Removing knuckle

tiv0 · #1 09-19-2011, 05:54 PM

I am in the process of replacing my rear wheel bearing and have just about everything disconnected/removed (caliper, rotor, abs sensor, emergency brake, trailing arm bolt, transverse link bolt, etc.).

My only question is, to remove the knuckle from the strut tower (the 2 bolts that connect them), do I need to first compress the spring so the strut does not slam down and cause more damage than I want to deal with?

*BTW, I have not fully removed the transverse link and trailing arm bolts, I just broke the nuts loose and left the bolts in place.

I'd appreciate any input, thanks.

icingdeath88 · #2 09-19-2011, 06:06 PM

Remove the lateral link and trailing arm bolts, then it should just be hanging by the strut housing ("strut tower" is the wrong word, that means the part of the body that the struts reside in). Then you can disconnect it and the knuckle will drop free from the strut housing, and nothing should be under any force for it to go anywhere. Breaking the nuts before removing the lateral link and trailing arm bolts would be a good idea.

If that corner of the car is in the air, then the spring/strut should already be fully extended. Definitely so if the lateral links/trailing arm are disconnected.

tiv0 · #3 09-19-2011, 06:27 PM

Perfect, thank you.

1986nate · #4 09-19-2011, 11:10 PM

You may not be able to get the "long bolt" out that runs through the hub as well as both lateral links. Most of the time the nut comes off, but the actual bolt will not come out. Even with an air hammer, sledge hammer, etc.
Hopefully yours will.

Green1995SVX · #5 09-19-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1986nate

You may not be able to get the "long bolt" out that runs through the hub as well as both lateral links. Most of the time the nut comes off, but the actual bolt will not come out. Even with an air hammer, sledge hammer, etc.
Hopefully yours will.

I know someone who actually drove around his impreza for a year with the nut removed, and the bolt still didnt budge!

1986nate · #6 09-20-2011, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green1995SVX

I know someone who actually drove around his impreza for a year with the nut removed, and the bolt still didnt budge!

Sounds about right. For fun I took a 15 lb sledge hammer to one and had the assembly out of a car and secured. Just flattened the bolt.

icingdeath88 · #7 09-20-2011, 09:56 AM

Yep, had a similar problem on the left side of my pearly. The blue one they both came out perfectly easily. Good luck.

tiv0 · #8 09-21-2011, 07:32 PM

I'm happy to say that everything went well. The lateral bolt only took about 3 minutes to get out (probably thanks to the fact that it was a California car most of it's life!), and now everything is fully disassembled.

Crazy_pilot · #9 09-21-2011, 07:44 PM

Wow, that is one pretty undercarriage. Compared to mine anyway. Damn salt...

kwren · #10 09-21-2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiv0

I'm happy to say that everything went well. The lateral bolt only took about 3 minutes to get out (probably thanks to the fact that it was a California car most of it's life!), and now everything is fully disassembled.

You have AstroTurf in your garage floor.

Keith

Conn SVX · #11 09-22-2011, 05:44 AM

I did my whole yard in astro turf . I work at Lowe's and got a discount . Sold the lawn mower . Yes great looking undercarriage . don't you need a special tool to remove the bearings and replace them ?

tiv0 · #12 09-22-2011, 04:58 PM

Not fortunate enough to have a garage to work in, I settle with the driveway. Luckily it's been pretty nice outside here these last couple weeks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conn SVX

don't you need a special tool to remove the bearings and replace them ?

Subaru is doing the actual bearing replacement for me, I'm just saving myself about $600 in labor costs

BoxerFanatic · #13 09-22-2011, 07:57 PM

Looks like fun.

I'm going to have to replace the dampers on my Legacy soon, which is probably about as much fun.

BTW, I have a wheel for you, as soon as I can get it to you. Do you want one with a tire, or without one? I am having a new set mounted on my own set of wheels, and I can have the tire removed from the wheel you want, at the same time.

tiv0 · #14 09-24-2011, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoxerFanatic

BTW, I have a wheel for you, as soon as I can get it to you. Do you want one with a tire, or without one? I am having a new set mounted on my own set of wheels, and I can have the tire removed from the wheel you want, at the same time.

Preferably without a tire, I have one sitting around the house. Thanks again, and just let me know when I can get that from you.