1990 legacy wagon LS 240+K 5 speed

 

recently changed the front half shafts both sides my self. and pop the ball joint out of the hub, and popped it back in. and now I hear this popping sound and I can feel it too. wondering if it was the the ball joint.

 

and if so how do I change it? or is it the nut on the bottem and lock pin. to release it.

 

plus the steering wheel is vibrating ever so often.

 

Had the alliment done recently also. after hitting a sidewalk while driving in the snow and hit black ice slide into a sidewalk. pulled to the right alot. and the steering was to wheel leaned to the left.

 

I am new to subaru's

Leave the ball joint attached to the hub.

 

Remove the nut at the bottom.

 

Rent a "pickle fork" at Autozone and a big hammer.

 

Insert pickle fork between the ball joint and control arm and wail (?) away with the hammer.

 

Remove now loose ball joint from hub and replace with a new one.

 

Really not difficult at all.

 

edit: You did remember to reinstall that clinch bolt when you replaced the axles?

Edited January 13, 200917 yr by john in KY

have a 6' pry bar and worlds strongest man standing by... those things can be a %$#@! to get out...but like he said its really not a big project...

I have luck with Advance's front end kit (not the balljoint kit). There is a nice little puller that works well. It's really like a pitman arm or tie rod puller or something in the set. Sometimes I need to grind the lip on the A-arm a little to get it on.

 

If smacking the end of the A-arm with a sledge a few times doesn't do it - this is my next step.

 

If it doesn't break loose easily when it does it wil make a reall loud snap when it does. Like ears ringing for 10 minutes loud snap.

 

Pickle forks work well - especially if the old BJ is scrap.

 

Dave