On a wellhead (10), a well component, such as a casing head, has a bowl (12) with a first shoulder (26) and a groove (16) defined therein. A hanger (20) for supporting casing positions in the bowl, and a latch assembly (30) on the hanger latches the hanger in the groove. The latch can have a traveling ring (32) and a latch ring (40) supported on the hanger's exterior surface. The traveling ring engages the first shoulder in the bowl and pushes the latch ring against a portion of the hanger, such as a second shoulder (24). The latch ring has a joint (46) at a split in the latch ring, and the joint holds the latch ring in a compressed state about the exterior surface. When the latch ring moves with the engagement of the traveling ring against the hanger portion, the joint is disjointed, and the latch ring expands outward into the groove to latch the hanger in the bowl.
