A clevis is a U-shaped mechanical connector with a hole through each of its two prongs. A clevis pin passes through both holes — and usually through a matching hole in whatever part sits between the prongs — letting the connection pivot around the pin’s axis while still carrying load. It’s a fastener built for controlled, single-axis rotation, not a rigid, fixed joint.
What a Clevis Is Made Of
A complete clevis assembly is really three or four parts working together, not one:
- The clevis body — the U-shaped piece itself, sometimes called the “fork” or “yoke.” Its two prongs (also called “ears”) each carry a hole.
- The tang — the part that sits between the prongs and gets held in place by the pin. This is usually the end of whatever the clevis is connecting to (a rod, a chain link, a bracket).
- The clevis pin — passes through both prong holes and the tang’s hole. It can be smooth/unthreaded (held in place by a cotter pin or split pin through a cross-hole) or partially threaded (screws into one prong for a semi-permanent fit).
- A retainer — a cotter pin, split ring, or circlip that stops the clevis pin from working its way out under vibration.
Remove the pin and the whole assembly comes apart — no pressing, welding, or special tooling required. That’s the main practical advantage over a permanent joint: it’s fast to inspect, service, and disconnect.
Four Common Types of Clevis
“Clevis” isn’t one shape — it’s a family of fasteners that share the same U-shaped-fork-and-pin principle but differ in how they’re built and what they’re built for:
| Type | Structure | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Shackle | Classic U-shaped design with a tang and clevis pin — the “standard” clevis most people picture | General-purpose pivoting connections, towing, farm equipment |
| Bracket | Rectangular rather than U-shaped, with holes for bolts or screws | Mounting rods to flat surfaces in vehicles and aircraft |
| Clevis hanger | Two clevises — a standard U-shaped one and a V-shaped one — joined by a pin | Suspending pipe from a ceiling or overhead support |
| Clevis rod end (yoke end) | U-shaped hook with a threaded or unthreaded hole at its base | Connecting directly to a rod, actuator, or hydraulic cylinder |
Each of these deserves more depth than a table row — see What Are the Two Types of Clevises? for how this four-way split actually breaks down (and why you’ll also see “two types” claimed depending on which of these you’re asking about).
Where Clevises Show Up
The single-pin pivot makes a clevis the right choice wherever two parts need to rotate relative to each other in one plane — not the multi-axis flexibility a spherical bearing provides, just a controlled swing around one axis:
- Trailer hitches and towing equipment
- Farm and agricultural machinery
- Aircraft control linkages
- Brake, throttle, and clutch pedal linkages
- Hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder rod ends
- Rigging and sailing hardware
- Pipe hanger systems (clevis hangers)
- Industrial automation — connecting actuators to levers, gates, and clamps
Clevis rod ends specifically — the fourth type in the table above — are common in hydraulic and industrial linkages where the connection needs to pivot but doesn’t need multi-axis misalignment. SYZ Machine has covered that application in more depth: see Clevis Rod Ends: Best Applications for Industrial and Hydraulic Linkages for where a clevis rod end fits versus a spherical rod end, and Rod End vs. Clevis Yoke vs. Weld-On Socket for a full structural comparison against the other two common end-fitting styles.
Clevis vs. Shackle: Not Quite the Same Word
In casual use, “clevis” and “shackle” get swapped constantly — and the table above already lists “shackle” as one of the four clevis types, which is part of why. The short version: a shackle is a clevis built and rated specifically for lifting and rigging. The full breakdown of what separates them (and when that distinction actually matters) is in What Is the Difference Between Clevis and Shackle?.
Related reading: What Is the Difference Between Clevis and Shackle? · What Are the Two Types of Clevises? · Clevis Rod Ends: Best Applications for Industrial and Hydraulic Linkages · Rod End vs. Clevis Yoke vs. Weld-On Socket
