Alternate circlip for the clutch slave cylinder?

[EricB]

Got a new circlip from Ray at RD to install on my Lotus Cortina clutch slave cylinder and as usual I expect it to be a struggle to slip the clip over the cylinder to finally get it to rest in the designated groove. Wondering if anybody has tried using a snap ring which has the holes at either end so a circlip plier can be used to more easily open the ring and slide it into that groove.

[2cams70]

No, no, no - don't do that!!!

[marklowe]

Many years ago I purchased some snap ring pliers that have flat faces with a chequered pattern. These hold the rings quite well and have saved me much frustration.
Mark

[snowyelan]

I used a snap ring. 2cams70 why do you think it's a bad idea?

[2cams70]

A standard snap ring is not thick enough, has an edge chamfer and has less tension than the original.
Use it it and you risk it popping out of the groove. If you look at it in cross-section due the the lack of thickness there is far greater risk of it rolling out of the groove under load.

[snowyelan]

Not sure I agree.... From what I can find the thickness is the same when comparing like for like ID. Did Ford use their own spec? Maybe I should take a step back and ask which standard/spec Ford used? I'm not terribly familiar with English Fords and how they differ from the US in terms of standards.

[2cams70]

So what do you determine the thickness should be and what is the thickness of the circlip you are replacing it with?

[512BB]

Years ago, talking 30+, replacement genuine Girling slave cylinders came with circlips with eyes. Then suppliers stopped selling replacement cylinders with circlips that could easily be removed with correct pliers and went to those horrible other things.

Some time ago, I researched circlips using Google, and had to buy a few different sizes, but came up with the correct ones, with eyes. Calm restored.

Leslie

The eyes have it, the eyes have it.

[2cams70]

Certainly the OEM fitment was a circlip with no holes for pliers and precision ground on both sides and not stamped like a common or “garden variety” circlip with holes for pliers. The original circlip was quite thick and rigid. Whilst a thin stamped circlip works ok on parts that are precision fitted (eg. Piston pin) as soon as you start getting slop on loosely fitted parts (eg. a slave cylinder in it’s bore) you risk the thin circlip not being able to withstand the applied bending moment and becoming dislodged. There is of course quite a high bending moment applied during clutch actuation.

When you used stamped circlips it is always best to have the side that has square edges and not chamfered edges facing opposite the direction the side loading in operation is applied.

The original circlip is a Ford Anglia 105E part not a Cortina one. Should anyone have any further interest I might have a sift through my piles of rubbish and see if I can find one - but only if people are interested. I won’t waste my time otherwise.

[661]

They have been known to pop out whilst racing and I know Alan Henderson was trialling out alternative solutions. I did chase him a year or so back but he hadn't come up with anything.
I just replace my 'eyed' one every time the slave is out.

[2cams70]

https://www.burtonpower.com/circlip-sla ... 2e210.html

Looks OK. Haven't tried it myself though. Repro parts are hit and miss as you know

[snowyelan]

I replaced it years ago, so I'll have to measure it next time I'm under the car. I did have to order a few sizes to get one that fit right. IIRC the diameters weren't aligning with imperial or metric standards.

[joe7]

Wondering if anybody has tried using a snap ring which has the holes at either end .
If it has "holes at either end", I think those are circlips not snap rings.

[alfadave]

Just been trying to remove my slave cylinder.

Got the circlip/spring/ hydraulic connection off.

The aluminium body is seized into the hole in the gearbox.

Any tips for removing it!

I've had 2 eyed circlip there for years.....

[ericbushby]

Hi Dave,
Penetrating oil, light taps and patience. It once took me a week to release the glass in the Tachometer.
Best of luck
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC