I did not touch the surface on the one on the crank but the one that you have dipped in oil surely you have to be able to push it down into the front housing. Here's a picture of the old seals the one on the left is the old one and looks like the one you have and the one on the right is it a new one this is out of a New Old Stock Mopar front seal package I assume they go the direction like I have in the picture with the completely flat side down first.