Abstract: A valve stem seal assembly includes a resilient seal member mounted to a shell body having a downwardly extending skirt. At least one alignment pad or tang is provided in the skirt of the shell body for improved gripping of an outside diameter of a valve guide. In one embodiment, the alignment pad includes an inwardly projecting ramp portion connected to a generally longitudinally extending land portion and terminates in an inwardly projecting tang adjacent the land portion. In another embodiment, a valve stem seal assembly includes at least one tang having a generally arcuate end portion with a pair of spaced apart upwardly extending shoulders for gripping a valve guide.