Rear Axle: Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Subaru Impreza. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Disconnect the ground cable from the battery.
Lift up the vehicle, and then remove the rear wheels.
Lift the crimped section of axle nut.

Fig 1: Lifting Crimped Section Of Axle Nut
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the axle nut using a socket wrench while depressing the brake pedal.
CAUTION: Remove the wheel before loosening the axle nut. Failure to follow this rule may damage the wheel bearings.
Remove the brake hose bracket and the rear ABS wheel speed sensor.
- Disc brake model
  
  Fig 2: Locating Brake Hose Bracket And Rear ABS Wheel Speed Sensor - Disc Brake Model
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
- Drum brake model
Fig 3: Locating Brake Hose Bracket And Rear ABS Wheel Speed Sensor - Drum Brake Model
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the disc brake caliper from the rear housing, and suspend it from the vehicle using a string. (Disc brake model)

Fig 4: Identifying Disc Brake Caliper From Rear Housing
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear disc rotor. (Disc brake model)
Remove the brake drum. (Drum brake model)
Remove the four bolts from the rear housing.

Fig 5: Identifying Rear Housing Bolts
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 Magnetic Encoder And Rear Hub Unit Bearing
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

Fig 7: Removing Rear Hub Unit Bearing
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

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

ST1 926470000 AXLE SHAFT PULLER

ST2 28099PA110 AXLE SHAFT PULLER PLATE

Fig 8: Identifying Axle Shaft Puller (926470000) And Axle Shaft Puller Plate (28099PA110)
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Suspend the rear brake from the shock absorber. (Drum brake model)

Fig 9: Identifying Rear Brake From Shock Absorber
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the snap pin and nut from the front lateral link.

Fig 10: Identifying Snap Pin And Nut From Front Lateral Link
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Using a puller, separate the rear housing and ball joint.

Fig 11: Separating Rear Housing And Ball Joint
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Separate the upper arm, trailing link, and rear lateral link from the rear housing.

Fig 12: Locating Upper Arm, Trailing Link, And Rear Lateral Link From Rear Housing
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear axle.