Abstract: A stuffing box assembly for use in sealing between a fixed housing and a rotatable member extending through the fixed housing comprising a housing forming a sealing assembly chamber, a rotatable member extending through the housing and a sealing assembly received in the chamber, the sealing assembly including an annular seal ring carrier, an annular seal ring carried by the carrier, the seal ring having an annular radially outer portion and an annular radially inwardly extending sealing lip, an annular seal ring spreader operatively engaged with the seal ring, an elastic biasing member operatively engaged with the seal ring spreader and an annular adjustable follower selectively axially immovable with respect to the housing, the spreader exerting a greater force on the sealing lip than the radially outer portion of the seal lip when the spreader is biased towards the seal ring.