Exhaust vvt hub in-out play

[2002V70XC]

Hi guys,
There's something very strange after I installed the exhaust vvt hub back on. I made sure i torque them properly with torque wrench. But theres a big difference between before and after. Before i removed the exhaust vvt, i checked for in and out play and there was quite abit of play. After installed, there was zero in and out play. I could still turn the gear back and forth but it required my max strength to move it. The unit moved forward when i tighten the t55 hub cover so i had to adjust the gear pulley because i already tighten the big long t55 bolt. And I got the cams locked ofcourse.
The only other thing i replaced was the vvt hub oring.
It can't make such a difference right? Im guessing the oring does have a big role here but it fits pretty well. I hope it didn't pop out of its seat and created this tightness feel.
Could the lack of oil to do with that?
I just wanna make sure I got it right. And is it correct that you would turn the vvt gear all the way forward before aligning the mark?

Please share your experience. Cheers

Regards
KN

[Xfingers]

I used this youtube vid when replacing intake cam seal on my 2002:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4uLvH151-c&t=13s

I didn't remove the exhaust vvt cam so have no experience with the in-out play before and after.

[Rabid Koala]

My exhaust VVT pulley was quite worn at 145,000 miles. I had thought my oil leak was the crankcase ventilation system, which I did actually need, but the oil leak persisted. I changed the cam seals and it got worse. Upon closer inspection, there was a ton of in and out play in the pulley hub. I replaced it and that was the end of the issue.

[2002V70XC]

Luck me. I pulled them out again and see what i found:





I have another smaller oring that would fit but the rubber seems too soft so i took the risk and put back the original oring. It wasn't leaking before removal so hopefully its ok.
This oring is definitely a special one. Maybe a viton type oring would be best.
For future reference, the oring that broke was of size 44mm ID x 2.5mm Width.
I also measured the play and mine is about 2mm max.
The play is now back to normal after installation. I'll probably replace the hub in the future.

Cheers
KN