Subaru Outback Half-shafts

[Jim Maroldo]

I’m getting ready to replace the front shafts on our 2008 Outback. Looking around the web, I find some mechanics suggest disconnecting the wheel/hub from the strut with the top bolts (this also can affect alignment). Eric’s video shows removal by disconnecting the lower ball joint only. Any suggestions, please?
Jim

Topic

[Caleb Stovall]

Lower ball joint.
I see no reason to touch those bolts on this vehicle.

Btw an easy way to break that loose it to jack the hub assembly up like it is under load and place a ratchet or something in between the hub and the control arm and then let it down.
Should break it loose.
I don’t know how well I described that though…

[Jim Maroldo]

Thanks for the quick reply…I did our Buick last year also…just popped off the ball joint, pulled the shaft, and back in business in an hour or so.
Yeah, I like that idea! I’ve always whacked the control arm like Eric does in the video, but that seems like a better way. I’ll give it a try, but the persuader will be close by :whistle:

[Caleb Stovall]

Alright. Let us know how it goes.

[Jim Maroldo]

Took awhile to get back to this, but I completed the halfshaft replacement in a couple of hours by popping off the lower ball joint. Thanks for the tip! No need for the persuader either.

[Author]

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