H&D Distributors, Inc.. Piston Seal Selection Made Easy

Piston Seal

by Russell Wood

Choosing the best piston seal for your application doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Knowing the answers to a few questions can get you moving in the right direction. Here’s a quick rundown of how to get started. For more detailed instructions, make sure to check out our "Expert's Guide to Hydraulic Seal Selection."

What You Need to Ask When Sourcing a Piston Seal

When sourcing a piston seal, start with these three questions:

What are your minimum and maximum operating pressures? Different seals are designed to handle different operating pressures and spikes. Knowing this detail will help to determine which seal will be most effective for your application.
What are the dimensions of your current seal? Having an accurate fit for a new seal is required to establish functionality and make sure that there is no leakage.
What fluids will come in contact with your seal? There are various materials that a seal can be comprised of, which need to be suited to the application. Knowing if your seal will come in contact with abrasive chemicals, for example, will determine the right material to ensure the longevity of the seal.

Once you know the basics surrounding these three questions, using the following decision tree can give you an idea of the type of seal you are looking for.

Piston Seal Decision Tree

Because of the many variables you need to consider when choosing a piston seal, a decision tree can serve as a solid first step. Use the specific parameters for your seal and cross-reference this diagram to determine a shortlist of piston seal types. This will simplify the decision-making process overall and increases the likelihood that the seal you select will be the right one, the first time.

Piston Seals Decision Tree

The piston seal decision tree is designed to take you through some basic questions and answers to assist you in narrowing down the seal that will be best for your application. Here’s how it works:

We begin at the top left corner of the diagram by asking the question: Is our hydraulic seal linear or rotary? For the purposes of illustration, let’s say the seal we are looking for is linear.
Once we have determined that we are looking for a linear seal, we follow the linear path on the decision tree until we reach the next question, which is whether the seal we are sourcing is bidirectional or unidirectional. Let’s say we are looking for a unidirectional seal.
Again, following the path in the diagram, we come to the next question: Do we need a lip seal or a squeeze seal for our application? Once we determine that we are looking for a lip seal, we continue to follow the pathway to the images of lip seal selections. Each square has a profile image of a seal option. You can then use these images to determine which seal is most likely to work.

Sourcing the Right Piston Seal

While a decision tree can prove helpful in narrowing down which seal you need, it should really serve as a first step in your selection process. As you can see from the decision tree above, there are still several different options for a linear unidirectional lip seal, for example.

Because seal failure can cause costly downtime for your company, taking a complete DIY approach to seal selection can be risky. That’s why it is always beneficial to work with an experienced seal solution specialist, such as H&D, to ensure that your seal performs to its maximum capacity.

We’d love to help you finalize your hydraulic seal selection and ensure that you get the right seal, the first time. To talk to one of our sealing experts, please contact us.

About H&D Distributors

For over 40 years, H&D Distributors has provided expert sealing solutions for OEM and MRO customers in various industries where productivity is key, including hydraulics, oil and gas, and semiconductor. Leveraging in-house engineering and testing expertise, exceptional customer service, and a global network of top sealing manufacturers, H&D's goal is to deliver solutions for its customers’ pressing sealing challenges expertly, accurately, and on time.

About Russell Wood

Russell Wood, General Manager at H&D, leads the H&D Technical Team as well as its Inside Sales Team. He has over 30 years of experience in the seal industry.