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The stringent requirements in regards to reliability and lifetime of the entire truck have to be applied to the seals as well. This paper will only deal with oil seals used for driven truck axles. Generally there are two sealing applications, the pinion and the wheel (picture 1). A very special feature, which distinct the truck axles from various other aggregates is the lubricant for the system, being ‘EP’ (Extreme Pressure) oil. These oils can have a tremendous impact in the sealing performance of the oil seals under the given application conditions. Another speciality for truck axles is the nature of contamination from outside having an impact on performance and life of the seals. The more details that are available at the design stage of the seal, the better the decision for an optimal seal design can be made.

This paper discusses the engineering aspects for the application of PTFE or elastomeric radial shaft seals in the automotive industry. Primarily considered are frequently used materials compared to PTFE, the sealing lip contact of the seal on the shaft, the frictional torque as well as important functional operation differences between elastomeric and PTFE radial shaft seals. Finally, a description of various design versions are given to portray the actual PTFE radial shaft seal program.