I have searched 6 or 7 FSM's from various years and have not found any mention of installed depth for rear seals. Normally I would have noted the positioning before disassembly but as I mentioned this is a team project and I did not remove the original seals and there is no memory of exactly how deep the originals were installed.
The OTHER situation is that I suspect that FEW if any mechanics/people have measured the interaction of the seal with adjacent items. The old seals popped out, the new seals tapped back in, just flush with the back of the hub (which was observed to be how the OEM items/old seals were installed).
As great as the factory service literature might be, they are NOT engineering manuals, which would instruct how to do common service procedures. Which might explain some of the "gaps" in what is in them that we might want to see. Perhaps a MOTOR Manual from the 1950-1960s might have some "common maintenance procedures" that are detailed in a section of it?
For the past 50+ years I've seen service station mechanics (who did these things for a living) install front wheel bearing grease seals, they all destroyed the old seals getting them out, then put the new seals in by gently tapping them back into place, flush with the rear hub surface. Whether it was at a dealership, a private shop, or in their driveway. Then with the wheel bearings being greased, the hub was installed and the adjusting nut tightened to specs.
Not sure what "standard" you are using to determine if the wheels turn "free enough", but if you were dealing with some earlier 1970s factory disc brakes, you would not be happy which how free those wheels did not turn. Nothing to do with the front wheel bearing grease seals. FWIW
The other thing is that if the seals measure to Timken's catalog specs, perhaps THEY should be contacted. Perhaps you can get past the "telephone people" to have a short conversation with a "knowledgeable engineer" on this matter?
Just some thoughts and observatrions,
CBODY67
