Benjamin Swatton Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Looking at replacing at least one front hub felt seal as one has fallen apart. Diagrams for these parts are often unclear and mislabelled and replacement parts are different again.. Photo shows on left one removed from my car, another removed from a spare vertical link and the third is new (ghs146) Next photo is each seal on VL - the new being a lot thicker... Third photo is my mk2 hub which I now realise still has in situ the steel felt seal holder (which shows no sign of a seal ever been glued to it) which looks to be VERY substantial compared to flimsy new replacement that is stuck to new felt seal.. Having read up on the issue of new felt seals being thicker and with flimsy metal seal holder of wrong diameter, I am probably now going to re-use the two good used seals shown as they both sit at same height in hub - the only difference being one has squeezed out to a bigger diameter and is a softer felt but I don't think that is critical. I also don't see any need for these seals to be glued to the seal holder either. If I was forced to use new felt seals I would carefully cut them free of metal backing plate with new scalpel blade and once oiled I suspect they would squish enough to fit as they are a fairly soft felt. I wondered whether the substantial steel seal retainer is original part but looking at the roller bearings have the word "power drive" etched on them so possibly not. Comments anybody? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 I re-use the the original thicker backing rings and if new felt is needed, cut it off the new, incorrect rings supplied in the kits as you suggest. I agree there’s no need to glue, and don’t. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteStupps Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Can't remember where I bought mine but I did as Nick suggests and also cut the felts thinner - having read several threads about them being too thick. I soaked the felts in oil after trimming, but did then find they compressed a lot once oiled, so wondered if I could have got away without trimming. Might be worth experimenting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 That was what I was thinking: Soak the oversized ones so they then fit "properly".... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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