An improved shaft assembly with a rigid component for facilitating sealing is disclosed. The shaft assembly includes a housing, a cap connected to the housing, a shaft operably positioned in the housing, first and second sealing elements, and the rigid component fixedly attached to the first sealing component. The first and second sealing components are in contact with the housing and the shaft. The rigid component is in contact with the first sealing component and the cap, so as to prevent the first sealing component from extruding outside the cap when the shaft reciprocally moves relative to the housing.