When you have the seal pressed into the hub I believe it will fit best without the dust shield and felt seal you keep referring to.
HOWEVER: before putting the seal into the back of the hub you want to go step by step, checking as you go
1-try sliding the inner bearing by itself onto the Axel to check the fit, if not, stop, figure out why and how to adjust fitment
2-remove the bearing from the axel
3-try then sliding the seal onto the axel just to see it fits over it then remove it
4-if the bearing fit acceptably from step 1, then test install the bearing in the hub WITHOUT grease and WITHOUT seal, install the hub and check the fit, if that fits and lines up how you like it go to the next step, if not it should, stop and figure out why and correct it
Next step is grease up the bearing, install &set the seal into the hub to hold the bearing in, clean all grease off outside of seal, and install the hub,
5-install the outer bearing/washer/nut, torque, back it off, torque to spec, install cotter pin, you should be done…..
