Sep 24, 2026News & Insights
Wire Rope Clip vs Thimble
A wire rope clip holds the rope; a thimble protects it. Why a lasting eye usually needs both, and how to choose each one.
A wire rope clip and a wire rope thimble are both used at the end of a rope, which is why they get confused. They do different jobs: the clip holds the rope, and the thimble protects it. Most terminations that need to last require both, so here is where each one belongs.
What Each Part Does
A wire rope clip, also called a U-bolt clamp, forms an eye or loop in wire rope and holds it. The rope is clamped between a U-bolt and a saddle, and that clamp is what carries the termination under load. A wire rope thimble, by contrast, carries no load itself. It is a metal liner that sits inside the eye or spliced loop, holding the eye open at a controlled radius and protecting the rope from abrasion where it bears against a shackle, hook or pin.
They Work Together
In a normal wire rope eye, the two are used in the same termination. The rope is bent around the thimble, and the clip is fitted behind it to hold the loop closed. The thimble keeps the eye at a controlled radius, so the rope is not crushed where it bears on the pin; the clip is what actually secures the rope end. Fitting a thimble also gives a more predictable strength in the termination than a bare eye. A thimble does not increase the rope's breaking strength; it protects the eye and keeps the bend radius consistent.
Getting the Clip Right
A clip must be fitted correctly or the eye will slip. A wire rope termination is safety-critical: the strength of a clip termination depends on correct assembly, and a wrongly fitted clip can fail under load. Three things determine a safe installation: use the correct number of clips and the correct spacing for the rope diameter, fit each clip with the saddle on the load-bearing side, and re-tighten after the rope has been loaded and has bedded in. Do not reuse a clip that has been removed: a used clip may not re-grip reliably and should be discarded. The termination should be made and inspected by a competent person.
Choosing the Type and the Size
Clips are supplied in two types. US type clips are drop forged steel and run from 1/8 in to 3-1/2 in; DIN 741 clips are malleable iron and run from 3 mm to 40 mm. Both come in the natural finish, with galvanized versions on request. Thimbles are chosen to match the rope diameter and the groove width, and are available for rope diameter x groove width from 2.5x3 mm up to 97x100 mm, in carbon steel, with galvanized and stainless steel versions on request.
The rule for both is the same: give us the rope diameter first, because every clip and thimble size is referenced to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a thimble if I use a clip?
For a termination that will be loaded, yes in practice. The clip holds the eye closed, but without a thimble the rope bears directly on the shackle, hook or pin and can be crushed or worn at the eye. The thimble is what keeps that bearing at a controlled radius.
Which is the load-bearing part?
The clip. It clamps the rope and carries the load of the termination. The thimble is a liner and carries no load itself, but it protects the rope at the point where it is most likely to be damaged.
Boyuan Metal supplies both clips and thimbles in the types and finishes above. Tell us the rope diameter and the duty, and we will confirm the clip type, the thimble size and the quantity.