replacing front axles

- M
- Mac
  
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posted
19 years ago

Sun, Oct 3, 2004 12:16 AM

well I put off having it done/doing it and now I've parked my 91 Legacy awd with bad cv joints.

I'd change them myself but am concerned about the "special tools" referred to.

It looks like the tool to pull the hub off the axle is a straightforward puller.

but what is the thing used to press the hub back onto the axle?

The dealer wants nearly $200 each for axles (new) but I saw a site offering "factory rebuilt" for about half that with $65 core charge.

I see aftermarket "new" axles for $75 or so, and aftermarket "rebuilt" in the $50s.

My subie is at 230,000 miles and when it finally gives out I'll just replace it with something else, so price is a bit important.

what's the wisdom here?

TIA

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- Rick Courtright
  
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posted
19 years ago

Sun, Oct 3, 2004 5:06 AM

With a little ingenuity, a coupla extra washers and a short bit of pipe you can make a setup that will pull the axle back thru the hub. Takes a bit of time at first to figure what you need, but it's not hard.

You said you'd just replace the car when it's tired, so I don't know what exactly your "interim" budget is, but my experience with rebuilds from non-Subie sources is they're not worth the price of the box they're shipped in, though I know some here have done ok with them. I've not seen "factory new" around here, so I'd go with the dealer item after explaining you are on a budget and the sale depends on his price. They ran $135 ea. for mine... Subaru OEM "remanufactured," and were well worth it after taking back THREE $75 axles that didn't fit (improperly marked, wrong number of splines) and losing a week or better trading the other ones.

Don't know what the rest of your car's like, but if it's just axles that need attention, you might have a few more miles left! My '90 Loyale's at

355k miles right now... and I think the Legacy's a bit stronger car.

Rick

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- Mac Townsend
  
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posted
19 years ago

Mon, Oct 4, 2004 1:07 AM

That is certainly encouraging!

Maybe I'll have the rubber band replaced after all (about 80-90,000 miles >

Factory-branded rebuilt would be my preference. Think I'll investigate the source a little more.

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- Christopher
  
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posted
19 years ago

Tue, Oct 5, 2004 2:39 PM

I replaced the transaxle in my 1995 Subaru Legacy L and it when pretty well. I had a really hard time removing the shaft from the hub assembly. I tried everything and finally unbolted the hub from the strut assembly and took it to Pep Boys and had them press it out for around $30.

About buying OEM Subaru Axles. I would. I bought a rebuilt shaft from the local auto parts store and I am beginning to suspect that the inner CV joint is bad. It clunks or thunks whenever I turn a corner. I suggest giving the OEM route a shot.