Replaced with Timken seal on Toyota and didn’t expect to see metal covering on it. Visually looked the same dimensions compared to original seal. Covered it light grease and would not go in easily even with large socket around seal, would just go crooked. Eventually got it in straight but ended up lightly denting while tapping in.
It would bug me if I left it like this, the problem was, I bet, that you did not use a short extension on the socket, its very difficult to hit a socket squarely if you don’t use an extension.