Right, I've done a quick drawing.
The first one on the left shows a standards OEM seal which is made of a fairly rigid plastic type material, which when fitted you would expect to be able to see the curve of the plastic going in along the journal.
The middle drawing shows what I remember my seal looking like. The outer surface of the seal had a fibrous texture to it, almost like black blotting paper (a bit tighter weave than blotting paper). I thought this was an integral part of the seal. So in my picture, in earlier posts, when it looks like the seal is not curving inwards this is the dust shield part of the unit. In the last drawing on the right, I've drawn what seems to happen. The oil seal, being rigid, keeps pointing in towards the block and the dust shield must gather up a bit preventing you from seeing the actual oil seal inside.
I had quite a long conversation with Richard Turner, who was extremely helpful. Apparently, when production of these parts stopped over here they were still making them in South Africa, but to a different spec. ie included the dust shield and the oil seal sits further back on the journal. (some run very close to the inner edge of the journal and barely grip the journal surface at times) Richard was saying the same thing as
@jamesmartin says about LR using the same suppliers of parts as Britpart, All Makes et al, but putting them in a green oval badged packet. Turners have found that these seals turn out to be more reliable, I think mainly because the point of seal is further back on the journal. I suppose the dust seal won't do any harm. Perhaps stopping clutch dust working it's way between the seal and the journal?
In short I thought the softer looking seal had folded back on itself due to me taking the guide sleeve out. However, it's the dust shield I'm looking at in those pictures.
Bit waffley, but I hope that makes sense.
