Wiper Arm

[THRobinson]

So... over a week ago I hopped into the truck and started it up, wipers were frozen and I had forgotten to turn them off the night before and the passenger side wiper made a thud and stopped working.

Finally snow cleared up on the weekend, looked and the inside of the wiper arm all the way in, the teeth are smooth. I looked at the knurled shaft on the truck and the top edge is smooth. Spring clip is still fine but once on it does nothing.

I took a strip of aluminum foil, 3/4" wide and maybe 8" long, wrapped it around the shaft, put the arm on and worked for 3 days, then quit again.

Never seen a wiper arm like this before, kind of a stupid design compared to most. The spring clip doesn't hold it in square enough once the wiper is on the glass.

Debating if I need a new arm, or would the shaft damage it? or because the top edge of the shaft is smooth, it won't matter if it's a new or old arm anyways. From what I can tell, you can't replace the shaft without replacing the entire assembly. Only other thing I can think of is drilling a hole through and adding a screw.

Any ideas?

I did see a video of someone removing the arm and needed a screwdriver to open the clip, I will say mine is still springy, snaps shut on it's own, but no where near tight enough that I needed a flat head screwdriver to pop it open.

 

[jerryt]

I had a problem like that with both sides being loose and the knurled shafts were both worn and loose. I went to a salvage yard and got a good assembly to replace the bad one. Not a hard job and now the wipers both work fine.

 

[THRobinson]

Well, problem is working in a driveway in Canada.

Not much snow right now, but cold... plus... entire assembly for 1 wiper. The foil idea worked decent for a short while, but, before replacing the full assembly, I'd like to try something else, like a screw, or even fill it with epoxy and let it sit 3-4 days over the holidays.

Upside is, I can't ruin it... it seems to be toast anyways.

But, if any other advice to try before I drill and/or glue... I'll give it a go. Tonight I'll try the foil again, just double it up and force the arm on, and hopefully friction fitting it will solve it a bit longer than a few days.

 

[jerryt]

Maybe duct tape instead tin foil might grab a little tighter.

 

[THRobinson]

Well, I went out last night, grabbed the wiper arm because was worried maybe it was the linkage, saw a few vids about that being a common issue on the passenger side. Went to grab the arm and was just sitting there, kinda surprised it didn't blow off when driving. Was the same when it first stopped working as well.

Seems it works a bit then just 'pops' itself off the shaft.

So... starting to think that although the clip works, maybe it's too weak or the edge is worn down too much to keep the arm on.

I'd compare it to the driver side arm, but honestly, don't want to jink it... kinda need the driver one more.

Tomorrow I'll hit up the scrappers and see if they have one, and see if it will stay on.

 

[sbarron]

Do what I did on a POS VW Beetle years ago.. loosen the other arm, tie them together with some ratty old speaker wire, run that **** in through the wing window, (uh-oh - problem with the plan right there), and have your passenger swing the wipers back and forth by pulling on the wires!

 

[K-Dawg]

Maybe duct tape instead tin foil might grab a little tighter.

Damn straight. If you can't fix it with duct tape, you're not trying hard enough.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy - Red Green

 

[THRobinson]

Or.... I replace the blade on the driver side with a 36" blade and get the whole window with one arm.

 

[THRobinson]

Damn straight. If you can't fix it with duct tape, you're not trying hard enough.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy - Red Green

OMG... a Canadian Quote, by a non-Canadian! it's like seeing a unicorn...

Honestly didn't know if the USA even got that show.

 

[sbarron]

Or.... I replace the blade on the driver side with a 36" blade and get the whole window with one arm.

Now you're talking, like a Koenigsegg!

 

[THRobinson]

I think it's fixed.

I remember looking at the old arm thinking its weird that the shaft has a groove in it but the arm has no notch to line up with it. I went to the auto wreckers today who gave me the arm for free because it's Xmas (yay) and instantly saw the notch on it that mine was missing. Metal piece must've broken out.

Popped it on, put my blade on it... fingers crossed.