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 Suspended From Shock Absorber
  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. Remove the adjusting hole cover (A), insert the flat tip screwdriver, and rotate the adjusting screw until the brake shoe moves far enough to remove the disc rotor.
  
  Fig 4: Rotating Adjusting Screw Using Flat Tip Screwdriver
  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 Disc Rotor With 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 Magnetic Encoder And Rear Hub Unit Bearing
  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 Rear Hub Unit Bearing Using ST
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the front lateral link.
1. Remove the snap pin (a) and nut (b).
2. Use a tie-rod ball joint puller to detach the ball joint.
  CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the boot of the joint.
  
  Preparation tool:
  
  Tie-rod ball joint puller
  
  Fig 10: Disconnecting Ball Joint Using Tie-Rod Ball Joint Puller
  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.
  CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the boot of the joint.
  
  Fig 11: Locating Rear Axle Housing Bolts
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
2. Remove the rear axle housing.