A hydraulic tensioner (10) and method of manufacture can include a housing (12), a piston (16) moveable from a retracted position toward an extended position with respect to the housing (12) in response to fluid pressure, and a tensioner spring (36) biasing the piston (16) toward the extended position. The hydraulic tensioner (10) can include a modular sleeve (14) supported by the housing (12) and defining an aperture (15) for slidably receiving the piston (16) and defining an expandable fluid chamber (18). The housing (12) can provide a fluid passage (39) for fluid communication between the expandable fluid chamber (18) and a source of pressurized fluid. The housing (12) can have a seat (25) in fluid communication with the aperture (15). An end (38) of the modular sleeve (14) can be seated with respect to a seat (25) of the housing (12) to seal the fluid passage (39).