Snap Ring – W-162-I

Seating in a machined groove inside a bore, this internal snap ring springs outward to form a shoulder that keeps a bearing or component from sliding out of the bore under load and vibration. The spring tension in the ring is what holds it in its groove and lets it retain the part behind it, and it is the retaining method used where a bore must hold a part axially without a bolted cover or external fastener.

A snap ring is replaced whenever it is removed for service, since a reused ring loses its grip, or when it has lost spring tension and no longer holds firmly. Match the ring to the bore's groove diameter and the groove width, since an internal ring must fit its specific groove to seat and retain correctly.