The Experts Guide To Auto Front Seals

Front-wheel bearings are often filled with lubricants that protect the parts from corrosion, wear, and tear. The bearings need to be spotless, as contamination within it may cause the housing elements to experience premature failure. The wheel seal is supposed to fit tight in the wheel assembly and protects the wheel bearings from dirt, water, and other debris that can cause damage.

Let’s break down the different types of car front seals:

1.  Contact Seals – A contact seal generally called a lip seal, is a rubber portion that is connected to a steel insert (usually Buna-N and nitrile). Constant pressure is applied by this seal on a bearing's inner ring, resulting in the contact that the seal's name suggests.

2.  Non – Contact Seals - Non-contact seals are made out of Buna-N and nitrile rubber pieces attached to a steel insert, similar to contact seals. The non-contact seals are attached to the outer ring of your bearing and do not exert any pressure on the inner ring, this is the key difference between the two. While non-contact bearings do not make contact with the inner ring, they do have a tiny lip that touches it.

3.  Labyrinth Seals - A labyrinth seal is a type of bearing isolator that combines contact and non-contact seal elements into a single component. The main role of the labyrinth seal is to prevent leakage and contamination by presenting both substances with a challenging path to follow. Labyrinth seals are made up of several components, one of which is stationary and the other of which rotates with the system. The two components interlock to provide a long, thin grooved route through which substances cannot escape or puncture the bearing.

Have a look at the important features of car front seals:

• The front seal prevents grease from leaking
• Seals act as a dust cap
• Seals do not allow water to enter the bearing

Here is the working of car front seals:

For a lot of bearings, a good bearing seal is essential. Car front bearing seals have a dual function, firstly they stop the impurities like dust, dirt, and moisture from entering the inner parts of your bearing and prevents lubricants from leaking out. Both responsibilities can help your bearings last longer. Front seals are also great at keeping lubricants out of your bearing.

Common problems include grease leaking from the bearings, visible damage to the wheel seal, and noises coming from the tires and wheels.

It is said that an employee is only as good as his tools, and it is definitely true for car bodywork. It is vital to have the right tools to repair your Auto Front Seals or else a straightforward job would turn into constant headaches. So that’s why we have listed out some invaluable tools below which you will need while repairing your Auto Front Seals.

• Hydraulic Jack
• Plier
• Screwdriver
• Wrench
• Jack Stand

Most people have a nature to avoid risk and seek safety. That is the reason they would go with a familiar auto parts brand rather than a new one. It would prove to be safe, and they know what to expect. Have a look at our top brands for Auto Front Seals which would offer safety and decrease the risk of disappointment.

• SKF Auto Front Seals
• National Oil Seals Auto Front Seals
• Transit Warehouse Auto Front Seals
• Beck/Arnley Auto Front Seals
• Dorman (Oe Solutions) Auto Front Seals
• Dorman/Help Auto Front Seals

The brighter you are, the more you have to learn! That’s why we are here to provide you with more knowledge about the related parts of the car Auto Front Seals. They are mentioned below:

• Wheel
• Brake Assembly
• Wheel Drum
• Hub Nut
• Shock Absorber
• Suspension
• Lower Arm

We bet that you’re thinking how much does an Auto Front Seals replacement cost. Just keep in mind that it is not as easy as putting a fast number on it. This is because the replacement/repair cost is different for every Auto Front Seals and it also varies depending on how in-depth the repair needs to be. If you are thinking about the exact cost, then you might take the help of an expert mechanic. For replacing the front seal, labor would cost about $150 to $180, depending on the type of vehicle. To remove the front seal, other related parts have to be removed first which may take about 1 to 2 hours depending on the type of vehicle.

Keen to know about the procedure of changing the Auto Front Seals? Well, we have simplified the entire procedure for you:

Step 1

Park the vehicle on a flat surface. 

Step 2

Use wheel chocks to secure wheels. Loosen the bolts securing the wheel and lift the car with a jack. 

Step 3

Once the car is raised, position a jack stand under the car for stability. Remove the bolts that secure the wheel and remove the wheel. 

Step 4

Remove the front brake drum assembly by removing the dust cover, cotter pin, and castle nut from the shaft. 

Step 5

You will find two taper roller bearings fitted in the brake drum; both will be of different sizes. It will also have an oil seal fitted at the end of the drum. 

Step 6

Remove the oil seal and the bearing. Take a new front oil seal to apply grease to it and reverse the process as removed.