Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

Recommended Posts

My MWE axles arrive tomorrow and I need advice on installation. Do I place on the transmission end first, or do I insert the spindle through the hub first? Does the steering need to be cocked in a particular direction and if so which one? At what point are the roll pins installed? TIA.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I seperate the outer tie rod end, the swaybar link, and ball joint. The hub swings pretty freely after that. One side of the pinhole is countersunk the pin comes out of and goes back in that side. I usually put the inside in 1st because its eaiser to line up the holes with the outer cv loose. Swing the hub out and install the outer CV. Have fun!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can try whatever you want. After doing dozens of these I found what works for me. The strut bolts are the ones I avoid removing because they control caster and/or camber and I don't want to spend $100. for a aligment everytime I have to do axles. Remember don't turn the outer tie rod end that's the toe in toe out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But I thought that as long as I marked the eccentric strut bolt and reinstalled it in the same orientation, the camber would not be disturbed. Not true?

 

Yes that's the way I do it. Reason being at least in NY on 10 year old soobs, the ball joint pinch bolts are not coming out easily. If I ever need to remove them they will probably snap. If you mark the eccentric bolt and reinstall to the same position your camber will be close, probalby within 10' of what it was orignally. I say close beacuse there is some play tehre and it depends when the nut was tightened if the suspension was loaded or unloaded.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That'll get you to the alignement shop without shaking the car apart. If you can, have an alignment tech show you how little movment it takes to throw the alignment out you'll understand that marking it is a hit or miss affair. Once you lose alignment you won't get it back on your own without dumb luck.:horse:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you have a level surface and a level you can check your camber fairly easily afterward to see how close it is on. Typically that's what I do and it isn't too hard to get within 10' (minutes, or 10/60 of a degree) that way. The camber tolerance is fairly wide anyway on soobs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

is the pinch bolt a "bolt and nut" or just a bolt into the housing?

 

I'm used to bolt/nut which is what is on the Tempo. The bolt is serrated on the shaft so I undo the NUT and drive out the bolt and spread the pinch to the ball joint. Just asking because I get to do a LF axle on the IMP once I get it... and don't really want to "break" anything :grin:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I found it was easiest to remove the sway bar link bolt and the front control arm bolt. You'll have enough wiggle to clear the inboard differential stub and then you're home free.

 

You just need to torque them back to spec. with all wheels on the ground.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yep, that's the way I did it, but I did not find it necessary to remove the two 19mm bolts on the bracket holding the rear of the control arm in place. There's enough play after removing the pinch bolt ("through bolt" in the link povided by johnceggleston).

 

Supporting the control arm with a floor jack eases removal and installation of that bolt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...