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The paper will review existing seals used in off-highway heavy equipment, both radial lip seal applications and face type seal applications in general use on track vehicles. With the trend towards improved reliability and durability, together with the never ending quest for quality and product improvements, the paper will discuss a number of seal development programs which will result in products that meet the new and projected future requirements for seals from the off-highway heavy equipment manufacturers.

A new unitized heavy duty axle oil seal (Figure 1) has been developed that meets in whole objectives that are demanded by the modern truck owner. These objectives are, unitized assembly, simplified no tool installation, damage resistance, external contaminant exclusion, use in aluminum hubs and a proven reliability and ultimate life capability. This paper discusses the advanced design which is supported by extensive laboratory and field testing in excess of one hundred million vehicle miles. Typical laboratory testing included intensive functional life bench testing, comparative dust testing and cold follow-ability and fracture tests. The field testing has made use of a broad array of vehicle applications from continuous duty coast-to-coast transport in Canada to short haul quarry pit and numerous city traffic fleets. The results of the laboratory and field testing are discussed, revealing how this design has met the demands of the modern seal user.