--- title: "What Are E-Clips (External Snap Rings) Used For?" description: "E-Clips (External Snap Rings) (DIN 6799) are used for quick axial retention in a shaft groove where radial access is available. Catalogued 1.2 mm to 24 mm." url: https://engineeringhardware.com/applications/e-clips/ source: Engineering Hardware & Fasteners --- # What Are E-Clips (External Snap Rings) Used For? Retaining Rings · DIN 6799 · Application guide Typical applications, the industries that specify e-clips (external snap rings), and how to choose the right size, material and finish for the joint. E-Clips (External Snap Rings) are used for quick axial retention in a shaft groove where radial access is available. They are manufactured to DIN 6799, and selection is driven by the shaft / bore diameter, the fit and tolerance the assembly requires, and the service environment. - **Primary duty:** Quick axial retention in a shaft groove where radial access is available - **Governing standard:** DIN 6799 - **Shaft / bore diameter range:** 1.2 mm to 24 mm - **Category:** Retaining Rings Application notes are general engineering guidance. Verify the property class and any approval requirement against your own design calculation. ![What Are E-Clips (External Snap Rings) Used For? application image](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/E-Clip-Retaining-Washers.webp) E-Clips (External Snap Rings) (DIN 6799) are specified where the joint requires quick axial retention in a shaft groove where radial access is available. The sections below cover the typical end-uses by industry, the size and material decisions for each, assembly practice, and the applications this fastener type is not suited to. Stocked across roughly 1.2 mm to 24 mm, they cover general to heavy-duty work. ## Typical Applications for E-Clips (External Snap Rings) The most common settings where these are specified: - **Shafts & gearboxes:** retaining bearings, gears and pulleys against axial movement. - **Hydraulic & pneumatic:** holding pistons and seals in bores. - **Automotive driveline:** axial location on rotating shafts. - **Small shafts & spindles:** quick axial retention in light assemblies and mechanisms. - **Linkages:** holding pins and rollers in place. ## How to Specify E-Clips (External Snap Rings) for Your Application - **Size:** Select on nominal diameter, then on the hole tolerance and fit class — the fit, not the diameter alone, determines whether the part locates or slips. This product spans 1.2 mm–24 mm; check the full table below for the exact dimensions of each size. - **Groove fit:** Specify to the shaft or bore groove diameter; the ring must seat fully in the groove to carry the thrust load. - **Environment:** For damp, coastal or chemical exposure prefer A4/316 stainless or a suitable coating; indoors, plated steel or A2 is usually sufficient. - **Standard:** This product is supplied to DIN 6799. Quoting the standard on your order guarantees interchangeable dimensions between suppliers. ## Installation & Assembly Practice - Use the correct circlip pliers for the ring size; over-spreading a ring permanently reduces its retention. - Check the ring is fully seated in the groove around its whole circumference before loading the assembly. ## Common Selection Mistakes with E-Clips (External Snap Rings) - Machining the groove to the shaft tolerance instead of the groove dimensions in the ring standard. - Loading a standard ring axially beyond the groove rating instead of moving to a heavy-duty section ring. ## Where E-Clips (External Snap Rings) Are Not the Right Choice Not for heavy axial thrust beyond the groove rating, and not where the groove cannot be machined to spec. Custom manufacturing · Made to drawing ## Need a e-clips (external snap rings) outside the standard range? Groove dimensions, thickness, material temper and finish decide the part; the ring is made to the groove, so the groove drawing is what is actually needed. Made by stamping. Minimum order from 2,000 pieces; samples within 7 days of drawing approval. [Custom retaining ring manufacturing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/rings/)[Send a drawing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/rings/#rfq) ## Technical Drawing Dimensioned line drawing of 1.2 E-Clips (External Snap Rings) to DIN 6799. Side view and top view, drawn to the dimensions in the table below and redrawn for any size selected. - **Shaft diameter range (mm):** 1.4~2.0 - **Outside diameter (mm):** 3.0 - **Thickness s (mm):** 0.3 - **Notes:** E-clip, radial-fit external retaining ## Dimensions & Specifications (DIN 6799) | Groove diameter (mm) | Shaft diameter range (mm) | Outside diameter (mm) | Thickness s (mm) | Reference standard | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1.2 | 1.4~2.0 | 3.0 | 0.3 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 1.5 | 2.0~2.5 | 3.8 | 0.4 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 1.9 | 2.5~3.2 | 4.8 | 0.4 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 2.3 | 3.2~4.0 | 6.0 | 0.6 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 3.2 | 4.0~5.0 | 7.4 | 0.6 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 4.0 | 5.0~7.0 | 9.0 | 0.7 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 5.0 | 7.0~9.0 | 11.0 | 0.7 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 6.0 | 9.0~11.0 | 12.2 | 0.8 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 7.0 | 11.0~14.0 | 14.3 | 0.9 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 8.0 | 14.0~18.0 | 16.2 | 1.0 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 9.0 | 18.0~24.0 | 18.0 | 1.0 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 10.0 | 24.0~31.0 | 20.2 | 1.2 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 12.0 | 31.0~38.0 | 23.2 | 1.2 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 15.0 | 38.0~45.0 | 29.0 | 1.5 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 19.0 | 45.0~55.0 | 37.0 | 1.75 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | | 24.0 | 55.0~70.0 | 44.0 | 2.0 | DIN 6799 | E-clip, radial-fit external retaining | Inside the plant ## Manufactured in our own plant This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided. 1. ![Wire rod feeding into a cold heading machine](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/09-wire-rod-feed-cold-heading-machine.webp) 01 **Cold heading** Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail. Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift. 2. ![Thread rolling machine producing bolt threads](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03-thread-rolling-machine-bolt-production.webp) 02 **Thread rolling** Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch. Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g. 3. ![Baskets of bolts staged for heat treatment](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/05-heat-treatment-baskets-black-bolts.webp) 03 **Heat treatment** Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it. Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1. 4. ![Zinc plated bolts in a treatment basket](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/23-zinc-plated-bolts-treatment-basket.webp) 04 **Surface treatment** Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list. Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are E-Clips (External Snap Rings) made to a recognized standard? Yes — they are manufactured to DIN 6799, so dimensions are interchangeable between suppliers when you quote the standard on your order. ### What are E-Clips (External Snap Rings) used for? Quick axial retention in a shaft groove where radial access is available. They are supplied to DIN 6799. ### Which industries use E-Clips (External Snap Rings)? They are commonly specified in automotive driveline, small shafts & spindles and linkages, among other sectors. ### How do I choose the right size of E-Clips (External Snap Rings)? Select on shaft / bore diameter and on the fit the assembly requires. This product is available from 1.2 mm to 24 mm; the full dimension table on this page lists each size. ### Can I get a quote for E-Clips (External Snap Rings) in the size and material I need? Yes. Use the technical drawing and quote form on this page to set the size and options, then send the exact configuration to our team for pricing and lead time. ## Related Pages Product page: [E-Clips (External Snap Rings) — specifications & sizes](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener/e-clips/) ### E-Clips (External Snap Rings) Specification Guides ### Related Fastener Applications