1. Park the Car Safely:
- Park your Subaru Legacy on level ground and set the parking brake.
- Place wheel chocks behind the wheels on the opposite side of where you'll be working.
2. Loosen Lug Nuts:
- Before lifting your car, slightly loosen the lug nuts on the wheel corresponding to the CV axle you need to replace.
3. Jack up the Car:
- Use the appropriate jacking points to lift up the car. Make sure to use jack stands for safety before working under the car.
4. Remove the Wheel:
- Remove the wheel by fully removing the lug nuts.
5. Remove Underbody Panels:
- Some Subaru Legacies may have plastic underbody panels that need to be removed to access the CV axle area. Remove the fasteners securing these panels.
6. Pry Off Axle Nut Cover:
- On the inner side of the wheel hub, you'll see a metallic or plastic cover on the axle nut. Use a pry bar to carefully remove this cover.
7. Loosen Axle Nut:
- Using a socket wrench, loosen the axle nut that holds the CV axle to the wheel hub. Don't remove it completely yet.
8. Disconnect Lower Ball Joint:
- Locate the lower ball joint connecting the lower control arm to the steering knuckle.
- Use a wrench or socket to loosen and remove the ball joint nut.
- Separate the ball joint from the knuckle by prying it loose with a pry bar if needed.
9. Remove Drive Axle:
- Now you can remove the CV axle from the wheel hub by sliding it out.
- Disconnect it from the inner CV joint by separating the inner shaft from the axle housing.
10. Install the New CV Axle:
- Insert the new CV axle into the inner CV joint and slide it into the wheel hub.
- Insert any retaining pins or snap rings if necessary.
11. Secure Axle Nut:
- Once the CV axle is in place, secure the axle nut but don't fully tighten it yet.
12. Reconnect Lower Ball Joint:
- Reattach the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle and install the ball joint nut.
13. Tighten Axle Nut:
- Fully tighten the axle nut to the recommended torque specification.
14. Install Underbody Panels:
- If you removed any underbody panels, reinstall them now.
15. Mount Wheel:
- Mount the wheel back on the hub and reinstall the lug nuts. Tighten them by hand.
16. Lower the Car:
- Carefully lower the car using the jack stands.
17. Tighten Lug Nuts:
- Finally, fully tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench to the recommended specification.
Remember, if you're not confident in your mechanical abilities, it's best to seek help from a professional mechanic. CV axle replacements can be tricky and require attention to detail to ensure proper functioning and safety.
