Front Axle: Removal

Lift up the vehicle, and then remove the front wheels.
Remove the nut - axle.
CAUTION: Do not loosen the nut - axle while the front axle is loaded. Doing so may damage the hub unit COMPL.
1. Lift the crimped section of the nut - axle.
2. Remove the nut - axle 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 caliper body assembly from the housing assembly - front axle.
1. Remove the mounting bolts and the brake hose bracket, and remove the caliper body assembly.
2. Prepare wiring harnesses etc. to be discarded, and suspend the caliper body assembly from the strut assembly.
Fig 2: Locating Brake Hose Bracket Mounting Bolts
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the disc rotor.
NOTE: When the disc rotor is difficult to be removed from the hub unit COMPL - front axle, screw in 8 mm (0.31 in) bolt to the threaded part of the disc rotor (A), and remove the disc rotor.

Fig 3: Removing Disc Rotor Bolts
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the bolts, and remove the front ABS wheel speed sensor.

Fig 4: Locating ABS Wheel Speed Sensor Bolt
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Disconnect the tie-rod end.
1. Pull out the cotter pin (a).
2. Remove the castle nut (b).
3. Using a tie-rod ball joint puller, remove the tie-rod end (c).
  CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the boot of the joint.
  
  Preparation tool:
  
  Tie-rod ball joint puller
Fig 5: Identifying Cotter Pin, Castle Nut And Tie-Rod End
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the stabilizer link and ball joint.
CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the boot of the joint.

Fig 6: Locating Stabilizer Link And Ball Joint Bolts
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Using a bar, remove the front drive shaft from transmission.
CAUTION: Be careful not to allow the bar to damage holder area.
Remove the front drive shaft assembly from the hub unit COMPL - front axle.
NOTE: If it is hard to remove, use the ST.

Preparation tool:

ST1: AXLE SHAFT PULLER (926470000)

ST2: AXLE SHAFT PULLER PLATE (28099PA110)

Fig 7: Identifying Axle Shaft Puller (ST1) And Axle Shaft Puller Plate (ST2)
Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Remove the housing assembly - front axle.
1. Place an alignment mark (a) on the adjusting bolt and the strut.
2. Remove the adjusting bolts and flange bolts for the strut assembly, and then remove the housing assembly - front axle.
  CAUTION:
  - While holding the head of the adjusting bolt, loosen the flange nut.
  - Be careful of the weight of the housing assembly - front axle.
  - Be careful not to damage the spline portion of the drive shaft.
  Fig 8: Identifying Alignment Mark On Adjusting Bolt And Strut
  Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
For removal of the hub unit COMPL - front axle, refer to "Front Hub Unit Bearing". Ref. to DRIVE SHAFT SYSTEM>Front Hub Unit Bearing>REMOVAL .