smokey

Maybe someone has already posted it, but there's a description in the March 2004 issue of 911 & Porsche World (p.120) about modifying a pair of 90 degree inside circlip pliers to easily remove the dreaded circlip. If I were scanner-savvy I would post the picture, but he "heated the 90-degree bends in the legs of the pliers cherry-red and, with the aid of a pair of water-pump pliers, carefully bent them as shown in the accompanying photo (sorry)" and then quenched them in water. And then "within seconds I had the circlip safely in my hand." From the picture, it looks like he bent them to about 45 degrees. Is this the solution to the famous circlip problem? ..WITHIN SECONDS, HE SAID. Maybe it only works in Britain.

83na944

Looks like he'd just buy the right tool to begin with.

BruceWard

I found that the trick was to have a pair of really strong 45 degree circlip pliers. They have to be really strong to be able to hold that circlip closed. Otherwise you end up pulling it out a little at a time.

89magic98

More reading on the subject (based on my experiences):

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...hreadid=126899

Danno

I've found 45-60 degree needle-nose pliers works better than the 90-degree tips. I also use a smaller one than what people have posted (easier to wiggle in there). Also it's best not to try and pull both the ends of the circlip together (requires too much force and coordination). Easiest to just grab one end of the circlip, pull it towards the center and just peel it off gradually.