Common Reasons Why Hydraulic Seals Fail

The development of a lot of technology has its roots in the development of a hydraulic seal.  A hydraulic seal is a piece of material that creates a protective barrier between two components.  This can be between pistons, pipes, rails and more.  When we sort hydraulic cylinder seals by size, we can see that we have a wide selection and option base for a slew of applications.  When using these seals, we need to inspect them regularly.  Just like anything else these seals will eventually fail.  Here are some of the more common reason why a hydraulic seal will fail.

hydraulic cylinder seals by size


The first and most common reason for a failure comes from hardening.  Hardening of the seal will occur if the seal is exposed to extreme heat, stress from friction and general usage.  If your seals begin to harden you want to remove them.  If you don’t, they will eventually crack and break. 


General wear and tear is the next common reason why a seal will fail.  When we install a seal, it is not designed to last forever.  It is designed to perform a job as a gateway protector.  If a fluid is pumped through a system or if you are protecting a specific area from touching with each other then these seals are great.  With heat, stress and other environmental considerations the wear and tear on these seals increases.

Improper installation

Seals create a tight connection between the surfaces.  As a result, seals can sometimes be really difficult to install.  In some cases, you will require special tools to ensure that the seal is installed tightly and that there are no gaps or twists in the seal.

If a seal is improperly installed or if future installations of components compromises the seal it can fail causing a major issue down the road.  Take your time and make sure that the seals are installed correctly.