[redmodelt]

Rubber seal is correct. It goes on the outside and covers the hole were the ball fits into. Not sure how you are trying to fit, but I suggest maybe getting one of the service manuals or look in the Snyder's catalog there might be an illustration there. The drag link seals mount the same way. Someone at some time in the far past may not have had the correct seals and replaced them with felt.

The metal cap goes on first followed by the rubber seal and then tie rod end. Some of the repo metal caps made had the hole too small to fit over the ball, I open them up just enough for the ball to pass thru.