Buy Shaft Seals Online in Australia
Rotary Shaft Seals (Oil Seals) for Australian Industrial Maintenance
Rotary shaft seals — also called oil seals or lip seals — keep oil and grease inside gearboxes, pumps, motors, and rotating equipment, while keeping dust, dirt, and contamination outside. A failed shaft seal lets oil leak out and dirt in; bearings damaged from contamination follow within hours. For Australian maintenance teams keeping industrial equipment running, shaft seals are the everyday consumable that prevents major failures. AIMS Industrial supplies rotary shaft seals across the standard sizes, materials, and lip configurations.
The shaft seal types we stock
- Single-lip oil seals (TC type) — the everyday rotary shaft seal for general industrial applications
- Double-lip seals (TB type) — primary lip plus dust lip; for environments with airborne contamination
- Spring-loaded seals — garter spring inside the lip maintains consistent shaft contact pressure
- PTFE-lipped seals — low-friction, dry-running tolerant, chemical-resistant for demanding applications
- V-rings and axial seals — for environments where radial seals can't fit
- Heavy-duty industrial seals — for harsh environments and aggressive media
Materials — match to service
- Nitrile (NBR) — the everyday material; oil and hydrocarbon service up to about 100°C
- Viton (FKM) — fluoroelastomer for higher temperatures (up to 200°C) and aggressive fluids
- Silicone — for high-temperature dry running and food-grade applications
- Polyacrylate (ACM) — for hot oil applications
- PTFE — premium chemical resistance and low-friction running
Sizing — bore × shaft × width
Rotary shaft seals are sized by housing bore diameter, shaft diameter, and seal width — typically given as e.g. "30 × 47 × 7" (30mm shaft, 47mm bore, 7mm width). All three dimensions must match the application; substituting any one is rarely workable. Seal manufacturer catalogues list standard sizes with type designations (TC, TB, TG, etc.) describing lip configuration.
Common shaft seal failures and causes
- Oil leaking from new seal — usually shaft surface scoring, roughness, or wrong seal size; check shaft surface finish before re-fitting
- Premature lip wear — shaft hardness too low (should be HRc 30+ for typical seals) or shaft surface too rough
- Lip cracking — material incompatibility (wrong elastomer for the fluid type) or excessive temperature
- Garter spring missing or displaced — installation damage; the spring must be in place for proper sealing
- Seal twisting during installation — improper installation tooling; use a flat-faced fitting that matches the seal OD
Cross-reference and sourcing
Most shaft seals are interchangeable between manufacturers when the dimensions and material match. We can cross-reference by size or by OEM equipment part number — bring us the existing seal designation, the equipment make and model, or a clear photo of the failed seal. For non-standard sizes or specialty materials, sourcing through our distribution channels covers most options within reasonable lead times.
Brands and sourcing at AIMS
Shaft seals are stocked from quality manufacturers including the seal lines associated with our bearing brands (NSK, NTN, Koyo) and dedicated seal specialists. The matching needle roller bearings and self aligning bearings are stocked alongside the seal range for complete bearing-and-seal kit sourcing.
Installation practice
Use a proper seal installation tool (a flat-faced fitting that matches the seal's OD); never hammer directly on the seal face. Lubricate the lip lightly with the oil it will be sealing — installation dry tears the lip on first rotation. For gear oil seals, ensure the seal is installed with the lip facing the oil side (the spring side faces inboard).
Companion ranges at AIMS
Shaft seals sit alongside our broader bearing and power transmission range — see needle roller bearings, self aligning bearings, spherical roller bearings, and power transmission seals for the related products.
Need help with shaft seal cross-reference or sourcing for specific equipment? contact our team — bring us the existing seal designation or OEM part number.