best hub seals to buy?

My personal opinion would be National, always had good luck with them, have friends who run them too. If the seal area of the axle is damaged I would use Stemco their seals have wear rings.

 

CR (Chicago rawhide) or stemco

 

I've primarily used Stemco and had good luck. I like them because they come with a speedy-sleeve to prevent your axle stub from getting worn down. I've used CR before as well. Never really had an issue with them either.

 

I still use the Stemco with a drive on wear ring and drive in hub seal( grit guard) but I have all the tools. Second I like the CR metal seal, also have most of those tools, if you hold the outer ring and push the inner part it rotates in the middle. All of the wearing surfaces are within the seal, does not wear on the spindle like a car seal. Most other seals are like that. I use Nationals as a last resort because I Have a higher failure rate but I have no National tools. I hate push seals because the first ones I ever saw came with a new fleet of trucks. Everyone got to see them seven days a week 3 AM call outs etc. The name brand push in seals normally do well and maybe the best if you do not have special tools but I can not get the bad taste out of my mouth. If you run without the lower inspection cover seals can easily be inspected with a light and leaks can be caught early and repaired. Just have to learn leak (oil the shoe) replace, oil on the seal area is a seep, check the vents open bearing adjustment and rock on. SKF looks like CR with a different name. Proper instalation is as importate as brand.

 

skf and CR are now 1 company

 

National seals rotate on the middle.

 

I have always had great luck with skf scotseal classics. There's many more high tech ones out there but the classics seem to do just fine for everything we need

 

Tools for those are kind of extensive and I do not like some of the other Stemco seals. The wear ring can be installed with a hammer and punch. Skim of silicone and work around it intell flush. They can make up for a good bit of damage.
CR and SKF drive ins are great seals on good equipment.
Both of them and National have special tools for installing seal in hub. If you are using a block of wood you would probably be better off with a push in type seal.
Always clean surfaces well, good luck.