HOW TO: Front Axle Seal Replacement on a Stock 02-03 WRX

[Snowmadic]

Very detailed thread, thanks to everyone for the info.

I'm replacing the front drive shafts on my 03 WRX wagon and am having trouble with my passenger side axle. It seems to be seized to the hub and will not budge. The driver's side axle came out with a little persuasion from an axle puller, but the passenger side axle has broken/bent 2 pullers and survived repeated assault from a 6pd sledge. At this point I'm ready to take the entire hub off the vehicle and get someone with a hydraulic press to press the axle out of the hub.

Has anyone else encountered a problem like this? Any suggestions?

Thanks, and Stay Awesome!

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[vwbugpilot]

air chisel with a punch bit in the middle of the axle will drive it out

[tungsten]

Originally Posted by scoobdude

i would recomend if you do not have to, do NOT undo the carrier bearing adjuster. It not only adjust backlash but also pinion depth. If the gears start riding in a different place bad things will happen. And iff backlash is not set to .00051 to .00071 (on 04 wrx) you will have clunks and whines and all other sorts of poo.

For the people who have stubless, if i remember correctly i think you can pull them out directly without removing that part. Its been awhile (last clutch change a few years ago) since i did this. However i will be getting the seals in this weekend and tackling it on the fresh trans. Sad part is last time i was able to get the part off an older impreza model at the parts store. But no more . Seems like part is dealer item only.

I found both fronts for my 04 for $7.xx for the pair from flat iron tuning. I am doing the rear as well which were $12.xx for the pair but the rear diff is off a 07 FXT (just replaced 1-2 with LGT, upgraded to dual cone 1st syncro, ring and pinion, center diff and rear diff to put 4.444s in)

What is "stubless" and how do I know if I have stubless? I have a 2005 STI, no spring pins holding in my front axles. My drivers side seal is leaking and after being on the highway any residual on the exhaust stinks. I want to fix this but I would rather not mess with backlash. BTW the dealer wants 3hrs and 360$ plus parts. On top of that I am doubtful they check backlash.

[rex2002]

has anyone else beside the tread creator done this project. so far ive chipped two teeth when trying to take off the outer seal.any special tools that i can buy??
thanks

[full of dents]

i have. i just used a large regular screw drive to remove the ring. i went from one to another and didnt beat on just one (not saying you did or are doing that)
you could try a spanner wrench if you can find one that fits

[AREA1320]

Originally Posted by rex2002

has anyone else beside the tread creator done this project. so far ive chipped two teeth when trying to take off the outer seal.any special tools that i can buy??
thanks

Did you remove the lock bolted to it?

[rex2002]

Originally Posted by AREA1320

Did you remove the lock bolted to it?

yep sure did. i have another tranny thats off the car and i was able to get that one off with no problem.im thinking it may be the angle that im trying to take it off again.my buddy works for nissan and hes going to see if theres any special tool that we can use to take it off with.

[rex2002]

replaced the seal. everything went fine. but the leak is still there. its the input shaft seal thats leaking(which i was hoping it wasnt,b/c its a pia to replace). now we get to take the whole tranny back out again split that case and fix the leak. the perks of buying a used tranny. gotta love it

[xzchaos]

My car recently started making noise from the passenger's side axle. Upon inspection i noticed the the boot is ripped. I need to do a lot of driving in the near future. Will i harm anything before i have a chance to look at replacement? Should i get some grease in there in the mean time? Could it damage transmission/diffs?

[scoobdude]

Originally Posted by xzchaos

My car recently started making noise from the passenger's side axle. Upon inspection i noticed the the boot is ripped. I need to do a lot of driving in the near future. Will i harm anything before i have a chance to look at replacement? Should i get some grease in there in the mean time? Could it damage transmission/diffs?

Depends on how bad. I would say replace it as they are only about 100 bucks new from autozone and stuff. Or if you can upgrade them to the forester ones (depending on your model transmission etc)

[EntrySpeed]

Great write up!

Thanks for taking the time.

Just incase anyone else is looking for the info; I found this while searching around...

2004 STI axle oil seal can only be serviced when the retainer plate (sundial) has been removed. Its because of a small lip inside where the axle stub passes through. (Caused a hell of a lot of frustration till I read this! LOL)

From what I understand, 2005 STI and beyond seals can be changed while the plate is still installed, due to the lack of the lip.

[code3suby]

I started trying to pull the front axle with a puller and realized that there must be a lip and found this post. I removed the sun dial / retainer and when I did, another piece fell out, I believe its part of the roller bearing, and when I put it back in it wont stay. When I try to put it back in a unit, I can't screw the sun dial all the way back to its original position, anyone have any ideas?

[down_for_the_scooby]

Sure maybe this thread is old, but this is an awesome write-up, pics are superb. Just blew my axle seals and I will definitely be printing this to help me out. Again, awesome write-up.

[wtyree]

It is very helpful, I used it a few months ago while I was replacing my front axles. I should have bumped it then.

[down_for_the_scooby]

As an update, I was able to use one of my BC coilover wrenches to loosen the differential cap. I found I could also use a large pipe wrench as well. The "proper" subaru manual way calls for a special tool which is unavailable to the average shadetree mechanic but the coilover wrench worked fine.

[oguitar]

Dang I might have to do this soon.

[Gr3en]

I had replaced mine already and it is still leaking. Albeit slower than before but leaking non the less. I believe it is coming from the metal retainer o-ring and not the axle seal in the middle of the retainer. Is it wise to tighten up the retainer a half a turn to stop the leak? Or will my diff assplode? This is the passenger side BTW.

[Gr3en]

Originally Posted by Gr3en

I had replaced mine already and it is still leaking. Albeit slower than before but leaking non the less. I believe it is coming from the metal retainer o-ring and not the axle seal in the middle of the retainer. Is it wise to tighten up the retainer a half a turn to stop the leak? Or will my diff assplode? This is the passenger side BTW.

I am wondering this as well? I replace both seals not too long ago and all my fluid above the seal leaked out. It's worse than before.
Can the retainer be tightened half a turn? Should I have this done again at the stealership to have some sort of a warranty on it so when it happens again i can just bring it back?

[Wade-O]

Originally Posted by down_for_the_scooby

As an update, I was able to use one of my BC coilover wrenches to loosen the differential cap. I found I could also use a large pipe wrench as well. The "proper" subaru manual way calls for a special tool which is unavailable to the average shadetree mechanic but the coilover wrench worked fine.

I used a specialty plumbing wrench that I had from our remodeling project, was only like $10 at Lowe's back when I bought it, and it worked great:

http://www.superiortool.com/tools/sp...tool/03845.htm

This write-up was fantastic, btw.

[Dinoboy707]

hey new to the website but i am wondering what type of driver axel seal i need for my 2000 imported sti from japan. im leaking tranny fluid can anyone please link me a website where i can order the right part?

[tooocool49723]

Originally Posted by code3suby

I started trying to pull the front axle with a puller and realized that there must be a lip and found this post. I removed the sun dial / retainer and when I did, another piece fell out, I believe its part of the roller bearing, and when I put it back in it wont stay. When I try to put it back in a unit, I can't screw the sun dial all the way back to its original position, anyone have any ideas?

2011 post, but I'd like the opportunity to respond.

That's a bearing race. The ball bearings (or whatever type of bearings) ride inside of that race in a cage.

You're not going to be able to reassemble that. And you may have to rebuild your trans.

I am interested to see how this worked out though.

And for what it's worth, doing this yourself will get the bearing preload and lash *close* to what it was stock, so long as you do as the DIY says and count the number of times you have to unscrew it, however you ALSO need to put it back in exactly the same position, so make sure you make a mark on the case and the nut to align them properly when reinstalling. That being said, you'll be a bit off just by virtue of taking it apart, so you may blow up your front diff doing this. Just fair warning.

[PSBeachBum]

Originally Posted by tooocool49723

2011 post, but I'd like the opportunity to respond.

That's a bearing race. The ball bearings (or whatever type of bearings) ride inside of that race in a cage.

You're not going to be able to reassemble that. And you may have to rebuild your trans.

I am interested to see how this worked out though.

And for what it's worth, doing this yourself will get the bearing preload and lash *close* to what it was stock, so long as you do as the DIY says and count the number of times you have to unscrew it, however you ALSO need to put it back in exactly the same position, so make sure you make a mark on the case and the nut to align them properly when reinstalling. That being said, you'll be a bit off just by virtue of taking it apart, so you may blow up your front diff doing this. Just fair warning.

I did the same thing and had 0 problems.