Abstract: The invention relates to a backstop ring for a stuffing box or the like which is cooperable with a carbon sealing ring. The main parts of a stuffing box are normally the stationary backstop ring and the carbon slide ring which rotates with the shaft. These two rings have mutually engaging sealing surfaces. The sealing surface of the stationary backstop ring is ground in a manner to form scratches which are orientated to create a radially outward pumping effect. The flatness of the ground surface has an overall variation of less than six microns and preferably is between 2 and 5 microns. The scratches have a roughness between 0.2 and 2 microns. For scratches on the order of 1 to 2 microns the surface is phosphatized.