cv shaft replacement question

[rdeskater]

Hello all, I need to know how to replace both front cv shafts on a 98 impreza 2.2 2door auto. I'm pretty good with a wrench but new to subarus. could anybody give me some step by step instructions on how to go about changing the shafts out. they both bind and grind slightly and I have 2 new axles ready to go in as soon as I know how to go about doing it. thanks all.

[wardssix]

try this

 

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21119

[idosubaru]

mark position of top strut mount bolt head so you can reinstall it the same as it effects alignment. if that scares you, don't worry, it shouldn't it's really easy. just mark it with a chisel, it's simple.

 

axle replacement is really simple, it basically requires removing two nuts and that's it (not counting the wheel, ).

 

remove top strut mount bolt, loosen the lower. remove axle nut. with only that done the axle will come out, knock the roll pin out of the trans, remove from trans first, then slide out of hub.

 

new aftermarket axles are notoriously horrible, so vibration/slinging grease, clicking, or exploding immediately (yes i've seen that) after install means you need a new new axle.

 

i use only Subaru or MWE any more because of the issue, my time isn't worth the hassle.

[renyo]

mark position of top strut mount bolt head so you can reinstall it the same as it effects alignment. if that scares you, don't worry, it shouldn't it's really easy. just mark it with a chisel, it's simple.

 

axle replacement is really simple, it basically requires removing two nuts and that's it (not counting the wheel, ).

 

remove top strut mount bolt, loosen the lower. remove axle nut. with only that done the axle will come out, knock the roll pin out of the trans, remove from trans first, then slide out of hub.

 

new aftermarket axles are notoriously horrible, so vibration/slinging grease, clicking, or exploding immediately (yes i've seen that) after install means you need a new new axle.

 

i use only Subaru or MWE any more because of the issue, my time isn't worth the hassle.

 

Axle replacement is really easy actually.. my mechanical skills are horrible and I did it.

 

I replaced mine with an aftermarket axle because I'm a poor and the junkyards didn't have anything useful. I agree on getting the Subaru one. If I had to do it again.. ok, well I still would've had no money, but you get the idea...

 

What grossgary said pretty much sums it up, although I'd mark it with white out or something instead of a chisel (unless theres an advantage I'm unaware of).

 

My axle nut was on there really good. Making things worse is the fact that I hit a pot hole really bad once and my axle nut had unstaked itself and rotated itself around the axle (or at least that's the only reason I can think why that specific axle would have done that and not the other ones). Since I didn't have any air tools and only a 2 ft breaker bar, I couldn't get it off. I resorted to using the car scissor jack on the end of the breaker bar to finally get it unstuck. Don't know how good it was on there, but it took significantly more force than was required to normally lift the car up, that's for damn sure.

 

My axle was also kind of a pita to get out of the hub due to space issues, but that could also be because I think one that was in there before was an aftermarket one.

 

Aside from my stupidity involving trying to knock the pin out with a rubber mallet (probably about 45 minutes), and my issues with the axle nut (probably wasted about 45 minutes on that too), it was pretty easy and probably would've taken like 1.5 to 2.5 hours. I was surprised how easy it was after everything was said and done.