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How to Replace a CV Joint for a 1993 Subaru Legacy

A broken CV joint can propel your Subaru right off the road. Its a part well worth the time and effort to replace. A 1993 Subaru Legacy has CV axles in the front and rear of the vehicle, depending on the model. The most efficient way to replace a CV joint is to replace the entire CV axle with a new or re-manufactured axle. The front CV axles are more difficult to replace due to the more complicated front steering and suspension assembly, but most aspiring do-it-yourselfers should be up to the task.

Instructions

Preparing to Remove the Axle

1

Park the car on a level surface and set the emergency brake. Make sure the Subaru is parked in third gear or higher if it has a manual transmission. Slightly loosen the lug nuts. Do not jack up the vehicle.

2

Remove any covers over the axle nut (also called the spindle nut, it is located at the center of the wheel on the end of the axle). Pry or beat out any indentations in the slotted portion of the axle, using a straight screwdriver. Spray penetrating oil on the nut if any rust is present. Then, using the breaker bar and a six-point socket of the correct size, break the axle nut free, but do not remove it.

3

Jack up the vehicle and lower it onto a jack stand. Make sure the vehicle is safely supported--you are going to have to crawl underneath it. Remove the wheel and the axle nut.

4

Unbolt the sway bar bracket from the lower control arm. Remove the cotter pin and castellated nut from the lower ball joint. Separate the lower ball joint from the steering knuckle with a ball joint separator. Remove the lower control arm the rest of the way by unbolting it at the two points immediately above where the sway bar bracket was attached.

5

Remove the cotter pin and castellated nut from the tie rod where it attaches to the steering knuckle. Use the tie rod separator to remove the tie rod from the steering knuckle; then push the detached end of the tie rod out of the way.

6

Crawl underneath the vehicle and locate the retaining pin that passes through the axle where it joins the transmission or front differential. Using a hammer and a small punch or a Phillips-head screwdriver, pound out the retaining pin.

Removing and Reinstalling the Axle

7

Remove the CV axle from the end at the transmission. Use a flat screwdriver or another suitable prying tool to separate the axle from the transmission or front differential.

8

Remove the axle from the steering knuckle using the axle puller.

9

Slide the new axle through the steering knuckle, and install the new axle nut. Tighten it by hand for now.

10

Align the axle retention pin holes on the new CV axle and the transmission end. Slide the new axle into place at the transmission end and install a new retention pin.

Finishing the Job

11

Re-install the lower control arm, tie rod and sway bar bracket. Using the torque wrench, tighten the nuts on the lower control arm to 113 Nm, according to the 1993 Subaru Legacy repair manual published by Chilton Library.

12

Tighten down the castellated nuts on the tie rod and ball joint, and install new cotter pins.

13

Torque down the new axle nut--the torque figure for this nut is 186 Nm, as also specified by the 1993 Subaru Legacy repair manual. Using a hammer and screwdriver or punch, score the outside of the axle nut at the keyed portion on the axle.

14

Put the wheel back in place and tighten down the lug nuts. Raise the vehicle, remove the jack stand, and gently lower your Subaru to the ground. Re-tighten the lug nuts.