I was waiting on the machine shop to call and say they have my Subaru hubs pressed, but they called and said one was pressed and one was ruined. Sure enough, when he tried to press the axle out of the hub*, he bent the axle in the threaded area just like bending a nail. So now the knuckle, axle half shaft and the hub are a permanent unit, and I am hunting a used knuckle on the internet. I THINK I ordered a reman half-shaft, but you never know what you get until it arrives since they play loose with half-shafts and applications.
Oh, well, I did install the left front completely, and rotated the tires. I need left front parts for 2004 Subaru Baja with DOHC and Turbo with manual transmission. I'll have to bird dog that but I must go on to the next phase: Timing belt kit with water pump installation and thermostat (while I wait.) I will also install new camshaft seals (4) and a new crank seal, new hoses, new drive belts, and try to check the valve clearance while I am in there. I hope the clearance is good since they are shim under bucket. Complications are variable valve timing, and I have never dealt with that before, but it doesn't look too bad. The 105,000 mile service is a pain, but I should be good to go for another 100,000 when done. It has been a trouble free and versatile vehicle. I think it is a New York Baja, and even thought I bought it in Boone, only 2 years old, 20,000 miles, salt must have got to it. Normally I can press a Subaru half shaft with my thumb, or worst case one peck with a brass drift.
*Before I took it to the shop, I had the hub flange up to 480, and heat transfer had the knuckle up to 208F. I had it sprayed down with PB blaster. I ruined an OTC axle press by repeated tightening and hammering on the push bolt. I wound up even trying an air hammer and heating...then I gave up and took it to the machine shop to see if they could get it, but they bent it. I don't blame the fellow for it, but normally when I do similar press work, I put the nut on, but loose, so if it starts to bend, it will bottom the nut edge in the direction of bend before yield point is reached. I offered him a nut, but he declined. My press is only 12 ton, and too small physically, so I didn't even try mine. As I told a buddy, even this sort of trouble is still progress.