wherein the shank is configured to fit within the socket and the sleeve is configured to rest on the cylindrical ring exterior such that the shank, the ring, and the sleeve radially overlap each other; wherein the second cylindrical exterior surface includes a first centering control section, which defines at least part of the cylindrical ring exterior, configured to engage the inner cylindrical surface and align the sleeve relative to the piston axis; wherein the first cylindrical exterior surface includes a second centering control section configured to engage the inner cylindrical surface and align the sleeve relative to the piston axis; wherein the piston rod body comprises at least one non-centering section disposed along the first cylindrical exterior surface, wherein the piston rod body has a first diameter at the second centering control section and the piston rod body has a second diameter at the at least one non-centering section, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter such that the inner cylindrical surface of the sleeve does not contact the at least one non-centering section when the piston rod body is within the sleeve due to the sleeve resting on the second centering control section; and characterized in that the at least one non-centering section has a greater total surface area than the first and second centering control sections (154, 150).