W201 Wheel Bearing Issue
 

Struggling a bit with replacing a front wheel bearing on my 2.6. Unfortunately I didn't save the original oil seal but I've now gone through two replacements with neither rear oil seal sitting flush or within the hub, it protrudes about 1mm. I followed the DIY and someone else asked the same question and only got the answer of ensuring it bottoms out, I'm not confident that is correct as even the DIY shows the seal sitting with the hub.

My only thinking is maybe someone in the past replaced the hub from another Benz that looks identical but isnt quite? Has anyone run into this?

1 mm above the surface should not be a problem, slide the hub onto the spindle and see if the seal rubs.

Are you installing the seal so the large lip faces the bearing?

Did you buy 2 seals or return the first as defective? What brand / part numbers?

In future, always save every part until the car is driving.

IIRC I've seen this... exactly as stated above, if it does not rub on the spindle it should be fine. Install it, adjust it, pull it off and look for scrape marks.

Good luck!!!