Rear Axle: Removal

Lift up the vehicle, and then remove the rear wheels.
Remove the axle nut.
CAUTION: Do not loosen the axle nut while the rear axle is loaded. Doing so may damage the hub bearing.
1. Lift the crimped section of axle nut.
2. Remove the axle nut using a socket wrench while depressing the brake pedal.
Fig 1: Removing Axle Nut Using Socket Wrench
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear disc brake caliper from the rear axle housing.
1. Remove the bolts, and remove the brake hose bracket and ABS wheel speed sensor.
2. Remove the mounting bolts, and then remove the rear disc brake caliper.
  
  Fig 2: Locating Rear Disc Brake Caliper Mounting Bolts
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
3. Prepare wiring harnesses etc. to be discarded, and suspend the rear disc brake caliper from the shock absorber with the harnesses.
  
  Fig 3: Identifying Rear Disc Brake Caliper, Shock Absorber And Wiring Harnesses
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear disc rotor.
NOTE: If it is difficult to remove the disc rotor, perform the following two methods in order.
1. Insert the flat tip screwdriver (b) into the brake adjustment hole (A), and rotate the adjusting screw (a) until the brake shoe moves far enough to remove the disc rotor (c).
  
  Fig 4: Inserting Flat Tip Screwdriver Into Brake Adjustment Hole
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
2. When the disc rotor is difficult to be removed from the rear hub unit bearing, screw in 8 mm (0.31 in) bolt to the threaded part of the disc rotor (A), and remove the disc rotor.
  
  Fig 5: Identifying Rear Hub Unit Bearing And Screw In Bolt
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear hub unit bearing.
CAUTION:
- Be careful not to damage the magnetic encoder.
- Do not get closer the tool which charged magnetism to magnetic encoder.
Fig 6: Identifying Rear Hub Unit Bearing And Magnetic Encoder
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
1. Remove the bolt from the rear axle housing.
  
  Fig 7: Locating Rear Axle Housing Bolts
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
2. Remove the rear hub unit bearing.
Fig 8: Removing Rear Hub Unit Bearing
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: If it is hard to remove, use the ST.

PREPARATION TOOL:

ST1: AXLE SHAFT PULLER (926470000)

ST2: AXLE SHAFT PULLER PLATE (28099PA110)

Fig 9: Removing Axle Shaft Puller Plate
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the front lateral link.
1. Remove the snap pin (a) and nut (b).
2. Using a puller, remove the ball joint.
Fig 10: Identifying Snap Pin And Nut
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear axle housing.
1. Remove the bolts for the upper arm, trailing link, and rear lateral link, and then separate the rear axle housing.
  
  Fig 11: Locating Upper Arm Bolts
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
2. Remove the rear axle housing.