Guide rings

Guide rings and guide tape in PTFE and phenolic resin for hydraulic cylinders: they centre the rod and piston, carry side loads and prevent metal-to-metal contact.

Guide rings work alongside the seals. Without them, or when they are worn, the piston rubs on the tube and the rod rubs on the head, scoring the surfaces and quickly damaging the seals. That is why guide rings are replaced together with the seals in a repair.

• Pre-formed guide rings (including EDWR and IDWR profiles): already at final size, for rod or piston;
• PTFE guide tape: low friction, for higher speeds;
• Phenolic resin guide tape and rings: for high side loads.

Guide tape is sold by length and cut to suit the groove, leaving a small gap between the ends. To choose, measure the rod or bore diameter, the groove width and the guide thickness. The seal finder also searches guide rings by dimensions.

Technical guide: How to choose a hydraulic seal