Official Answer
Answer
The maximum expansion limit is the largest diameter a ring can be opened to during installation without causing permanent set. It is mathematically related to the material's yield strength and the ratio of the radial wall to the diameter. If a technician uses pliers to open the ring too far to clear a large shaft shoulder, the ring will not snap back into the groove with the intended 'cling'. This leaves a gap between the ring ID and the groove diameter, drastically reducing the centrifugal speed rating and the ring's ability to resist axial vibration.
