Patent ID: 7712745

Claim:
A unitized pinion seal for mounting between a first member and a second member rotatable relative to the first member, the unitized pinion seal comprising: a metal sleeve including a first axially extending leg having an inner surface covered with an elastomeric seal layer adapted to mount rotationally fixed to the first member, a radially extending leg extending radially outward from an end of said first axially extending leg and a second axially extending leg extending axially from a radially outer end of said radially extending leg; a metal retainer having a first axially extending leg slidably mounted directly to the second axially extending leg of said metal sleeve in a radial interference fit and having a second leg adapted to mount to the second member and a third leg engaging said radially extending leg of said metal sleeve, said first axially extending leg having a smaller diameter than said second leg of said metal retainer; and a seal mounted to said retainer and engaging said first axially extending leg of said metal sleeve; wherein said metal retainer is disengaged from said metal sleeve during assembly of said metal sleeve on to said first member, such that said third leg of said metal retainer is moved axially away from said radially extending leg of said metal sleeve.