Front axles are shot

[nikolaus.conrad]

My front axels are clapping worse than a Church Congregation, and I can't take left hand turns without swinging it real wide. I need to replace my front axles desperately and I have no idea how to. Is there a link that can show me how to do this? Or just take them out? I don't care if it's rear wheel drive, or it may harm the front diff, I'm doing a 5MT swap next year.

[Airgne]

not to hard.
jack the front of the car up.
removed the front wheels.
remove the axle nut. think its a 32mm socket.
remove the two bolts that hold the strut to the knuckle(mark the top bolt to align the camber back up).
removed the pin in the axle(tranny side).
removed the end of the axle from the knuckle.
pull on the axle until comes out.

not to hard. should take you about 30 min.

[Huffer]

Replacing the front axles is identical to any Impreza so you can use their writeups if necessary.

Things to look out for - the roll-pins that hold in the axle stub should be removed using a solid punch - it's a hollow pin so you need punch the same size as the hole.

Also, I found it easier to crack the axle nut with the wheels still on - so you have to remove the wheels, take the center cap off the wheel, put the wheel back on, install the lugnuts and then break the axle nut free.

I didn't take the bolts out of the strut but the axle does have a lot of flex so you can work it out pretty easily once the pin on the tranny end are removed.

Reinstallation took me the longest time - I had to put the pin in from the enginebay looking down, using a weird combo of ratchet extensions on the punch because the roll pin was being stubborn and I had no room under the car to swing a hammer.

[nikolaus.conrad]

Gotcha, sounds like a day job. The most important tool of the job would be the Impact Wrench I'm assuming, getting one soon (hopefully my own at Christmas). Thank you both, I'll be doing this very soon =]

[d1giPhux]

If you want a cheap impact, check out the harbor freight electric impact. I have one.. and I LOVE it. Best $40 i EVER spent, and quite possibly my most used tool. They are powerful, cheap, and reliable! Good luck!

[geckoboy86]

Also, I found it easier to crack the axle nut with the wheels still on - so you have to remove the wheels, take the center cap off the wheel, put the wheel back on, install the lugnuts and then break the axle nut free.
Learned that the first time.

[Okin DaVanh]

Altho, you could ask someone to put their foot on the brake and crack it loose.... Just a thought.

[Hocrest]

The punch for the axle pin is 3/16"

Torque for the axle nut is 150 ft/lb.

You can lock the wheel to torque the axle nut before you put the wheel on by using the punch through the inspection window on the caliper into the cooling vanes of the rotor. I've learned to pull up on the torque wrench after pushing down once and ripping a strut out of the the top mount.

[Huffer]

Altho, you could ask someone to put their foot on the brake and crack it loose.... Just a thought.

This works too, and an impact wrench isn't necessary. Just the right sized socket, and a cheater bar slid over the handle of your ratchet will work too. I use my jack handle as my cheater bar.

[jey]

Soaking stuff with anti-seize the night before helps too. Also, when you reinstall the pin, it only goes in one way. If it's not going in try turning the axle 180 degrees and going in from the other direction. I wasted a lot of time on this the first time I did it :lol:

[StatGSR]

you guys are funny,

you want to loosen the axle nut BEFORE you jack up your car. now i understand some people might have center caps, but all you have to do is remove those first. but it will be much easier to brake that nut free with the car on the ground.

[Huffer]

^^ can't remove a center cap without the wheel off first, unless you feel like buying replacement centers later.

So, you have to remove the wheel, pop the center off, put the wheel back on, put at least 3 lugs back on, lower the car, crack the axle nut, remove the lugs, remove the wheel.

[jey]

you guys are funny,

you want to loosen the axle nut BEFORE you jack up your car. now i understand some people might have center caps, but all you have to do is remove those first. but it will be much easier to brake that nut free with the car on the ground.

The FSM specifically says NOT to BREAK (or loosen!) the axle nut with weight applied to the wheel as it will damage the wheel bearing.

Jack the car up first. I remember having to start the car in order to apply enough BRAKE power to prevent the axle from just spinning while trying to BREAK the axle nut free.

[nikolaus.conrad]

Soooooooo I still haven't replaced the axles, lol. I have my old Legacy which I can snag the axle shafts from but that car is a manual and the outback is an auto. Are they the same axles or do I need to use axle shafts from an automatic?

[Hocrest]

They'll work

[nikolaus.conrad]

Schweeeeeeeeet

[nikolaus.conrad]

remove the axle nut. think its a 32mm socket.

Can anyone confirm this? My Haynes manual doesn't give the size of the nut.

[Hocrest]

yep, 32mm or 1.25"

[nikolaus.conrad]

I'm going to try to finally get this done today, wish me luck! lol