VB Oil Seals - Durus

What Is a VB Oil Seal?

VB combines Type B bare-metal case with the V-style lip configuration: a single sealing lip without garter spring and without auxiliary dust lip. The simpler design is engineered for grease retention and viscous fluid sealing in low-pressure applications where the lighter lip contact pressure is sufficient. Common in grease-lubricated bearings, slow-speed shaft positions, and applications where reducing lip drag is critical.

Construction summary:
Case Type: B (bare metal)
Lip Configuration: V-style (no spring, no dust lip)

When to Choose VB

• Grease retention applications (sealed bearings, grease-lubricated joints)
• Sealing viscous fluids at low shaft speeds
• Low-pressure applications below 3 PSI
• Reducing friction in slow-speed shaft positions
• Self-aligning sealing applications

When NOT to Choose VB

• Oil sealing applications requiring tight contact pressure (use TC, TB, SC instead)
• Higher pressure applications (V-style cannot resist back-pressure)
• Dusty environments (no auxiliary dust lip - choose KB for V-style with dust lip)
• High-speed shafts (lip can lose contact at high RPM without spring backing)

Related Seal Types

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a VB oil seal?

VB is a Durus designation for a Type B bare-metal case combined with the V-style lip configuration. The V-style lip is a single sealing lip without a garter spring (the metal coil that maintains constant lip pressure in standard oil seals) and without an auxiliary dust lip. The simpler construction is designed for grease retention and viscous fluid sealing at low shaft speeds and low pressures.

What is the difference between VB and TB oil seals?

VB and TB share the same Type B bare-metal case construction. The difference is the lip design. TB uses the Standard lip with a garter spring that maintains constant radial pressure against the shaft - required for oil sealing where the low-viscosity fluid must be held against pressure. VB uses the V-style lip without a garter spring - appropriate for grease and viscous fluids where the higher fluid viscosity allows lighter lip contact. VB is not appropriate for oil sealing.

Can VB oil seals handle high shaft speeds?

No - VB is engineered for low to moderate shaft speeds. Without a garter spring, the lip relies on its own elastic memory to maintain shaft contact. At high speeds, centrifugal force can lift the lip away from the shaft, causing leakage. For high-speed applications, choose a spring-loaded design like SB, SC, or TB. VB is typically appropriate for shaft speeds below 1,000 RPM with the specific fluid and shaft size combination - confirm against the Durus speed limit table for your size.

Do VB oil seals exclude dust?

No - VB has no auxiliary dust lip. For dust exclusion with V-style lip design, choose KB (K-style = V-style with added dust lip) or KB2 variants. VB is appropriate only for clean operating environments where the outboard side of the seal is protected from contamination. Common VB applications are interior bearing positions in sealed housings where dust exposure is not a concern.