How to remove a snap ring without pliers
In this guide
- Which snap ring do you have?
- Methods compared
- Method 1: needle-nose pliers (internal rings)
- Method 2: two small screwdrivers or picks (external rings)
- Method 3: push an E-clip off sideways
- Method 4: wind out a spiral ring
- Method 5: pry it out (last resort)
- Stuck or rusted ring?
- How far to spread or squeeze the ring
- When to just buy snap ring pliers
- Safety
- What you'll need
- Questions people ask
Snap ring pliers exist for one reason. They let you squeeze or spread a stiff ring by a tiny amount, with a firm grip in the ring's holes. You can copy that with tools you likely own. The trick is to match the method to the ring. More fastener fixes are in the fasteners hub.
Which snap ring do you have?
| Ring | Where it sits | Has lug holes? | To remove it, you… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal ring (circlip) | In a groove inside a bore or housing | Yes | Squeeze it smaller |
| External ring (circlip) | In a groove on a shaft | Yes | Spread it wider |
| E-clip | Clipped onto a shaft from the side | No | Push it off sideways |
| Spiral ring | In a groove; looks like a flat coil | No, has a notch | Pry the end out and wind it off |
"Snap ring" and "circlip" are mostly used for the same lug-hole rings. Our guide to snap ring vs circlip vs E-clip covers the names and shapes in more detail.
Methods compared
| Method | Works on | Difficulty | Risk to ring or part | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needle-nose pliers | Internal rings | Easy | Low | Fast |
| Two small screwdrivers or picks | External rings | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| One flat screwdriver, push sideways | E-clips | Easy | Low | Fast |
| Pry and wind out | Spiral rings | Easy | Low | Medium |
| Pry the ring out of its groove | Any ring, last resort | Hard | High: bends the ring, can nick the groove | Slow |
Method 1: needle-nose pliers (internal rings)
An internal ring must close to leave its groove. Needle-nose pliers close when you squeeze them. That makes them a decent stand-in for internal snap ring pliers.
- Put on safety glasses. Lay a rag over the area.
- Clean the lug holes with a pick so the tips seat deep.
- Put one plier tip in each hole. Push them in as far as they go.
- Squeeze slowly until the ring clears the groove.
- Tilt the ring out of the bore while you keep it squeezed.
If the tips are too fat for the holes, file them thinner or use bent-nose pliers. Tips that sit only halfway in will slip, and that's when rings fly.
Method 2: two small screwdrivers or picks (external rings)
An external ring must open to come off. Normal pliers can't open, so use two tools.
- Glasses on. Rag ready.
- Put the tip of a small flat screwdriver (or a pick) into each lug hole.
- Push the handles apart, like opening scissors. The ring opens.
- Open it just enough to lift one side out of the groove.
- Hold that side up with one tool and walk the other side out.
Small jeweler's screwdrivers often fit better than shop screwdrivers. See types of screwdrivers if you're not sure what you have.
Method 3: push an E-clip off sideways
E-clips have no holes. They snap onto a shaft from the side.
- Glasses on. Cup your free hand or a rag over the clip.
- Set a flat screwdriver at the open end of the "E", between the clip and the shaft.
- Twist or push the screwdriver so the clip slides off the shaft.
The clip will jump, so keep it covered.
Method 4: wind out a spiral ring
Spiral rings look like a flat coil spring with no holes. Smalley, a spiral ring maker, designs them to come out without special tools.
- Find the small notch at one end of the ring.
- Slip a small flat screwdriver into the notch and lift the end out of the groove.
- Hold the end up and run the screwdriver around the ring. The coil winds out of the groove.
For tiny rings, a dental pick works better than a screwdriver.
Method 5: pry it out (last resort)
If nothing else fits, you can work a thin screwdriver under one end of the ring and pry it out of the groove a little at a time. It usually bends the ring and can scar the groove. Plan to replace the ring, and only do this when the part isn't worth much.
Stuck or rusted ring?
- Spray penetrating oil around the groove and give it time to soak in, as the can directs. Then brush out the dirt.
- Clean the lug holes so your tips seat fully.
- Push the part toward the ring a little. Sometimes the load from a gear or bearing pins the ring tight in its groove.
How far to spread or squeeze the ring
Only as far as it takes to clear the groove. Rotor Clip, a major ring maker, warns that overstretching or overcompressing a ring gives it a "permanent set". A ring like that won't sit tight anymore. If the old ring looks bent, twisted or won't lie flat, use a new one of the same size.
When to just buy snap ring pliers
Buy a set if any of these apply:
- You need to put the ring back on. Installing is harder than removing without the right tool. See how to install a snap ring.
- The ring is large, stiff, or sits deep in a bore.
- You work on bikes, mowers, power tools or car parts often.
Get a kit that does both internal and external rings, or a pair with swappable tips. Rotor Clip notes that good pliers have fixed stops, which keep you from opening a ring too far. Our internal vs external snap ring pliers guide explains which kind you need.
Safety
The ring is usually spring steel. Our steel material page covers drilling, cutting and fastening into steel parts.
What you'll need
- Safety glasses: Non-negotiable: rings fly
- Needle-nose pliers with thin tips: For internal rings
- Two small flat screwdrivers or a pick set: For external rings and E-clips
- A rag or a clear plastic bag: Catches the ring
- Penetrating oil and a brush: For a rusty or gunked groove
- Replacement ring of the same size: If the old one bends
Key takeaways
- Internal rings sit in a bore and must be squeezed smaller. Needle-nose pliers do that, because they close when you squeeze.
- External rings sit on a shaft and must be spread wider. Two small screwdrivers or picks in the lug holes do that best.
- E-clips have no holes. Push them off the shaft sideways at the open end with a flat screwdriver.
- Rings can fly off hard. Wear safety glasses and cover the ring with a rag while you work.
- Spread or squeeze the ring only as far as it takes to clear the groove. A bent ring has lost its grip, so replace it.
Questions people ask
Can I use regular pliers on a snap ring?
Only on an internal ring with lug holes, and only if the tips are thin enough to fit in the holes. Needle-nose pliers close when you squeeze, which is what an internal ring needs. Regular pliers can't open an external ring.
How do you remove a circlip without circlip pliers?
A circlip is the same thing as a snap ring with lug holes. Use needle-nose pliers for an internal one and two small screwdrivers or picks for an external one. Cover it with a rag so it can't fly.
How do you remove a snap ring with no holes?
Rings without holes are usually E-clips or spiral rings. Push an E-clip off sideways at its open end. For a spiral ring, slip a small flat screwdriver into the notch at one end, lift it out of the groove and wind the ring out.
Can you reuse a snap ring?
Only if it still lies flat and snaps tight in its groove. A ring that was spread or squeezed too far takes a set and won't grip. Rings are cheap, so replace a bent one.
Do I need snap ring pliers to put the ring back on?
It's much easier with them. You can push an E-clip on with a screwdriver, but lug-hole rings are hard to reinstall without the right pliers. See our guide on installing a snap ring.
Sources
- Retaining ring installation and removal (Rotor Clip)
- Retaining ring tools: standard pliers, fixed stops and lug holes (Rotor Clip)
- Spiral retaining ring removal (Smalley)
- Retaining ring types and selection: internal vs external (ASME)
- KNIPEX circlip pliers operating instructions: eye protection, tips in the holes
- OSHA eye and face protection (29 CFR 1910.133)
Change log: Nov 6, 2026: Rewritten from the archived post at /diy/how-to-get-a-snap-ring-off-without-pliers/. Removed the Windex and wrench advice; added ring-type matching, method table and safety steps. New slug matches the main query.
