{"product_id":"merc-948","title":"Mercury MerCruiser Bravo Bearing Carrier Oil Seal 880596502 | Propeller Shaft Seal","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMercury MerCruiser Bravo Bearing Carrier Oil Seal 880596502\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePart Number:\u003c\/strong\u003e 880596502  |  \u003cstrong\u003eAlso listed as:\u003c\/strong\u003e 26-880596502\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mercury \/ MerCruiser \/ Quicksilver\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficial Product Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bearing Carrier Oil Seal — Propeller Shaft Sealing\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSystem:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sterndrive Lower Gear Housing — Bearing Carrier \/ Propeller Shaft Assembly\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEngine Family:\u003c\/strong\u003e MerCruiser Bravo Sterndrive\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiagram Position:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bearing carrier \/ propeller shaft sealing area in the lower gear housing — confirm exact position in the Mercury parts diagram for your drive model and serial number\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA genuine OEM Mercury MerCruiser oil seal for the bearing carrier \/ propeller shaft sealing assembly in applicable Bravo sterndrive lower gear housings. This seal retains gear lubricant inside the drive while blocking water intrusion at the propeller shaft area. A failed bearing carrier seal causes gear oil loss, water contamination of the gear lube, and accelerated bearing and gear wear — making it a critical service item during any bearing carrier or propeller shaft service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompatible Applications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMerCruiser Bravo sterndrive lower gear housing — bearing carrier \/ propeller shaft assembly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConfirm fitment by drive model, serial number, and the Mercury parts diagram before ordering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSeal fitment is drive-model and serial-number specific. Always verify part number 880596502 against the Mercury parts diagram for your exact drive before ordering.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePart Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComponent type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oil seal — bearing carrier \/ propeller shaft\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMercury catalog prefix:\u003c\/strong\u003e 26- (oil seals and shaft seals)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFunction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Retains gear lubricant and blocks water intrusion at the propeller shaft \/ bearing carrier interface\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrive type:\u003c\/strong\u003e MerCruiser Bravo sterndrive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOEM status:\u003c\/strong\u003e Genuine Mercury MerCruiser — not aftermarket\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCross-Reference Part Numbers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMercury \/ MerCruiser OEM:\u003c\/strong\u003e 26-880596502 \/ 880596502\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRelated Mercury references:\u003c\/strong\u003e 26-821092 \/ 821092 — verify by drive serial number and diagram\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLegacy reference:\u003c\/strong\u003e 26-54926 — verify by drive serial number and diagram\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompanion seal reference:\u003c\/strong\u003e 26-814242 — verify by diagram before ordering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGLM aftermarket:\u003c\/strong\u003e 85510 — verify by application\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSierra aftermarket:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18-48853 — verify by application\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSEI aftermarket:\u003c\/strong\u003e 94-126-01 — verify by application\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eService Interval \u0026amp; When to Replace\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReplace whenever the bearing carrier is removed for service — oil seals are single-use components and should never be reused once disturbed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReplace if gear oil shows water contamination (milky appearance) — a sign the seal has failed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReplace if gear oil level is consistently low without visible external leakage — may indicate seal bypass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInspect at every annual service or gear oil change; replace at the first sign of seepage or deterioration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eInstallation Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRemove the bearing carrier from the lower gear housing to access the seal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePress out the old seal carefully — avoid damaging the bearing carrier bore.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClean the seal bore and inspect for corrosion, scoring, or damage before installing the new seal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApply a light film of gear lubricant to the seal lip before installation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePress the new seal in squarely to the correct depth — use the appropriate seal driver to avoid distorting the seal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInspect the propeller shaft surface for wear or scoring in the seal contact area before reassembly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAfter reassembly, fill with fresh gear lubricant and check for leaks before returning the drive to service.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical FAQ\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: How do I know if my bearing carrier seal has failed?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nA: The most common signs are milky or water-contaminated gear oil at the annual gear oil change, a consistently low gear oil level, or visible oil seepage around the propeller shaft area. Any of these symptoms warrants immediate inspection and seal replacement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Should I replace both bearing carrier seals at the same time?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nA: Yes. The bearing carrier typically uses two oil seals (inner and outer). If one has failed or is being replaced as a precaution, both should be replaced at the same time — the labour to access them is the same, and replacing only one leaves the other at risk of failing shortly after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is 880596502 the same as 26-821092?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nA: These are related references for the Bravo bearing carrier sealing area, but confirm which specific part number applies to your drive by checking the Mercury parts diagram for your serial number before ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eParts Desk Insights\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest use case:\u003c\/strong\u003e This seal is the right choice for any Bravo sterndrive bearing carrier service where 880596502 is confirmed in the Mercury parts diagram. It is most commonly needed during annual gear oil changes when water contamination is discovered, or during propeller shaft or bearing carrier rebuilds. Replacing the seal proactively during any bearing carrier disassembly is always the better value compared to a repeat service visit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon issues:\u003c\/strong\u003e The most frequent issue is replacing only one seal when the bearing carrier uses two — always replace both inner and outer seals together. A second common issue is installing the new seal without inspecting the propeller shaft contact surface; a worn or scored shaft will damage the new seal quickly and cause an immediate repeat failure. Inspect the shaft carefully before reassembly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRelated Parts\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/merc-692\"\u003eMercury MerCruiser Bravo Bearing Carrier Oil Seal 26-821092\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/merc-1322\"\u003eMercury Outboard Propeller Shaft Oil Seal 8M0205729\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/merc-132\"\u003eMercury Drive Shaft Housing Oil Seal 26-32511\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/merc-156\"\u003eMercury Quicksilver Driveshaft Oil Seal 26-804156\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/merc-1255\"\u003eMercury MerCruiser Gasket \u0026amp; Oil Seal Kit 8M0149926\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"MERC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43563900403748,"sku":"880596502","price":52.49,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0743\/5799\/7604\/files\/5a7993b1-6648-4e65-914c-676bf939923b.png?v=1787289537","url":"https:\/\/marisolmarine.com\/products\/merc-948","provider":"Marisol Marine Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}