Installing Front Axle
 

Last week mike (rufus) and i replaced the front driver's side axle. The procedure was pretty much straight forward. However, i haven't gotten an alignment yet. At first the car pulled to the left just slightly. Now at 200 miles since then the car is pulling significantly more, a creeking noise occurs especially when applying the brakes and turning, and there is a very noticable shudder and shaking of the left side wheel. Any thoughts of what we could have done wrong? Too much torque on the outside bolt (the one that is the farthest outside). I am having the car "fixed tomorrow" hopefully it is just a case of an alignment. I can't see how we messed up things that much. Your thoughts and recommendations are highly appreciated. Thank you
chris

Without knowing why the right axle was replaced, maybe a broken boot, I'll say the front axles are usually replaced in pairs. Now it might be a left axle problem.:(
The alignment is most likely the pulling problem but but may not be the noise problem. I hope it's just the alignment.

I just remembered.......
If you take the 3 bolts out of the ball joint to remove the axle you should not need a wheel alignment. This method does not remove the two bolts that hold the strut to the wheel hub.

We used the strut bolt method.

I can see the alignment problem, of course, but I'd love to hear some opinions on anything we could have done that would have caused any sort of squealing or shuddering.

Our procedure:

Break loose axle nut with car on the ground
Jack up car. Tap out axle-to-transmission retaining pin
Score camber adjustment bolt and strut to mark position
Remove axle bolt
Remove strut bolts and rest brake disc on wooden blocks
Remove axle
Install new rebuilt axle
Install retaining pin
Install and tighten strut bolts
Install axle bolt and torque the crap out of it.

Thats it.

Is the sheet metal on the back of the wheel hub rubbing on the disk? Might have bent while sitting on the wood block.

I asked a technician here about it, and that is also what he said to check.

Mike
Kerven Subaru Parts

well the saga of the mystery shudder and creak has been solved. Kind of embarassing to admit, but the lugnuts weren't properly tightened. There was also some play in the axle, so the tech put on new axle nuts on both sides. It definately made a difference, cause the handling is noticeably different. The problem I think is I had put the bolts one with mikes air tool, set the car down and mike torqued the wheel nuts. What i should have done was tighten them as hard as i could by hand. Then used the torque wrench. At least no damage was done and everything was done correctly up to that point. Well I am off to work. Hope everyone has a Happy Fourth of July. Thanks for all your comments and concern.
Chris

:p :p :p :p

Mike

Told-ya-so. :p :D