The Ford Barn

31 Woody · 08-10-2024, 11:06 PM

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 · 08-11-2024, 03:20 AM

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 · 08-11-2024, 12:31 PM

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

JayJay · 08-11-2024, 12:41 PM

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 · 08-11-2024, 02:41 PM

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 · 08-11-2024, 04:25 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

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 · 08-11-2024, 05:58 PM

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 · 08-11-2024, 07:06 PM

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

32Ford13 · 08-16-2024, 08:31 PM

+1 on the seal driver. Fast and perfect

Hitman · 08-16-2024, 10:30 PM

Quote:

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 · 08-17-2024, 10:49 PM

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 · 08-19-2024, 12:38 PM

Quote:

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.

Quote:

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........

rustard1963 · 01-26-2026, 07:55 PM

Doesn’t work if the seal is too large. I’ve tried.

Dick M · 01-27-2026, 06:02 PM

I have the Harbor Freight seal driver kit. It comes in both standard and metric sizes. I found that one of the metric drivers fits the Model A hub.
The kit was inexpensive and worked perfectly..

katy · 01-28-2026, 11:05 AM

How much larger should the seal be than the hub?

old31 · 01-28-2026, 01:57 PM

For about the same price as Snyders, this offers more choices.

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/SKYSHA...CABEgJsDvD_BwE

I have also used the economy tool.
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...8137&cat=41753

Norm M · 01-28-2026, 02:38 PM

A trick that has helped me is to put the seal in the freezer well before I am going to work on greasing the bearings; make sure the edge of the hub where the seal is going to be inserted has no burrs then after the bearing is in place, put a smear of light oil at the top and quickly put the seal in place using the Rear Hub Seal Driver (Snyder's PN A-1175-T)

CarlG · 01-28-2026, 04:27 PM

The Snyder tool A-1175-T tool works better with a press than just banging it with a hammer.

08-10-2024, 11:06 PM	#1
31 Woody Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lake Forest, California Posts: 280	Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick 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? __________________ Experience is a cruel teacher. It gives the exam first, then the lesson. The first 4 hours of a 30 minute repair job are the worst. The next 2 hours usually go much better.

08-11-2024, 03:20 AM	#2
LAV Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Litchfield Park, AZ Posts: 39	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick 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.

08-11-2024, 12:31 PM	#3
31 Woody Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lake Forest, California Posts: 280	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick Chalk this up as experience—I learn the hard way again. Thank you LAV—looks like I need to get a seal driver. __________________ Experience is a cruel teacher. It gives the exam first, then the lesson. The first 4 hours of a 30 minute repair job are the worst. The next 2 hours usually go much better.

08-11-2024, 12:41 PM	#4
JayJay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 2,673	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick 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. __________________ JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan (under reconstruction) 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan It isn't a defect, it's a feature!

08-11-2024, 02:41 PM	#5
johnbuckley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,600	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick 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

08-11-2024, 04:25 PM	#6
31 Woody Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Lake Forest, California Posts: 280	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 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. __________________ Experience is a cruel teacher. It gives the exam first, then the lesson. The first 4 hours of a 30 minute repair job are the worst. The next 2 hours usually go much better.

08-11-2024, 05:58 PM	#7
ModelA29 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,595	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick 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.

08-11-2024, 07:06 PM	#8
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,434	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick I use an old bearing as a tool to drive the seal in and stop just as the groove for circlip is exposed. __________________ When all is said and done, more is said than done. That's why we judge people on what they do, not what they say. I sometimes wonder what happened to the people who asked me for directions. If I am not in trouble, I've done something wrong.

08-16-2024, 08:31 PM	#9
32Ford13 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: Redneck Ranch on Hot Rod Hill Posts: 114	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick +1 on the seal driver. Fast and perfect

08-17-2024, 10:49 PM	#11
Oldcarbearings Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: North Warrandyte, Melbourne,Victoria, Australia Posts: 136	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick 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.

01-26-2026, 07:55 PM	#13
rustard1963 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2025 Posts: 1	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick Doesn’t work if the seal is too large. I’ve tried.

01-27-2026, 06:02 PM	#14
Dick M Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ukiah, CA Posts: 530	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick I have the Harbor Freight seal driver kit. It comes in both standard and metric sizes. I found that one of the metric drivers fits the Model A hub. The kit was inexpensive and worked perfectly..

01-28-2026, 11:05 AM	#15
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 6,076	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick How much larger should the seal be than the hub? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

01-28-2026, 01:57 PM	#16
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,686	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick For about the same price as Snyders, this offers more choices. https://www.homedepot.com/pep/SKYSHA...CABEgJsDvD_BwE I have also used the economy tool. https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...8137&cat=41753

01-28-2026, 02:38 PM	#17
Norm M Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 34	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick A trick that has helped me is to put the seal in the freezer well before I am going to work on greasing the bearings; make sure the edge of the hub where the seal is going to be inserted has no burrs then after the bearing is in place, put a smear of light oil at the top and quickly put the seal in place using the Rear Hub Seal Driver (Snyder's PN A-1175-T)

01-28-2026, 04:27 PM	#18
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,212	Re: Installing rear hub seals—what’s the trick The Snyder tool A-1175-T tool works better with a press than just banging it with a hammer. __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club