Regular inspection and maintenance of wheel hub oil seals and steering oil seals are essential to identify signs of wear, damage, or leakage. Proper lubrication and adherence to recommended service intervals can help extend the lifespan of these seals. When replacement is necessary, selecting the correct seal type and ensuring proper installation are critical to maintaining the integrity and performance of the vehicle's wheel hubs and steering mechanisms.
Oil seals go by many names, such as shaft seals, dirt seals, grease seals, lip seals, and many other variations of these. They are essentially simple devices used in rotary shaft equipment to prevent lubricant from escaping and for excluding contaminants such as dust, dirt and water. An oil seal’s most important function, however, is that it protects every type of ball, sleeve and roller bearing in the rotating shafts. The seals also prevent the integration of two different fluids that shouldn’t mix, such as oil and water.
On most cars you need to remove several parts to get at the seal.