Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick

[31 Woody]

I am working on the rear brakes on my Cabriolet. Tonight, after packing the rear roller bearings I tried to put in the hub seals. Ugh—they seem too big to go in. Is there a trick to this or do I have the wrong seals? Just to confirm, the seal lip points “in” toward the bearing?

[LAV]

I used this for my 1929 Coupe and it worked well.
Snyder’s part number:
HUB SEAL DRIVER
Part # A-1175-T | Model Year 28-31
Use this handy tool for pressing the A-1175 seal into the rear wheel hub. Presses seal in to the proper depth for the snap ring to be installed. U.S.A.

[31 Woody]

Chalk this up as experience—I learn the hard way again. Thank you LAV—looks like I need to get a seal driver.

[JayJay]

I have access to a lathe, so I made a driver out of some round stock. Regardless, after you get the seal in place but before you install the snap ring, go around the outside of the seal and tap-tap-tap the perimeter down with a large punch and hammer to assure that it’s in place and square.

[johnbuckley]

About 4 years ago I had a pair of seals that were definitely a smidgin too large, prudent emerying of the seal resolved the problem. The more recent seals seem to fit OK using an off-cut of wood and gentle tap tap tap technique.
"Just to confirm, the seal lip points “in” toward the bearing?" YES

[31 Woody]

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Borrowed the seal press tool from a club member, and now on to the next part of the project. Thanks for the advice all—it went together just fine with the right tool.

[ModelA29]

I just did mine. Broke down and bought a HF seal driver. I tapped it in just below the snap ring groove. Installed the snap ring then dropped it a couple times (about 8- 10") for the bearing to drive the seal back against the snap ring.

[Synchro909]

I use an old bearing as a tool to drive the seal in and stop just as the groove for circlip is exposed.

[32Ford13]

+1 on the seal driver. Fast and perfect

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I use an old bearing as a tool to drive the seal in and stop just as the groove for circlip is exposed.

Exactly, this is the answer. Save the expense and time of locating a tool. Just use an old bearing to install the new seal.

[Oldcarbearings]

I always recommend to customers installing ANY oil seals to use a socket slightly bigger than the OD of the oil seal itself whether it's imperial or metric NEVER EVER press on the seal it self as you could damage not only the housing (OD) BUT more&most importantly the lip &spring which holds the lubricant in.

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Exactly, this is the answer. Save the expense and time of locating a tool. Just use an old bearing to install the new seal.

Originally Posted by Oldcarbearings

I always recommend to customers installing ANY oil seals to use a socket slightly bigger than the OD of the oil seal itself whether it's imperial or metric NEVER EVER press on the seal it self as you could damage not only the housing (OD) BUT more&most importantly the lip &spring which holds the lubricant in.

I've used this method in the past (I also use sockets for pressing U Joints). But I didn't have a 3" in dia socket or an old bearing........