Rear Axle: Removal

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: Do not loosen the axle nut while the rear axle is loaded. Doing so may damage the hub bearing.
Remove the brake hose bracket and rear ABS wheel speed sensor.

Fig 2: Locating Brake Hose Bracket And Rear ABS Wheel Speed Sensor Bolt
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the disc brake caliper from the rear housing, and suspend it from the vehicle using ropes.

Fig 3: Identifying Disc Brake Caliper And Rear Housing
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear disc rotor.
Remove four bolts from the rear housing.

Fig 4: 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 5: Identifying Magnetic Encoder And Front Hub Unit Bearing
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  
  Fig 6: 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 7: Removing Rear Drive Shaft From Rear Axle
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the snap pin and nut from the front lateral link.

Fig 8: Identifying Snap Pin And Nut
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Separate the rear housing and ball joint using a puller.

Fig 9: Separating Rear Housing And Ball Joint Using Puller
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Separate the upper arm, trailing link and rear lateral link from the rear housing.

Fig 10: Locating Upper Arm, Trailing Link And Rear Lateral Link
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear axle.