A method and apparatus for detecting the position of a rod member of a cylinder assembly are provided. The cylinder assembly may have a cylinder body with a cylinder chamber therein, a gland member disposed within the cylinder chamber, and a rod member movably arranged within the cylinder chamber and a rod opening of the gland member. The method may include moving the gland member within the cylinder chamber to substantially align a gland aperture of the gland member with a cylinder aperture of the cylinder body; substantially fixing the gland member relative the cylinder body; positioning a position sensor within at least one of the cylinder aperture and the gland aperture; moving the rod member within the rod opening of the gland member and the cylinder chamber of the cylinder body; and operating the position sensor to detect the position of the rod member.