83 300D - Should I replace this front bearing seal?
 

I'm doing brakes on my 300D. even tho the front rotors were not too bad, I decided shotgun it and do new rotors and calipers.

I pulled the right front rotor. The wheel bearing looks fine- grease is clean. However, on the back side of the hub, the seal looks like somebody deformed it with a hammer while seating it.

So- should I absolutely replace this seal? Maybe I could just replace the grease seal and not go to the hassle of new bearing race? I do have a shop press, so I'm sure I could do press out the old race, but I think all I really need is a new seal. Or maybe not even that? I don't see any evidence of grease having leaked out.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r91vu49k91...37.30.jpg?dl=1

I'd replace the seal, clean / inspect the bearings and repack with high temp wheel bearing grease. That brown grease looks like suspension grease.

Also, where did all the oil on the back of the rotor come from?

What SL said regarding seal. You are already there and you should clean/re-grease the inner bearing too so go for it.

That is atf/acetone that I used as a penetrating oil to break free the allen bolts.

Obviously replacing seal is the safest and the cost is minimal. Especially if you live somewhere it rains.

Out here in Southern CA the chances of getting Water inside is kind of minimal unless there is flooding

This seal must be replaced. Any wobble in a seal like the dented one shown will pump water past the seal during operation and/or result in significant grease purge. We've seen such problems with just tiny wobble.

I don't know how you remove/install it without destroying it. You have to remove it to service the bearing.

On some cars, the inner bearing can be tilted and a screwdriver used as a punch to remove the seal. Just be sure to have the screw driver in the corner away from the rubber portion of the seal. Generally, replacing the seal is better but sometimes reuse is the only option due to parts availability.