A radial shaft seal assembly (10) for establishing a seal to separate an oil side from an air side of the assembly is provided. The assembly includes a metal case (12) having a cylindrical wall (14) with an annular leg (22) extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall. A primary seal lip (28) is operably attached to the metal case. The primary seal lip is configured for running contact with a rotatable shaft member (48) to separate the oil side (O) from the air side (A). A debris exclusion member (30) including an annular retainer (32) with a plurality of elongate bristles (34) fixed thereto is fixed to one of the rotatable shaft member (17) or the metal case, wherein the bristles extend radially free ends (54), with a clearance gap (G) being established between the free ends and the other of the rotatable shaft member and the metal case.