An all-wheel-drive Subaru Outback contains four drive axles, one for each wheel. The front and rear drive axle assemblies are identical. The Outback drive axle contains two CV joints with the external CV joint connected to the drive axle. If the drive axle is leaking fluid, losing power or has broken CV joints, you may need to replace it. You can do this repair at home, but use care, given the critical function of the drive axle to the operation of the automobile.
Loosen the drive axle nut. This is the nut in the center of the wheel when viewed from outside. Loosening this nut will require attaching the correct size of sprocket to a high torque lever-arm. Do not remove the nut at this point.
Loosen the lug nuts, raise the car on jack stands, and remove the wheel.
Disconnect the control arm by taking a large pry bar and leveraging apart the control arm and steering knuckle at the ball joint where they are connected.
Remove the drive axle nut completely. Pull the drive axle assembly out of the steering knuckle, being careful not to damage the steering knuckle seal.
Replace the axle with a new drive axle assembly. Slip the drive axle into the steering knuckle seal and replace the drive axle nut. Replace the wheel, lower the car and tighten the lug nuts. Tighten the drive axle nut to 159 ft-lbs with a torque wrench.
