OK - so this is pretty straightforward, but the seals are small enough and the old ones so brittle they fell apart, that I can tell which way the shaft seals go back into the housing ...

Are there any rules of thumb in this case, or can one tell from the attached photos?

Both new seals have raised manufacturers' information on one face - nothing on the other. Both seals, per norm, have one shaft seal lip that is slightly more proud to the seal than the other. One face has a bit more material on one side than the other - this is the same face as the one with the manufacturer information - the other face appears to be more "open."

Both seals have concentric springs on each face - again, one of the faces is more open ...

I would hate to put this back together incorrectly - I have placed both in the photos with the "open" part of the seal facing into the cavity - the manufacturer markings are up ... seams like this is correct way since will have to seat the seal by pushing on the face that has the most material for pushing?

Would appreciate any help, general rules of thumb on seals and your impression after reviewing the attached ... thanks!

Attached Thumbnails

   

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George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg