THere is a mel script on highend 3d.com, that might come in handy for you.
its do a search for "makePiston-v1[1].2-.mel" in th ehighend search box at the top and download that mel script and install it.
Works well, i've never put it to practical use but i got it when i saw it as it looked useable in the future, Created two cylinders, and rigs them to be hydrolics , sets up th eIK system and everything when you click the button.
G