Abstract: A mechanical face seal for providing a seal between a shaft and a housing includes a first seal face member mounted on the shaft in fixed rotational and axial relationship and sealed with respect thereto and a second seal face member mounted in fixed rotational relationship but moveable axially of the housing; said second seal face member being sealed with respect to the housing by means of a sealing element, the sealing element being located in a groove defined between opposed surfaces of the second seal face member and housing, the wall of the groove between the sealing element and the side of the seal exposed to a product being defined by a low friction insert slidably mounted on the second seal face member and providing a close clearance with the housing.