Wavy Spring Washers are essential high-precision fasteners designed to provide moderate load-bearing capabilities in applications with limited radial and axial space. Also known as wave springs or wave washers, these components are engineered to compensate for operational play, absorb vibrations, and maintain tension in assemblies like bearings and electric motors. Our extensive inventory features various materials, including stainless steel and carbon steel, available in multiple diameters and thicknesses to meet your exact engineering specifications. Browse our collection to find the ideal wave spring solution for consistent pressure and reliable performance.

Wavy Spring Washer

Wavy spring washers are our go-to solution when you need compact, consistent tension without bulky hardware. Built to maintain preload in tight spaces, our wavy washers help stabilize assemblies so your fasteners stay seated and your components stay crisp under load. If you’re chasing cleaner builds and fewer re-torques, this is the smart, low-profile way to lock in performance.

DIN 137B

What Are Wavy Spring Washers?

Our wavy spring washers use a wave-like profile that flexes under compression to apply a moderate, controlled spring force. That spring force absorbs axial end play and maintains a steady preload between surfaces, which helps reduce vibration, rattle, and micro-movement that can loosen standard joints over time. Think of them as the invisible helper in your stack-up: compact, reliable, and always working to keep your assembly stable.

Use our wavy spring washers anywhere small axial shifts can snowball into bigger problems. They’re excellent in assemblies that see temperature swings, start–stop cycles, or routine vibration where joint relaxation can creep in. You’ll see the payoff in steadier clamp loads, fewer callbacks, and hardware that feels “tight” longer. They also help protect surfaces and threads by distributing force more evenly as the joint moves through its normal expansion and contraction.

Right after dialing in your washer selection, you may want to round out your hardware kit for different tasks. For broad bearing surface and general support, our Flat Washers are the everyday staple. When you need extra coverage around oversized or slotted holes, our Fender Washers spread the load with a larger outside diameter. For precision spacing and fine-tuning tolerances, a Shim Washer helps you hit the perfect fit without redesigning the whole assembly.

DIN 137B Functionality, In Plain Terms

In DIN 137B form, our wavy spring washers deliver the “just-right” spring rate many assemblies need. The wave profile compresses smoothly to take up slack, eliminate end play, and hold a target preload between two mating parts. That preload keeps the joint in its ideal operating window, which improves consistency, reduces noise, and helps protect sensitive components from shock. Because the force is delivered through a simple, compact geometry, you get dependable performance without adding height, weight, or complicated mechanisms.

Sizing and Selection Made Simple

Choosing the right wavy spring washer is about matching the inner diameter to your fastener, then selecting the outside diameter and thickness that meet your load and deflection target. Thicker profiles and designs with a greater wave height will typically offer higher spring force and a firmer feel at comparable deflection. If your assembly has very limited axial space, pick a profile that reaches the preload you need within the available compression window so the washer can work without bottoming out.

Assembly Tips For Consistent Results

Seat our wavy spring washer flat against a clean, aligned surface so the wave form can compress uniformly as you tighten the joint. Bring the joint up to torque in a steady, controlled motion to establish preload without shock. If your application calls for periodic inspections, check the joint torque and any axial play; a correctly sized wavy washer should keep movement minimal and the hardware snug through normal service intervals.

FAQs

How does a wavy spring washer help maintain tension under vibration?

The wave profile stores elastic energy as the joint is tightened, creating a steady preload that resists loosening forces. When vibration tries to shake components apart, the washer flexes microscopically to take up the movement and keep clamping force consistent, which helps prevent back-off and rattle over time.

What load range is a wavy spring washer designed to handle?

Wavy spring washers are intended for moderate loads where you need reliable preload without the high force of heavy-duty spring elements. Within that space, different thicknesses and geometries deliver distinct load–deflection curves, allowing you to choose a washer that reaches your target preload within the compression available in your assembly.

Can wavy spring washers be reused after removal?

Reusability depends on how close the washer was run to its elastic limit and how many compression cycles it experienced. If it has not been overstressed or permanently flattened and still returns to its original wave shape, it can often be reused. For critical joints, replace the washer whenever there’s doubt so you preserve consistent preload and long-term reliability.

In what industries are wavy spring washers most commonly used?

You’ll find them wherever compact preload control matters, including general manufacturing, electronics assemblies, light machinery, appliances, and automotive subcomponents. In these environments, wavy spring washers help manage axial play, stabilize torque, and protect sensitive parts from vibration and thermal cycling—without increasing the size of the joint.