The confusion between DIN 471 and DIN 472 is one of the most common ordering mistakes in the industry. It's entirely avoidable once you know the single rule: one goes on a shaft, the other goes inside a bore.
What is a DIN 471 Circlip?
A DIN 471 circlip is an external retaining ring, also called a shaft ring or snap ring for shafts. It is stamped from flat spring steel strip into a C-shape and is designed to seat in a circumferential groove machined on the outside diameter (OD) of a shaft.
When installed, the circlip protrudes radially outward from the shaft surface, creating a positive shoulder that prevents axially loaded components - gears, bearings, pulleys, collars - from sliding off the shaft end.
- Groove location: Shaft OD (external groove)
- Standard size range: Ø3 mm to Ø300 mm shaft diameter
- Material: Spring steel (65Mn or equivalent); SS 304 / SS 316 available
- Installation tool: External circlip pliers (tips expand the ring outward)
- Equivalent standards: IS 3075 (India), BS 3673 Part 1 (UK)
Quick rule: If the groove is on the outside of a cylindrical shaft, you need a DIN 471 external circlip.
What is a DIN 472 Circlip?
A DIN 472 circlip is an internal retaining ring, also called a bore ring or housing ring. It is also stamped from flat spring steel strip, but it is designed to seat in a groove machined on the inside diameter (ID) of a bore or housing.
When installed, the circlip sits flush or slightly proud of the bore wall, creating a shoulder inside the housing that prevents components - bearings, bushings, seals, end caps - from being pushed out of the bore axially.
- Groove location: Bore ID (internal groove)
- Standard size range: Ø8 mm to Ø300 mm bore diameter
- Material: Spring steel; SS 304 / SS 316 available for corrosive environments
- Installation tool: Internal circlip pliers (tips compress the ring inward)
- Equivalent standards: IS 3075 (India, bore type)
Quick rule: If the groove is machined inside a hole or housing bore, you need a DIN 472 internal circlip.
DIN 471 vs DIN 472 - Key Differences at a Glance
| Property | DIN 471 (External) | DIN 472 (Internal) |
|---|---|---|
| Common name | Shaft ring / snap ring | Bore ring / housing ring |
| Groove location | Outside of shaft (OD) | Inside of bore (ID) |
| Retains components | On the shaft | Inside the housing |
| Ring rests direction | Protrudes outward from shaft | Protrudes inward into bore |
| Size reference | Shaft diameter (d) | Bore diameter (D) |
| Standard size range | Ø3 – Ø300 mm | Ø8 – Ø300 mm |
| Installation pliers | External pliers (expand) | Internal pliers (compress) |
| Groove tolerance | h11 (shaft groove dia.) | H11 (bore groove dia.) |
How to Choose the Right Type
The decision always comes down to one question: where is the groove in your assembly?
Open your engineering drawing and find the retaining ring groove detail. Ask:
- Is the groove on the outside of a shaft? → Order DIN 471. The nominal size equals the shaft diameter at the groove (e.g., a 25 mm shaft = DIN 471-25).
- Is the groove on the inside of a bore or housing? → Order DIN 472. The nominal size equals the bore diameter at the groove (e.g., a 52 mm bore = DIN 472-52).
A common mistake: specifying by what's being retained rather than where the groove sits. A bearing with 25 mm OD in a 52 mm housing bore is retained by a DIN 472-52 - nothing to do with the 25 mm bearing OD.
On the drawing, the groove dimension is the groove diameter - for DIN 471 it is smaller than the shaft nominal; for DIN 472 it is larger than the bore nominal. Cross-reference the DIN dimension table for exact groove depth and width per size.
What About E-Clips and C-Clips?
E-clips (DIN 6799) and C-clips are alternative external retaining rings - they serve the same function as DIN 471 but with a different installation method. Rather than requiring expansion with circlip pliers, they slide laterally onto a reduced-diameter groove on the shaft. This makes them faster to install in high-volume assembly lines and suitable for shafts where axial tool access is restricted.
Key point: E-clips and C-clips are shaft-only (external). There is no bore equivalent - for internal retention, DIN 472 is the standard solution.
- E-clips (DIN 6799): Stamped from flat strip in an E-shape. Higher contact area, suitable for moderate axial loads. Available Ø1.5 mm to Ø38 mm.
- C-clips: Bent from round wire. Lighter, best for very small shafts (Ø1.5 mm – Ø10 mm) with low axial loads.
Neither E-clips nor C-clips have a bore equivalent - they are always external. For bore retention, DIN 472 remains the standard solution. Browse our full range of circlips including E-clips, C-clips, and stainless steel options.
Stainless Steel vs Spring Steel
Standard DIN 471 and DIN 472 circlips are manufactured from spring steel (65Mn or equivalent), which gives them the elastic properties needed to snap into grooves and maintain retention force over time. Spring steel is suitable for most dry, indoor, and light-exposure industrial environments.
For assemblies exposed to moisture, chemicals, seawater, food products, or pharmaceutical environments, stainless steel circlips are the correct choice:
Material rule: Spring steel for dry/indoor use. SS 304 for food, humid, or light marine environments. SS 316 for offshore, seawater, or chemical plant exposure. SS circlips have slightly lower spring force - verify your axial load before substituting.
- SS 304: General-purpose corrosion resistance. Suitable for food processing, light marine, and humid environments.
- SS 316: Higher chloride resistance. Recommended for marine, offshore, and chemical plant environments.
We supply stainless steel external and internal circlips from Ø3 mm to Ø150 mm. Note that SS circlips have slightly lower spring force than equivalent spring steel circlips - confirm your axial load requirements when substituting materials.
Ordering Correctly - What to Specify
When placing an order, always provide:
- Standard: DIN 471 or DIN 472
- Nominal size: Shaft or bore diameter in mm (e.g., DIN 471-25 or DIN 472-52)
- Material: Spring steel (standard) or SS 304 / SS 316
- Quantity
For non-standard sizes or dimensions that fall between standard sizes, contact us - we can source or manufacture to your specification.
Need Circlips for Your Assembly?
We stock DIN 471 and DIN 472 circlips in spring steel and stainless steel, Ø3 mm to Ø300 mm, with same-week dispatch from Mumbai.
View Circlip RangeFrequently Asked Questions
Can I use a DIN 471 circlip inside a bore?
No. DIN 471 is designed for external grooves on shafts and will not fit or function correctly in a bore groove. The groove geometry and ring geometry are different for shaft and bore applications. Use DIN 472 for internal (bore) retention.
What is the Indian Standard equivalent of DIN 471?
IS 3075 is the Indian Standard for circlips for shafts, equivalent to DIN 471. It covers external retaining rings in the same diameter range. IS 3075 circlips are dimensionally compatible with DIN 471 in most standard sizes.
Do I need special pliers to install these circlips?
Yes. DIN 471 (external) requires circlip pliers that expand the ring outward for installation. DIN 472 (internal) requires pliers that compress the ring inward. Using the wrong tool risks damaging the ring or losing spring tension. E-clips and C-clips are the exception - they slide on laterally without pliers.
What groove dimensions are required?
For DIN 471, the groove is machined on the shaft OD to a specified depth and width per the standard dimension table (groove diameter tolerance: h11). For DIN 472, the groove is machined inside the bore (groove diameter tolerance: H11). Always refer to the DIN dimension tables when machining grooves - incorrect groove dimensions are the leading cause of circlip failure in service.