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U Type Nuts Retainers

U Type Nuts Retainers illustration

Advantages

PSM U Type Nuts Retainers are spring steel fasteners combining the utility of a captive nut with the flexibility of a clip. They grip onto panel edges or into slots to provide a captive, threaded attachment point. Designed for ease of assembly, they eliminate the need for back-side access, welding, or extra hardware.

MATERIAL

Carbon steel

WHEN SPECIFYING, PLEASE STATE:

  1. Quantity
  2. Prefix (CBUR)
  3. Part No.
  4. Finish code (e.g. 1000 CBUR-0170-13)

U Type Nuts Retainers Key Features

  1. Self-retaining: The U-nut holds itself in position, allowing quick assembly without tools.
  2. High strength and torque: Designed to handle higher tightening torques while resisting loosening due to vibration.
  3. Alignment flexibility: The captive nut allows slight lateral movement to accommodate misaligned holes.
  4. Full bearing surface: The lower leg provides a strong bearing area, offering better load distribution compared to J-type nuts.
  5. Blind and center-panel mounting: Can be used in blind locations or through slots where access to both sides is limited.

Method of Assembly

Exactly the same as conventional ‘U-Nut.

U Type Nuts Retainers Dimensions

PART NO. THREAD SIZE A B C H PANEL RANGE
0166 M5 26.2 15.9 11.1 9.5 0.71 - 1.62
0168 M6 26.2 15.9 11.1 9.5 0.71 - 1.62
0979 M6 26.0 15.9 11.1 9.5 2.0 - 2.2
0170 M8 31.8 17.5 15.1 12.7 0.71 - 1.62

Recommended Installation Torque

SCREW
SIZE
lbs. ins N.M. SCREW
SIZE
lbs. ins N.M.
4 6 0.68 10 UNC 11 1.24
6 12 1.35 10 UNF 7 0.79
8 18 2.03 6 BA 2 0.23
10 24 2.71 4 BA 4 0.46
12 30 3.39 2 BA 7 0.79
14 42 4.75 6 mm 16 1.81
1/4 ACME 50 5.65 4 mm 6 0.69
5/16 ACME 75 8.48 1/4 BSW 20 2.26
2 BA 7 0.79
3/16 BSW 11 1.24
CODE DESCRIPTION COLOUR USAGE
00 Blue, oil dipped Blue temper Very light corrosive conditions
09 Phosphate, oil dipped Dark grey Light corrosive conditions
13 Chromate passivated electro plated zinc Pale translucent yellow Highly corrosive conditions
08 Phosphate & zinc chromate paint Green Highly corrosive conditions
10 Phosphate & zinc chromate paint Black Highly corrosive conditions
11 Plastic coating Black As required
14 Polyester Various As required
22 Polyseal Black Highly corrosive conditions
24 Dacromet Silver Highly corrosive conditions

Design & Specification Guidelines

Panel and Slot Requirements

Panels should be within the recommended thickness range to ensure proper grip. Slots or holes must be clean and properly dimensioned so the spring legs can snap securely in place without damaging the fastener or the panel edge.

Material and Finish

U-Type Nut Retainers are commonly made from high-quality spring carbon steel for durability and resilience. Finishes such as zinc plating or passivation improve corrosion resistance and maintain smooth engagement between components.

Installation and Assembly

  1. Position the U-nut retainer over the panel edge or slot.
  2. Slide it on until the lower leg snaps into the hole or aligns over the screw position.
  3. Insert the screw and tighten to the recommended torque. The spring action prevents the nut from rotating during tightening.

Ensure that the fastener is properly aligned before applying torque and avoid twisting or overloading during installation.

Recommended Installation Torque

SCREW SIZE lbs. ins N.M. SCREW SIZE lbs. ins N.M.
4 6 0.68 10 UNC 11 1.24
6 12 1.35 10 UNF 7 0.79
8 18 2.03 6 BA 2 0.23
10 24 2.71 4 BA 4 0.46
12 30 3.39 2 BA 7 0.79
14 42 4.75 6 mm 16 1.81
1/4 ACME 50 5.65 4 mm 6 0.69
5/16 ACME 75 8.48 1/4 BSW 20 2.26
2 BA 7 0.79
3/16 BSW 11 1.24
CODE DESCRIPTION COLOUR USAGE
00 Blue, oil dipped Blue temper Very light corrosive conditions
09 Phosphate, oil dipped Dark grey Light corrosive conditions
13 Chromate passivated electro plated zinc Pale translucent yellow Highly corrosive conditions
08 Phosphate & zinc chromate paint Green Highly corrosive conditions
10 Phosphate & zinc chromate paint Black Highly corrosive conditions
11 Plastic coating Black As required
14 Polyester Various As required
22 Polyseal Black Highly corrosive conditions
24 Dacromet Silver Highly corrosive conditions

Enhance Your Assembly with Our U Type Nuts Retainers


Start browsing our products or request a quote today to find the ideal fastening solution for your application.

Frequently Asked Questions About U Type Nuts Retainers

What is a U Type Nut Retainer?

U Type Nut Retainers are a spring-steel fasteners that uses a U-shaped clip profile to hold a nut in a fixed, secure position against a panel or sheet metal edge. It enables a threaded fixing point to be added without drilling, tapping, or welding, by combining spring clamping action with secure nut retention.

U Type Nut Retainers are installed by sliding its U-shaped spring-steel body over the edge of a panel, flange, or bracket. Spring tension in the clip secures the retainer — and the nut it holds — firmly in position, ready to accept a mating screw from the opposite side without further alignment or holding required.po

Both use a U-shaped spring-steel profile to clip onto a panel edge without drilling or welding. The key distinction (to be confirmed against PSM’s specific product documentation) generally relates to how the nut is incorporated — whether the threaded section is integrated directly into the clip body, or whether the retainer is designed specifically to hold a separate, standard nut captive. PSM’s product team can confirm the precise configuration for each part number.
A nut retainer combines edge retention and nut alignment into a single component, removing the need for a separate bracket, weld nut, or a second person holding the nut in place during assembly. This speeds up installation and reduces the risk of cross-threading or misalignment when the screw is driven in from the opposite side.
PSM U Type Nut Retainers are available across a range of standard thread sizes to suit common mating screw specifications. Refer to PSM’s dimensional data sheet or product search listing for the full range of available thread sizes and corresponding panel thickness specifications

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