Retaining Ring Pliers

jeepinmatt

jeepinmatt

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Mar 24, 2005
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Stanley, NC
1. What are the best snap ring pliers out there?
2. What are the best ones for the money?
3. Fixed tip or interchangeable tip?

Application is general mechanical tomfoolery of transmissions, axles, tcases, motors, etc on automobiles and smaller heavy equipment. I've got a set of 30+ year old fixed tip reversible Bluepoints, and they've served me well. But the plethora of broken tips are evidence I need some bigger ones, and I figure I might as well get a full set and "customize" the old ones when needed.

These Lang/Kastar/A&E look pretty good for the money:
https://www.amazon.com/Lang-Tools-12-Piece-Combination-Internal/dp/B005MVB6TG
 
X2 on knipex, i have never been disappointed by any of their pliers
 
0323d57bd2650f5ebe962e7b069ffa5b.jpg


Those are the best I have ever used. The jaws open parallel.

All I used to rebuild an ax15.

I've seen them under bluepoint, Proto, and Blackhawk Brandings, all the same.
 
Mac5005 said:
0323d57bd2650f5ebe962e7b069ffa5b.jpg


Those are the best I have ever used. The jaws open parallel.

All I used to rebuild an ax15.

I've seen them under bluepoint, Proto, and Blackhawk Brandings, all the same.
Click to expand...

Makes sense, Blackhawk and Proto are common ownership, and Proto makes private label tools for SnapOn and Blue Point.
 
Snap on makes nice fixed sets of snap rings pliers. Reversible, manually. Absence sells a heavy duty exchangeable tip reversible pliers that the tips slide into a hex slot and set screw. Works good on small stuff and even up to snap rings on bobcat mini ex pins. (1.5" or so) have had my advance ones for over two years, original tips.
 
Any advantage to the interchangeable tips other than being able to replace them? Seems like they wouldn't be as stiff as the fixed tip.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Any advantage to the interchangeable tips other than being able to replace them? Seems like they wouldn't be as stiff as the fixed tip.
Click to expand...

I've used both. I like fixed tip more. Biggest reason is the packet of tips seems to get lost. And the interchangeable tip designs seem to feel "clunky" to me. We've got a few sets but go to set is snap on fixed tip.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 
mysterync said:
We've got a few sets but go to set is snap on fixed tip.
Click to expand...
This is my answer as well. I also use Lang brand snap ring pliers on big snap rings. Jeep IFS front diffs use select fit snap rings as carrier bearing shims. Those snap rings are pretty big and take a lot to overcome.
lang-tools-87-extra-large-snap-ring-pliers-27.jpg
 
Jody Treadway said:
This is my answer as well. I also use Lang brand snap ring pliers on big snap rings. Jeep IFS front diffs use select fit snap rings as carrier bearing shims. Those snap rings are pretty big and take a lot to overcome.
View attachment 230836
Click to expand...
This is what I have except that they are pliers. I like the continued holding power of the screw style though.
 
Those are snap ring pliers. I think I bought the same pair at advance but not sure how much they were. Must have for sye/tc/trans repairs.

Snap rings - typically beveled ends, no holes
Retaining rings/circlips - holes at end of rings to allow tool pin end insertion

Small technical difference, big application difference. Typically snap rings are thicker than circlips.

Untechnical information: those can be used to remove or install circlips with varied levels of frustration depending on exact application.
 
NCJeeplover said:
Knipex hands down....

https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-Tools-1956-Knipex-Plier/dp/B004IQDPR2
Click to expand...

i have both internal and external sets of these, they work well, but not for all situations. the tips tend to be a bit to long in some applications and cause the pliers to get hung up on the ring.

they're great for what they are, but not end all be all

EDIT let me add also, if you have the opportunity , buy these from a tool vendor, you WILL need to warranty them at some point, a lot less hassle going thru the truck. (probably not any faster)
 
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