A carbon seal assembly comprising: a cylindrical inner diameter ID bore; a carbon seal housing juxtaposed substantially adjacent to a portion of the cylindrical inner diameter ID bore, wherein the carbon seal housing comprises a piston ring groove defining a first step and a second step, the first step having a smaller diameter than the second step; a cylindrical piston ring comprising a first face forming a first seal between the piston ring and the cylindrical inner diamter ID bore, wherein the the first step is located axially between the second step and the piston ring, and a portion of the piston ring is positioned radially in between the first step and the portion of the cylindrical inner diameter ID bore, and forms a gap between the piston ring and the carbon seal housing adjacent the second step; a spring positioned axially adjacent the piston ring and radially in between the second step and the portion of the cylindrical inner diameter ID bore and the spring also positioned radially between the first step and the cylindrical inner diameter ID bore, the piston ring further comprising: a second face forming a second seal between the piston ring and a first surface of the carbon seal housing; and a third face interfacing with a surface of the spring, wherein the third face is located on an opposite side of the piston ring from the second face of the piston ring, and the third face is longer, measured radially, than a radial length of the surface of the spring; and wherein a width, measured axially, of the second step is such that the second step is sized to prevent the spring from entering the gap formed between the piston ring and the carbon seal housing. a cylindrical inner diameter ID bore; a carbon seal housing juxtaposed substantially adjacent to a portion of the cylindrical inner diameter ID bore, wherein the carbon seal housing comprises a piston ring groove defining a first step and a second step, the first step having a smaller diameter than the second step; a cylindrical piston ring comprising a first face forming a first seal between the piston ring and the cylindrical inner diamter ID bore, wherein the the first step is located axially between the second step and the piston ring, and a portion of the piston ring is positioned radially in between the first step and the portion of the cylindrical inner diameter ID bore, and forms a gap between the piston ring and the carbon seal housing adjacent the second step; a spring positioned axially adjacent the piston ring and radially in between the second step and the portion of the cylindrical inner diameter ID bore and the spring also positioned radially between the first step and the cylindrical inner diameter ID bore, the piston ring further comprising: a second face forming a second seal between the piston ring and a first surface of the carbon seal housing; and a third face interfacing with a surface of the spring, wherein the third face is located on an opposite side of the piston ring from the second face of the piston ring, and the third face is longer, measured radially, than a radial length of the surface of the spring; and wherein a width, measured axially, of the second step is such that the second step is sized to prevent the spring from entering the gap formed between the piston ring and the carbon seal housing. a second face forming a second seal between the piston ring and a first surface of the carbon seal housing; and a third face interfacing with a surface of the spring, wherein the third face is located on an opposite side of the piston ring from the second face of the piston ring, and the third face is longer, measured radially, than a radial length of the surface of the spring; and wherein a width, measured axially, of the second step is such that the second step is sized to prevent the spring from entering the gap formed between the piston ring and the carbon seal housing.