I'm having the hardest time removing the male spline axle from the hub on the front passenger side of an '03 wrx. Any tips? I've tried hammering to the point of mushrooming the axle tip a bit, and I've also tried a pulley puller. Not a budge. 10 lb hammer, good swings.

If it's stuck do you just continue to hammer the hell out of it? I'm at my wits end here. All help appreciated. Guide says it should slide right out.

 

Get a hub puller. The one that was used on my application bolted to three of the lug bolts (using stock lug nuts). Tighten it down as tight as you can, then give the hub puller a whack with the hammer. Then continue to tighten it down - it should slide right out.

 

Soak the area with some wd40. Did you remove the 14mm ball joint bolt and pop the control arm away from the knuckle? It makes it alot easier.

 

Ditto on the hub puller. If you are going to bang on the axle too, maybe put the axle nut back on and hit that. Lots cheaper to replace the nut.

Jim

 

Thanks guys.

What did it for me was a 0.5" punch and a 10 lb sledge (finally). I just didn't think it would take that much pounding. I was taking some pretty mean swings and it finally budged. I'm use to tapping it out with just a hammer, but this is my first subie axle. All I can say is wow.

 

It's good you got it out. I'm surprised about using the sledge hammer, though.