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Home >> Subaru >> 2009 >> Forester XT >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Drivelines & Axles >> Wheel Hubs >> Drivetrain System >> Rear Axle >> Installation
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Rear Axle: Installation

  1. Temporarily tighten the rear housing to the upper arm.
  2. Aligning with the mounting hole of the rear brake back plate, temporarily tighten the rear hub unit bearing to the rear housing.
    CAUTION:
    • Be careful not to damage the magnetic encoder.
    • Do not get closer the tool which charged magnetism to magnetic encoder.
    Fig 1: Identifying Magnetic Encoder And Rear Hub Unit Bearing
    G05957000Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
    Fig 2: Identifying Rear Hub Unit Bearing
    G05032629Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  3. Attach the rear drive shaft to the rear hub unit bearing.
  4. Tighten the new axle nut temporarily.
    CAUTION: Use new axle nuts.
  5. Attach the links to the rear housing and tighten them to the specified torque.

    Tightening torque: 

    Upper arm 

    90 N.m (9.2 kgf-m, 66.4 ft-lb) 

    Front lateral link 

    60 N.m (6.1 kgf-m, 44 ft-lb) 

    Rear lateral link 

    120 N.m (12.2 kgf-m, 89 ft-lb) 

    Trailing link 

    90 N.m (9.2 kgf-m, 66.4 ft-lb) 

  6. Tighten the four bolts of the rear housing.

    Tightening torque: 

    65 N.m (6.6 kgf-m, 47.9 ft-lb) 

    Fig 3: Identifying Rear Housing Bolts
    G05662674Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  7. Install the rear disc rotor.
  8. Install the rear disc brake caliper to the rear housing.

    Tightening torque: 

    66 N.m (6.7 kgf-m, 48.7 ft-lb) 

  9. Install the brake hose bracket and rear ABS wheel speed sensor.

    Tightening torque: 

    Brake hose bracket 

    33 N.m (3.4 kgf-m, 24.3 ft-lb) 

    Rear ABS wheel speed sensor 

    7.5 N.m (0.76 kgf-m, 5.5 ft-lb) 

  10. Attach the rear vehicle height sensor, (models with auto headlight beam leveler, left side only)

    Tightening torque: 

    7.5 N.m (0.76 kgf-m, 5.5 ft-lb) 

  11. While pressing the brake pedal, tighten the new axle nuts to the specified torque.

    Tightening torque: 

    190 N.m (19.4 kgf-m, 140 ft-lb) 

    CAUTION:
    • Do not install wheel and let it touch the ground before tightening the axle nut. Failure to follow this rule may damage the axle bearing.
    • Do not overtighten the nuts as this may damage the axle bearing.
  12. After tightening the axle nut, lock it securely.
    Fig 4: Locking Axle Nut
    G05032598Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
  13. Install the rear wheels.

    Tightening torque: 

    100 N.m (10.2 kgf-m, 73.8 ft-lb) 

  14. Connect the ground cable to the battery.
  15. Inspect the wheel alignment and adjust if necessary.
  16. Perform reinitialization of the auto headlight beam leveler system. Refer to PROCEDURE , Auto Headlight Beam Leveler System .