Spirolox® Spiral Retaining Rings
Engineered with No Ears to Interfere® for reliable 360° retention and simplified installation.
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Spirolox® Retaining Rings
Spirolox® Retaining Rings are spiral retaining rings manufactured from flat wire instead of stamped sheet metal. Their gapless design provides continuous 360° groove engagement, while eliminating the protruding ears found on traditional snap rings and circlips. The edgewinding process produces a stronger, more stable retaining ring that delivers reliable retention, improved load distribution, simplified installation, and more usable space within an assembly.
- 360° Groove Engagement
Gapless, full-circle contact improves load distribution and retention performance
- More Usable Space
No protruding installation ears to interfere with adjacent components
- Increased Strength
Circular-Grain® metallurgy provides greater strength than conventional stamped retaining rings
- Fits Standard Grooves
Compatible with many standard snap ring groove designs
- Easy Installation
Installs and removes without the need for specialty tools
- Dual Groove Engagement
Can operate in external and internal grooves at the same time
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Overview
Spirolox retaining rings are a precision-engineered alternative to traditional tapered section retaining rings, commonly referred to as snap rings or circlips. Invented by Smalley, Spirolox rings are manufactured by coiling flat wire on edge rather than stamping sheet metal, a process known as edgewinding. Their unique spiral design provides continuous 360° groove engagement around the circumference of the assembly.
Unlike conventional retaining rings that rely on protruding ears and plier holes for installation, Spirolox rings have No Ears to Interfere® with mating components, helping engineers maximize usable space within an assembly. Because no ears or lugs are projecting beyond the groove diameter, Spirolox rings are particularly well suited for applications where radial space is limited and component clearance is critical. The edgewinding process also produces Circular-Grain® metallurgy, providing strength and stability superior to conventional stamped retaining rings.
Spirolox rings are interchangeable with many standard circlips and snap rings and fit into the same grooves. Engineers can take advantage of the benefits of spiral retaining ring technology without extensive redesign. Spirolox rings are available as internal spiral retaining rings (housing) and external spiral retaining rings (shaft). If you would like to find the right ring replacement for your application, visit our Interchange Listing page.
Standard Series
Light-Duty Spirolox Retaining Rings
The VH/VS and VHM/VSM Series Spirolox Retaining Rings are specified for light-duty, low-clearance applications where axial positioning, rather than load carrying, is the primary function. Light-duty Spirolox rings feature a single-turn, gap-type design. These retaining rings are economically produced, easy to install, and ideal for applications with light thrust loads.
Medium-Duty Spirolox Retaining Rings: Military and Aerospace Specification
The WH & WS Series Spirolox Retaining Rings are Smalley's most popular retaining ring series. WH & WS spiral rings easily handle thrust loads imposed by light- and medium-series bearings.
Medium-Duty Spirolox Retaining Rings: Metric Aerospace Specification
The EH & ES Series metric retaining rings are Smalley's standard Spiral Retaining Rings manufactured to Metric Aerospace specifications: MA 4017 and MA 4016. Designed to fit grooves specifically engineered for 2-turn spiral retaining rings, they are ideal for light- to medium-duty applications.
Medium-Heavy Spirolox® Retaining Rings
Many original equipment manufacturers have established groove dimensions specifically for the WHT & WST Series Spirolox Retaining Rings. Easier to install, this retaining ring series offers load-carrying ratings comparable to our heavy-duty retaining ring designs.
Heavy-Duty Spirolox Retaining Rings: Military and Aerospace Specification
The WHM & WSM Series Spirolox Retaining Rings are designed for the most demanding retaining ring applications. WHM & WSM Series retaining rings use standard industry groove dimensions and are interchangeable with many stamped retaining rings. This series is recommended for thrust loads that require deep-groove, heavy-section capacity. Offering the widest range of standard retaining ring sizes, this series makes it easy for customers to find and order the right part for their application.
Heavy-Duty Spirolox Retaining Rings: DIN Metric Interchange
The DNH & DNS Series Spirolox Retaining Rings are Smalley's equivalent to the European metric retaining ring series. Featuring a 2-turn offset configuration, these spiral rings fit into grooves established by DIN 471 and DIN 472 specifications.
Designed to Meet Your Exact Specifications
Smalley stocks more than 6,000 retaining ring part numbers in carbon steel and stainless steel. When a standard part won't do, our engineers can help you develop a custom solution built around your application's requirements. We offer custom Spirolox Retaining Rings in diameters ranging from .118 to 120" and 3 to 3000 mm.
With more than 40 material options and countless configurations available, Smalley provides the design flexibility needed for unique applications. Our edgewinding process minimizes material scrap, making premium materials such as Elgiloy, Inconel, and titanium cost-effective choices. Best of all, all custom parts come with No-Tooling-Charges™.
Design Support & Custom Solutions
Custom Design Services
Application Optimization
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Applications & Use Cases
Engineers choose Spirolox® Retaining Rings for their reliable retention performance, streamlined installation, and compatibility with many standard snap ring grooves.
An external, 2-turn, spiral retaining ring prevents the pinion shafts from rotating with the gears. The Spirolox Retaining Ring snaps securely into the groove while leaving room for installation.
The single-turn, light-duty, retaining ring fits tightly into the groove of the plastic air vent housing. Its single-angle ring ends are designed to be close together, providing nearly complete, 360° support.
A ring with reversed removal notches creates an easy-to-install yet tamper-proof assembly. Its heavy cross-section further increases its resistance to forceful entry.
The bearing and spindle of the axial piston pump are held in the housing by a Spirolox Retaining Ring. The removal notches allow the unit to be disassembled quickly for repairs or modifications.
Engineering Resources & Literature
