Anybody have any significant experience dealing with carbon seals?

The A/C on the Newport is working, however I had a leaking condenser o-ring. Fixed that, then the front seal on the compressor started leaking. It's a factory RV2 compressor that uses a carbon front shaft seal. I resealed the compressor a few years ago and it sat. Now this. You can get a new front seal for it that is apparently a different material now, no longer carbon. I took the front cover off the compressor and the carbon ring is basically locked onto the shaft by the keyway for the pulley. Can't really find a way to slip it off even at an angle. So I was hesitant to move any further on that.
Read some boomer lore on a Chrysler forum that said the seals get dry sometimes and if there's a loss in pressure in the system for whatever reason, it can cause the seal to leak. He said you can relube them and charge it up and it should hold. I greased the seal with bearing grease, instead of mineral oil. They're both petroleum based, so figured no harm there. The grease is thicker so I also figured that would be more optimal. Put it back together and it's holding now. Held 50 psi with shop air and held vacuum over night. Previously, it would lose pressure and vacuum overnight. Also sprayed down with soapy water before and after to confirm the leak and then no leak. So holding for now. For how long? Remains to be seen.
I did add oil to the system after flushing it and I checked, the oil pan in the compressor does have oil.
Anybody with experience in this area have any thoughts to share on it?

Anybody ever have a bad crankshaft thrust bearing make a weird squeak/tick noise? I keep thinking it's an accessory drive bearing making the noise, but I can't trace it down with a stethescope. It's loudest at the water pump, but not loud enough to make me think it's that. Non existent on the other accessories. Silent at the heads. Silent on the timing cover bolts. Barely noticeable on the oil pan. I need to get it up on my lift so I can put the stethescope on the bottom of the block.
It started when I was having alternator issues and fucking with the drive belts and tensioners multiple times so it makes me think it's something with that.
I'm just getting really paranoid. I cannot be dealing with rebuilding this engine right now.
Only does it once everything under the hood gets heat soaked from driving. If it gets up to operating temp with the hood open and doesn't heat soak, it won't do it.

A/C is working good with the propane when it's charged. Did actually find a leak at one of the condenser fittings. Just an o-ring that needs replaced. I sprayed everything down with soapy water. No hose leaks surprisingly.