Our dowels, pins, rivets, and yokes locate, align, and join components with precision. From hardened dowel pins (DIN 6325) and spring pins (DIN 1481) to split pins (DIN 94), rivets, and clevis yokes, this range covers accurate location, permanent joining, and pivoting linkage connections across machinery and fabrication.

Dowels, Pins, Rivets & Yokes - Metric Sizes

What Are Dowels, Pins, Rivets and Yokes?

This group of hardware handles location, retention, permanent joining, and articulated connections. Dowel pins are precision-ground, hardened cylinders pressed into reamed holes to locate two components accurately relative to one another  establishing alignment that bolts alone cannot guarantee. Pins, in their many forms, retain and connect components: spring (roll) pins grip by radial tension, clevis pins carry pivoting loads, taper pins lock into matched holes, and split (cotter) pins secure castle nuts and clevis joints against rotation.

Rivets provide a fast, permanent mechanical joint by deforming to clamp materials together  blind (pop) rivets fit from one side of the workpiece, while solid rivets suit high-strength structural joints. Yokes, particularly clevis yokes, form a U-shaped fork connection that accepts a clevis pin, creating an articulated link in control rods, cylinders, and linkages. Together these components deliver the alignment, joining, and motion connections that fabricated and machined assemblies depend on.

Key Features and Benefits

• Precision Location: Hardened dowel pins in reamed holes align components more accurately than bolted joints alone.
• Secure Retention: Spring, clevis, and split pins retain and connect parts, resisting movement and rotation.
• Permanent Joining: Blind and solid rivets create fast, vibration-resistant permanent joints from one or both sides.
• Articulated Connections: Clevis yokes and pins form pivoting links for rods, cylinders, and control linkages.
• Wide Material Choice: Hardened steel, spring steel, aluminium, and stainless suit location, joining, and corrosion needs.

Materials and Finishes

• Hardened Steel: Precision-ground dowel and taper pins for accurate, wear-resistant location.
• Spring Steel: Roll and spring pins that grip by radial tension in drilled holes.
• Aluminium / Steel Rivets: Blind and solid rivets for lightweight and structural joining.
• Stainless Steel A2 / A4: Corrosion-resistant pins, rivets, and yokes for outdoor and marine use.

Standards Compliance

• DIN 6325 / ISO 8734  Hardened parallel dowel pins.
• DIN 1481 / ISO 8752  Spring-type straight (roll) pins.
• DIN 94 / ISO 1234  Split (cotter) pins.
• DIN 7337  Blind (pop) rivets.
• DIN 71752  Clevis (fork) joints and yokes.

Common Applications and Industries

This hardware group supports fabrication, machinery, and assembly across every sector. Dowel pins locate tooling, die sets, moulds, and machine components with the precision that bolted joints alone cannot provide. Spring and clevis pins retain and connect parts in agricultural equipment, hydraulics, and linkages, while split pins lock castle nuts and clevis joints on axles, steering, and safety-critical connections.

Rivets create fast, permanent joints in sheet-metal fabrication, bodywork, ducting, and structural assemblies, with blind rivets serving one-sided access and solid rivets handling higher-strength structural work. Clevis yokes form articulated links in control rods, cylinders, and mechanisms across automotive, agricultural, and industrial machinery, translating linear motion through pivoting connections.

How to Choose the Right Pin, Rivet or Yoke

Match the component to the task: use a hardened dowel pin for precise location in reamed holes, a spring (roll) pin for forgiving retention in drilled holes, a clevis pin plus split pin for a pivoting connection, and a taper pin for accurate semi-permanent location. For joining, choose a blind rivet where only one side is accessible or a solid rivet for higher-strength structural joints.

Size the component to the hole and load  dowel pins to the reamed hole tolerance, rivets to the grip range and hole diameter, and yokes to the pin and rod thread. Then select the material for strength and environment, from hardened and spring steels to aluminium rivets and A2 or A4 stainless for corrosion resistance.

Size Range and Availability

Available across dowel pins, spring pins, clevis pins, split pins, rivets, and clevis yokes from 1.5mm through 25mm, in hardened, spring, and stainless steels.

Why Buy From Metric Specialties

As dedicated metric fastener specialists, we hold dowels, pins, rivets & yokes in the sizes, grades, and finishes that engineers actually need, backed by clear DIN and ISO standard references so you can specify with confidence. Every item is sourced to recognised standards and quality-controlled, giving you consistent thread fit, strength, and corrosion performance across repeat orders.

Whether you need a single item for a repair or bulk quantities for production, our range, technical guidance, and fast dispatch help you find the exact fastener for the job. If you are unsure which size, grade, or finish suits your application, our team can help you match the right product to your load, environment, and standard, so your assemblies are reliable and built to last.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a dowel pin used for?

A dowel pin is a hardened, precision-ground cylinder pressed into reamed holes to locate two components accurately. It establishes alignment and takes shear load, ensuring parts assemble in exactly the right position.

2. What is the difference between a dowel pin and a spring pin?

A dowel pin is a solid, precision-ground pin for accurate location in reamed holes, while a spring (roll) pin is a rolled, hollow pin that grips by radial tension in a drilled hole, tolerating wider hole variation.

3. What is a split pin (cotter pin) used for?

A split pin passes through a cross-drilled hole  often with a castle nut or clevis pin  and is bent over to lock the assembly against rotation or separation. It provides a positive mechanical lock.

4. What is a clevis yoke?

A clevis yoke is a U-shaped fork fitting that accepts a clevis pin to form a pivoting connection in rods, cylinders, and linkages. It allows articulated motion between two components under load.

5. What is the difference between a blind rivet and a solid rivet?

A blind (pop) rivet is installed from one side of the workpiece using a rivet gun, ideal where the back is inaccessible. A solid rivet is set from both sides and offers higher strength for structural joints.

6. What is a taper pin?

A taper pin has a slight taper along its length and seats into a matched tapered hole, locking securely by friction. It is used for accurate, semi-permanent location that can be driven out for servicing.

7. Are these pins and rivets available in stainless steel?

Yes. We stock A2 and A4 stainless dowel pins, spring pins, split pins, rivets, and yokes for corrosion-resistant use in marine, outdoor, and hygienic applications.

8. How do I install a spring (roll) pin?

A spring pin is driven into a drilled hole slightly smaller than its free diameter; it compresses and grips the bore by radial spring tension. A pin punch and hammer, or a press, are used to fit it.

9. How do I choose the right dowel pin size?

Match the dowel pin diameter to the reamed hole tolerance specified for the assembly, typically an interference or transition fit. Correct hole preparation is essential for accurate, secure location.

10. What sizes do you stock for pins, dowels, rivets and yokes?

We stock dowel, spring, clevis, and split pins, rivets, and clevis yokes from 1.5mm through 25mm, in hardened, spring, and A2/A4 stainless steels.