I don't have enough room to hammer it in. What techniques do you use? Dang this is annoying.

 

i tend to use a chisel technique to install seals but be very careful not to damage the seal. seals tend to have metal inside so something soft like wood or plastic normally will crush itself before crushing the seal. u might want to try lubing the seal with engine oil since there isnt much room

 

Place the seal in where you want it, use a socket/piece of tubing large enough to go over the seal and shaft. Use something(wood, tubing, etc) as a fulcrum, and another piece as a lever(make it as long as possible to ease installation without being jerky) and gently push the seal in using the inner frame rail as a base for the fulcrum.

Be careful of any lines on the inner frame rail. 90-97 cars have a PS line down low, don't crush that.

 

My balance shaft seal went in pretty easy - I was almost able to do it by hand.

 

I have had some like this, but not always. my suspicion is that some manufacturers use a different OD tolerance than others. basically some brand(s) may slide in by hand others will need more force.

OP: I like to use some plastic pipe (ABS or PVC) cut to length then topped with a large washer or something similar so that the pulley bolt (or a similar but longer one if needed) can be used to press the seal in. this is how many of the commercially available seal installer kits work. for much less cost though.

 

You can always just gently tap the seal in a circular motion lightly until it goes in..similar to what youd do to a bearing..you just wanna go very slowly

 

Just push it in with your thumbs of steel.