Retaining Clips | McMaster-Carr

	REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals)

REACH Compliant

	Magnetic Properties Magnetic Properties

Magnetic

May Be Mildly Magnetic

Nonmagnetic

	Thrust Load Capacity Thrust Load Capacity

Less than 10,000 lbs.

10,000 to 19,999 lbs.

20,000 to 99,999 lbs.

100,000 to 199,999 lbs.

200,000 lbs. or greater

Not Rated

	Cotter Pin Type Cotter Pin Type


Hairpin	Hairpin for Retaining Grooves

Wire Snap	Locking

Bow Tie	Standard

Hammer Set	Wedge Lock

	Wire Diameter Wire Diameter

3,373 Products

External Retaining Rings

Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

Also known as E-style rings.

Low-Clearance Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

Also known as C-style and crescent rings, these rings have a small shoulder to fit in tight spaces.

Heavy Duty Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

These rings are reinforced to withstand faster rotation than other side‐mount retaining rings. Also known as reinforced E‐style rings.

Wide-Grip Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

Also known as poodle rings, these thick rings have "ears" that form a large retaining surface to withstand stronger forces than other side-mount retaining rings.

Bowed Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

Also known as bowed E-style rings, these have a curved design that works like a spring, taking up play for a tight hold.

External Retaining Rings

Open these rings, pass them over the end of a shaft, and release to spring into the groove.

Heavy Duty External Retaining Rings

Thicker than standard external retaining rings, these rings withstand greater force.

Mil. Spec. External Retaining Rings

These rings meet military specification MS 16624.

Self-Locking External Retaining Rings

No groove is required for these rings—their thick profile helps them grip the shaft.

Inverted External Retaining Rings

For a smooth profile and better clearance than standard external retaining rings, the lugs on these rings point inward.

Bowed External Retaining Rings

The curved design of these rings works like a spring, taking up play for a tight hold.

Push-On External Retaining Rings

No groove required—press these rings onto the end of a shaft for a firm grip.

Push-On Retaining Caps

Use these caps to hold components in place and protect shaft ends.

Rectangular Push-On External Retaining Rings

Also known as flat-style speed nuts, these have a large surface to distribute loads better than standard and flanged external push rings.

Flanged Push-On External Retaining Rings

The wide flange provides better load distribution than standard external push rings and can be used to cover oversized holes. Also known as thread cutting nuts.

Clip-On External Retaining Rings

Slide these rings into a groove near the end of the shaft and the tab locks them in place.

Heavy Duty Spiral External Retaining Rings

Thicker than standard spiral rings, these rings withstand greater forces.

Single-Turn Spiral External Retaining Rings

Slide these rings into place with one twist—no tools required—for applications with high thrust loads.

Spiral External Retaining Rings

These coiled rings can be wound into place on a shaft without tools.

Speared Ends External Retaining Rings

Often used with small engines, heavy equipment, and power transmission, these external retaining rings have speared ends to help you install and remove them.

Crimp-On External Retaining Rings

Also known as X-washers, place these rings into the groove and squeeze tight with pliers to form a 360° closure.

Low-Clearance External Retaining Rings

Also known as constant-section rings, these rings have open ends and a profile that does not taper like other external retaining rings. Use them with linear bearings on support rail shafts.

Internal Retaining Rings

Squeeze these rings to place them in the groove inside a bore or housing.

Inverted Internal Retaining Rings

For a smooth bore and better clearance than standard internal retaining rings, the lugs on these rings face outward.

Heavy-Duty Internal Retaining Rings

Thicker and stronger than standard internal retaining rings, these withstand greater thrust loads.

Bowed Internal Retaining Rings

The curved design of these rings works like a spring, taking up play for a tight hold.

Internal Teeth Retaining Rings

With teeth along the inside, these retaining rings hold chamfered shafts inside the housing of your equipment.

Single-Turn Spiral Internal Retaining Rings

Slide these rings into place by hand with a single twist for applications with high thrust loads.

Heavy Duty Spiral Internal Retaining Rings

Thicker than standard spiral rings, these rings withstand greater forces.

Spiral Internal Retaining Rings

These coiled rings can be wound into place inside a bore or housing without tools.

Push-On Internal Retaining Rings

No groove required—these rings have teeth that firmly grip the bore.

Cotter Pins

Hairpin Cotter Pins

Also known as hitch pin clips and R-clips, these pins are easy to install and remove.

Strong-Hold Hairpin Cotter Pins

A coil makes a stronger grip than standard hairpin cotter pins to prevent accidental release.

Hairpin Clips

Clip these pins onto grooved shafts and clevis pins with retaining ring grooves.

Strong-Hold Wire-Snap Cotter Pins

These pins are coiled for more tension than standard wire-snap cotter pins.

Wire Snap Cotter Pins

Also known as safety pins, these are easy to install and remove. Tension keeps them closed.

Locking Cotter Pins

An extra loop locks these cotter pins more securely than other pins, so they can't vibrate out or be knocked off.

Bow Tie Cotter Pins

The double-head design lets you push or pull these pins from either side of the hole. Once in place there's little chance they will be vibrated out or knocked off.

Cotter Pins

Also known as split pins, these have one prong slightly longer than the other so they’re easy to open. Bend prongs outward to secure.

Hammer-Set Cotter Pins

For parts that spin or are otherwise difficult to access, slide these pins in and tap them with a hammer for a temporary hold. Reposition work, then bend the prongs outward to secure.

Wedge-Lock Cotter Pins

Slide these heavy duty pins into the through-hole in a clevis pin, then hit them with a hammer to wedge the prongs open.

Fastener Assortments

External and Side-Mount Retaining Ring Assortments

Assortments include pliers to install external rings.

Side-Mount External Retaining Ring Assortments

Also known as E-Style and C-style rings, slide these into the groove from the side of the shaft. They provide a wider shoulder than other external retaining rings for a larger retaining surface.

External Retaining Ring Assortments

Pull these rings open with retaining ring pliers, pass over the end of a shaft, and release to spring into a groove.

External, Internal, and Side-Mount
Retaining Ring Assortments

These assortments include pliers to install external and internal rings.

External and Internal Retaining Ring Assortments

Assortments include pliers to install external and internal rings.

External and Internal Spiral Retaining Ring Assortments

Wind these retaining rings into a groove—no tools required for installation.

Internal Retaining Ring Assortments

Pull ring ends together with retaining ring pliers and place into the bore of a shaft or housing.

External Push Ring Assortments

Internal Push Ring Assortments

Hairpin Clip Assortments

Clip these pins onto grooved shafts and clevis pins to keep components in place.

Hairpin Cotter Pin Assortments

Also known as hitch pin clips and R-clips, use these cotter pins in applications requiring quick installation and removal.

Cotter Pin Assortments

Also known as split pins, these have one prong slightly longer than the other so they’re easy to open.

Battery Clips

Use these clips to secure batteries in a housing.

External Retaining Rings

Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

Low-Clearance Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

Heavy Duty Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

Wide-Grip Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

Bowed Side-Mount External Retaining Rings

External Retaining Rings

Heavy Duty External Retaining Rings

Mil. Spec. External Retaining Rings

Self-Locking External Retaining Rings

Inverted External Retaining Rings

Bowed External Retaining Rings

Push-On External Retaining Rings

Push-On Retaining Caps

Rectangular Push-On External Retaining Rings

Flanged Push-On External Retaining Rings

Clip-On External Retaining Rings

Heavy Duty Spiral External Retaining Rings

Single-Turn Spiral External Retaining Rings

Spiral External Retaining Rings

Speared Ends External Retaining Rings

Crimp-On External Retaining Rings

Low-Clearance External Retaining Rings

Internal Retaining Rings

Internal Retaining Rings

Inverted Internal Retaining Rings

Heavy-Duty Internal Retaining Rings

Bowed Internal Retaining Rings

Internal Teeth Retaining Rings

Single-Turn Spiral Internal Retaining Rings

Heavy Duty Spiral Internal Retaining Rings

Spiral Internal Retaining Rings

Push-On Internal Retaining Rings

Cotter Pins

Hairpin Cotter Pins

Strong-Hold Hairpin Cotter Pins

Hairpin Clips

Strong-Hold Wire-Snap Cotter Pins

Wire Snap Cotter Pins

Locking Cotter Pins

Bow Tie Cotter Pins

Cotter Pins

Hammer-Set Cotter Pins

Wedge-Lock Cotter Pins

Fastener Assortments

External and Side-Mount Retaining Ring Assortments

Side-Mount External Retaining Ring Assortments

External Retaining Ring Assortments

External, Internal, and Side-MountRetaining Ring Assortments

External and Internal Retaining Ring Assortments

External and Internal Spiral Retaining Ring Assortments

Internal Retaining Ring Assortments

External Push Ring Assortments

Internal Push Ring Assortments

Hairpin Clip Assortments

Hairpin Cotter Pin Assortments

Cotter Pin Assortments

Battery Clips

Battery Clips

Socket Retaining Rings

One-Piece Socket Retaining Rings

Two-Piece Socket Retaining Rings

External, Internal, and Side-Mount
Retaining Ring Assortments