axle shaft oil seal

[john h]

Guys,
I have my Diff in the shop right now.  I pulled the brakes to clean everything up and make sure the bleeder nuts were able to be loosened.  I'm wondering who has what tricks for properly installing new oil seals.  I have only done them a few times and the result is always a leaking seal.  I want to get it right for The final assembly. 

Thanks
John

[crash340]

make sure they are driven in straight, once in place with a small mirror or similar, make sure the tension spring behind the seal lip is still in place, use care when inserting axle to not press the lip too hard to scratch it or dislodge the tension spring, make sure the housing vent is clear. Make sure the axle is in good shape at the point the seal runs on.

[1 Wild R/T]

Trick to not dislodging the spring... Fill the cavity in the back of the seal where the garter spring lives with grease...

[john h]

make sure they are driven in straight, once in place with a small mirror or similar, make sure the tension spring behind the seal lip is still in place, use care when inserting axle to not press the lip too hard to scratch it or dislodge the tension spring, make sure the housing vent is clear. Make sure the axle is in good shape at the point the seal runs on.

what he best way to make sure you drive it in straight?  I don't have asocket big enough to apply pressure to the whole ring.
John

[Brillo1974]

You can always lay a small block of wood across it and tap it in carefully, seals are tougher than you think, you make sure you tap it in evenly.