Camilo

Does anyone know of a source or substitution for the little clips that are put on the ends of the Sram brake pad retaining bolts? What are they called anyway? You can find them in packs with the bolts, but they're actually pretty expensive - $7 or so for a set of two. And the bolt/clip set comes with a new pad.


The bolts themselves are very unlikely to actually wear out and relatively easy to find if dropped so I don't feel a need to have any on hand. But the clips are very tiny, a little hard to handle, and get lost easily - at least in my "shop" (cluttered garage). I lost one the other day and had to scavenge one from a set of extra pads I had on hand.

Does anyone know where one can purchase just the clips to have a few on hand? Or better yet, a commonly available substitute? A tiny hairpin type cotter pin (aka R pin) would work if I could find some that are small enough but all I've seen are too big to clip onto that little bolt.

I did a little bit of a search at McMaster Carr but didn't see anything - other than the shape of the R clips - that would work. I don't even know what those little clips are called.

Troul 

Shimano 105 uses clips that might work for a replacement. The lbs might have a few random spares laying around, at least the shop I inquired at a while back was able to help.

Duragrouch

I think you could substitute an external C-clip/Circlip, or an E-clip:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circlip

Local to me is an industrial bolt/nut/etc supply that also sells retail, they have pretty much all this kind of stuff. Also check amazon. You'll need the diameter of the groove on the pin.

choddo

My LBS uses those R clips in a small enough size. Someone must make them.

Duragrouch

That worries me. R-clips are designed to fit into a cross-hole in a pin (the straight part), with the curved part going around the outside. And, the rounded cross section of it will not stay as positively in a shallow groove. I have seen R-clips on trailer hitch pins with just a groove and not hole, and it always makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, failure waiting to happen.

It would be different if the pin was curved on both sides to fit in the groove, and be square wire cross-section, to better engage the groove.

dsaul

They are side mounted external retaining rings, although the SRAM ones are made in a way that makes them easier to remove. You can buy them by the 100 pack at McMaster-Carr. https://www.mcmaster.com/products/re..._redirect=true

dedhed

Hardware/auto store E clip

​​​​​​https://www.google.com/search?q=e+cl...t=gws-wiz-serp

Barry2 

Maybe these

Barry

pdlamb

I have to ask, are these really necessary? I had my front pads changed at a shop last summer, and apparently the clip disappeared. I say that based on changing the rear pads last month (the shop ran out after the first set), and noticed a clip that wasn't on the front.

choddo

So they do go through a cross hole and the outer curved part pinches on the far side even if they don’t sit in the groove. (Is there a groove? I can only think of the one in the original pins - these things replace those pins and go through the retaining hole in the caliper)

They’re not under any load so I think the chances of them overcoming the spring inherent in the shape and vacating the hole are minimal.

Duragrouch

If they are never under load, you wouldn't need them. Profile versus groove is critical enough that snap rings actually have an orientation, based on the very slight radius on the inner and outer edges, from the stamping process, top versus bottom side when stamped. (Fineblanking, like they do with coins, can greatly reduce this.)

For R-clips going through a hole, you don't need a groove, and the smaller diameter would reduce the holding power to keep the clip in place.

bboy314

Not necessary, just insurance against the bolt falling out if it’s loose. Check the bolt now and then and you don’t have to worry about the clips at all.

Barry2 

I sleep better knowing they are on my bikes.
Given Shimano won’t spend a penny it doesn’t feel is necessary, they added them.
Barry

Duragrouch

+1. My sentiments exactly.

choddo

They are going through a hole.

OK they’re under load at 90° to the direction of the pin removal and even then the caliper bodies take most of that force. I think they are just a belt and braces thing in case something else goes wrong. Pads snap into place very firmly thanks to the spring but that can be destroyed by the brakes eventually if not maintained.

edit: Sorry, brain fart! I used the wrong term and had the wrong image in my head. Just had a moment of clarity. I wasn’t talking about the securing clip here



It’s a split pin I’m talking about, replacing the oil coloured pin in that photo.

grumpus

It's a form of external circlip, in a pinch I've just twisted wire around the pin as a substitute, but you probably don't even need it if you put Loctite on the pin thread.

Barry2 

What's wrong with the product I linked in post #8 ????

Barry

grumpus

That states the diameter is 2.0 mm and groove width 1.0 mm, apparently SRAM uses 2.3 mm x 0.64 mm which is standardised in DIN 6799. Now, for a non-essential part that springs to fit, that might be near enough, but if you're bothering to fit it you probably want the right part.
Added: Actually it states 2 mm x 1 mm, no implied precision.

Iride01 

If it's your bike and you are in a pinch, then just wrap some stainless steel safety wire around it and twist it together. Or for that matter most any kind of wire. 16 gauge solid conductor copper wire or even the black iron wire they tie rebar together with.

Camilo

Thanks all for the suggestions and pointers. It looks like there probably isn't an exact generic replacement for this e-clip. I'll try to see if a reasonable eclip or r clip substitute will work, but the twisted wire will be my go to should I they need to.