Retaining rings
Items are being added
KIT is adding items to this category. If you need a specific part, please send a quote request.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell shaft rings from bore rings?
Shaft rings (DIN 471) fit a groove on a shaft and grip inward, while bore rings (DIN 472) fit a groove inside a bore and push outward. Ring size refers to the nominal shaft or bore diameter. They need different pliers: closing pliers for bore rings and opening pliers for shaft rings, or convertible pliers.
How does an E-clip differ from a DIN 471 ring?
An E-clip (DIN 6799) installs radially from the side into the groove, without passing over the shaft end, which suits small shafts and tight spaces. In return it carries less axial load than a circular ring. For high axial loads or high rotational speeds, a DIN 471 ring is the better choice.
Can retaining rings be reused?
Replace them each time they are removed, because spreading can deform the ring permanently and reduce its grip in the groove. A loose ring can fly out in operation and damage bearings or gears. Check the groove too: a worn, rounded groove edge also lets rings slip out.
What ring material suits damp or chemical environments?
Spring steel rings are usually phosphated or black oxidized, giving limited rust protection. In damp, washdown or chemical environments, use stainless rings. Note that stainless rings differ slightly in hardness and clamping force from spring steel rings of the same size.
Which pliers are used to fit retaining rings?
DIN 471 and DIN 472 rings have holes in their lugs and need circlip pliers with tips that fit the holes: opening pliers for shaft rings, closing pliers for bore rings. Choose straight or bent tips to suit the access. Worn or ill-fitting tips can let the ring spring off and cause injury.
What dimensions should the ring groove be machined to?
Groove diameter, groove width and the distance from groove to shaft end are given in DIN 471 and DIN 472 for each size. Too deep a groove leaves the ring loose, too wide a groove leaves axial play. The groove edge on the load side should be square, not chamfered.
How much axial load can a retaining ring take?
Axial load capacity depends on ring size, groove material strength and the edge of the part bearing on the ring. Manufacturers give allowable loads in tables, usually assuming a square abutment. A large chamfer on the abutting part reduces capacity sharply and may call for a support washer.
Can retaining rings be used on high-speed shafts?
At high speed, centrifugal force tends to expand a shaft ring and loosen it from the groove. Each ring size has a speed limit published by the manufacturer. Beyond that limit, use spiral retaining rings or another fixing method.
