Rear Axle: Removal

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2012 Subaru Forester. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Disconnect the ground cable from 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.
Disconnect the connector, and then remove the nut to remove the rear vehicle height sensor, (model with auto headlight beam leveler, left side only)

Fig 2: Locating Rear Vehicle Height Sensor Nut
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the brake hose bracket and the rear ABS wheel speed sensor.

Fig 3: Locating Brake Hose Bracket And Rear ABS Wheel Speed Sensor Bolts
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the disc brake caliper from the rear housing, and suspend it from vehicle using a string.

Fig 4: Suspending Disc Brake Caliper From Vehicle Using String
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear disc rotor.
Remove the four bolts from the rear housing.

Fig 5: 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: Front Hub Unit Bearing And Magnetic Encoder
  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: Removing Rear Hub Unit Bearing Using ST
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the snap pin and nut from the front lateral link.

Fig 9: Front Lateral Link Snap Pin And Nut
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Separate the rear housing and the ball joint using the puller.

Fig 10: 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 11: Locating Bolts Of Upper Arm, Trailing Link And Rear Lateral Link
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the rear axle.