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Home >> Subaru >> 2021 >> WRX Base >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Drivelines & Axles >> Wheel Hubs >> Axle Shafts, Propeller Shaft & Hubs >> Rear Axle >> Removal

Rear Axle: Removal

  1. Disconnect the ground cable from battery. Refer to NOTE>NOTE>BATTERY .
    NOTE: For model with battery sensor, disconnect the ground terminal from battery sensor.
  2. Lift up the vehicle, and then remove the rear wheels.
  3. Remove the axle nut.
    CAUTION: Do not loosen the axle nut while the rear axle is loaded. Doing so may damage the hub unit bearing.
    1. Lift the crimped section of axle nut.
    2. Remove the axle nut using a socket wrench while depressing the brake pedal.
    G07914082Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  4. Remove the sensor assembly - headlight beam leveler. (Model with auto headlight beam leveler) Refer to LIGHTING SYSTEM>REAR HEIGHT SENSOR>REMOVAL .
  5. Remove the bolts and nuts, and lower the lateral link assembly - rear.
    1. Remove the nut and disconnect the rear stabilizer link.
    2. Remove the bolts from the lower side of rear shock absorber assembly.
    3. Disconnect the rear axle housing from the lateral link assembly - rear.
    Fig 1: Rear Axle Housing, Bolt And Nuts Loosening Sequence
    G08318692Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  6. Remove the rear ABS wheel speed sensor from the rear axle housing.
    1. Remove the bolts, and remove the ABS wheel speed sensor.
    2. Remove the rear ABS wheel speed sensor harness from the upper arm.
    CAUTION:
    • Be careful not to damage the sensor.
    • Do not apply excessive force to the sensor harness.
    G08551334Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  7. Remove the disc brake assembly and disc rotor. Refer to BRAKE>REAR DISC ROTOR>REMOVAL .
  8. Remove the cable assembly - hand brake cable from the parking lever - rear. (Drum-in-disc type model) Refer to PARKING BRAKE>PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY (REAR DISC BRAKE)>REMOVAL>DRUM IN DISC TYPE MODEL .
  9. Remove the clamp B - hand brake cable from the rear brake back plate, and pull out the cable assembly - parking brake. (Drum-in-disc type model)
  10. Remove the electronic parking brake harness clamp from the rear brake back plate. (Electronic parking brake model)
  11. Remove the rear drive shaft assembly. Refer to DRIVE SHAFT SYSTEM>REAR DRIVE SHAFT>REMOVAL .
  12. Remove the lateral link assembly - front.
    1. Remove the snap pin (a) and nut (b).
    2. Disconnect the ball joint from the rear axle housing.
    CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the boot of the joint.

    Preparation tool: 

    Tie-rod ball joint puller

    G10269796Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  13. Remove the rear axle housing.
    CAUTION:
    • Be careful of the weight of rear axle housing.
    • Be careful not to damage the spline portion of the drive shaft.
    1. Remove the bolts, and disconnect the upper arm and trailing link.
      CAUTION: Be careful not to damage the boot of the joint.
      G10269797Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    2. Remove the rear axle housing.
  14. Refer to "Rear Hub Unit Bearing" for removal of the rear hub unit bearing. Refer to DRIVE SHAFT SYSTEM>REAR HUB UNIT BEARING>REMOVAL .
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