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replace wiper arms?

17K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  chrsvic 
#1 ·
Hi,

Second question from a new member.

The windshield wipers on my '97 T & C are not working. Basically, the hole in the base of the wiper arm is stripped. There are facets cut into the inside of the hole, which ride on a spline driven by the wiper motor, and these are ground smooth. But the grooves on the spline seem ok.

Until now ive just retightened the nut on the wiper arm, but now when i run the wipers, the arms just raise a little bit. I thought about putting loctite in the hole attaching the wipers, but this might seep in and lock the whole thing.

Is replacing the whole wiper arm the best fix?

Im thinking these splines the arms ride on are a harder material, and should be ok.

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
A new wiper arm may be the safest solution. A couple of points:
- it is very easy to tighten the wiper arm down and not really get it tight as the splines / grooves aren't lined up properly. A second tightening may be required.
- cleaning the spline gears (both surfaces) with a wire brush may facilitate the engagement of the splines with the grooves.
 
#3 ·
On the new cars we build the wiper arms don't have the spline imprints until we install the wipers. The process of tightening the wiper arm nut imprints the grooves in the arm.

I'd say if the arm is stripped out your best be would be new, or usable junkyard replacements. If you get a chance to pull a set of wipers off a donor at a yard, DO NOT move the wiper in a motion that mimics the travel of the wiper, you'll destroy the grooves. Push down towards the glass on the hinge point of the wiper. It should rock loose on the wiper shaft and then you can lift it off. I did literally hundreds this way in the plant as repairs and never stripped a one.
 
#5 ·
If you get a chance to pull a set of wipers off a donor at a yard, DO NOT move the wiper in a motion that mimics the travel of the wiper, you'll destroy the grooves. Push down towards the glass on the hinge point of the wiper. It should rock loose on the wiper shaft and then you can lift it off. I did literally hundreds this way in the plant as repairs and never stripped a one.
The wiper arms on older cars or donor cars can be the shaft pretty good. Another trick is to use a big screwdriver or wooden wedge to put moderate upward pressure on the arm from beneath (as if you are trying to pry the arm off), then keeping the upward force, with your other hand or your helper, give the shaft a gentle tap with a hammer. Pop! Remember to remove the screw first :)cool:), and, as n9 said, don't rotate it.
 
#4 ·
That explains a lot and is the reason I have to keep moving the wiper arm back and forth (with no wiper pressure on the windshield) to get it to settle in a mated location.
 
#6 ·
Go old school, tie a string to the arms and just pull.This trick will work if they break or quit in a rain storm.Remember to carry some string just in case.
But a junkyard replacement should work fine as well.
 
#9 ·
one string through the drivers side and one through the pass side of vech.Pull drivers to lift wipers across windshield and pull the pass. to bring it back down.I did this years ago when the wiper motor went on my old 80 caprice in Virginia US.Annoying but works if your suck in a rain storm.
 
#10 ·
Sounds very innovative. How are going to do that and talk on your cell phone, change CDs, and adjust the heater all at the same time? :lol:
I suppose for wipers that don't run parallel, like on my 4th Generation, the string method may need a couple of pullys or something. :biggrin:
 
#12 ·
Brings back fond memories of my '67 VW Bug. The heat exchangers were corroded through, so i drove with the windows down because of the CO. No defroster for the windshield, driving a stick shift with one hand and the other hand outside the window with spray deicer and a rag.:eek:
 
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