Abstract: A mechanical seal for use between a housing and a rotatable shaft supported by the housing having adjacent annular primary and mating sealing rings, each ring having a generally radial sealing face and means for sealing and nonrotatably retaining the first sealing ring relative to the housing, and means sealing and nonrotatably retaining the second sealing ring so that it rotates with the shaft. One sealing ring is movable axially of the shaft, and biasing means urge this one ring toward the other sealing ring, which is axially fixed relative to the shaft. The axially movable sealing ring is centered coaxially with respect to the axis of the axially fixed sealing ring through engagement of a centering element which is centered relative to the shaft and which engages the axially movable sealing ring to center it relative to the shaft. The centering element engages the axially movable sealing ring and includes an integral pinless retainer.