Looks like 2003 Impreza and 1997 Legacy rear hub assemblies/knuckles (entire hub, bearings, housing assembly) are interchangeable?

 

Does that mean the rear bearings and seals are all the same?

Possibly, but there may be superceeded parts on the newer hub.

the main thing to watch out for will be the ABS components on the newer unit and disc to drum issues. Backing plates bolt in directly (disc or drum - same bolts)

 

97 to 2003 drum to disc - The hub will have to come off anyway to install the disc backing plate because it has the ABS sensor

 

2003 to 97 - similar in reverse (will need to pull the hub to install the drum backing plate). If disc, I expect you still need to install the older backing plate, however, having no experience with that setup directly, I can't say for sure.

 

The 14mm backing plate bolts were on pretty tight (loctite on re-installation) I used an impact wrench on removal after I had pulled the hub out

 

Hub removal/reinstallation is not difficult IF you have a press.

 

8mm (might be 10 - I don't remember because I have a full set) flare nut wrench necessary for removal of the brake line at the wheel cylinder if drums.

CRACK.....i'm using the wrong terminology....are the entire rear knuckles interchangeable.

 

some to think of it i do know that they went to a different tone wheel set up on the rear disc ABS brakes. hmm...wonder if i can make that work?

 

thanks!

beats me - I can only tell you how to SWAP 'EM