An actuator for a ram air turbine includes a housing that supports a piston rod arranged in a cylinder. The piston rod and the cylinder are slideably moveable relative to one another between retracted and deployed positions. A can surrounds the cylinder and is loosely fixed relative to the housing. The can is permitted to pivot relative to the housing and cylinder relative to the cylinder in a radial direction during operation. In operation, the ram air turbine is deployed by initiating a deploy sequence. The piston rod and the cylinder are extended relative to one another to the deployed position. The method includes pivoting a can that surrounds the cylinder and the piston rod.