The primary duty of Retaining Rings (Circlips) is axial retention of components on shafts and in bores. Below: the sectors that specify them in volume, the checklist used to select the right size and material for the application, installation notes, and the known limits of the type. Stocked across roughly 3 mm to 100 mm, they cover general to heavy-duty work.
Typical Applications for Retaining Rings (Circlips)
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.
- General machine building: fastening covers, brackets, motors and sub-assemblies on production equipment.
- Maintenance & repair (MRO): a stocked size for servicing existing plant where the original fastener spec must be matched.
How to Specify Retaining Rings (Circlips) 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 3 mm–100 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 471 / DIN 472. 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 Retaining Rings (Circlips)
- 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 Retaining Rings (Circlips) Are Not the Right Choice
Not for heavy axial thrust beyond the groove rating, and not where the groove cannot be machined to spec.
