How do you replace the front left CV axle in a 1995 Subaru Legacy?

Answer 1

Get a Haynes or Subaru Factory Shop Manual for your car, and read up on this procedure. In general, loosen wheel lug nuts 1/2 turn, loosen big axle bolt approx 1/2 turn, raise car, support on jackstands, remove wheel, pound out drift pin using a punch on the transmission end, remove lower ball joint from wheel hub casting, watch brake and ABS wires as you pull the entire wheel hub and strut assembly away from the car, axle shaft comes out of hub, other end of axle shaft comes out of transmission. Big problem area is if axle shaft hangs up on the hub splines-- you may need a puller for this. Be careful if you hammer the axle shaft out of the hub-- not only damaging the axle shaft for a core return, but you also may damage the wheel bearings inside the hub-- I have a 300 dollar receipt as testimony to this. Install is reverse of removal, reassemble with care, remember the roll pin on the inner CV spline, then do a final tighten on the big axle nut once the wheel is on the ground.