Wiper Arms

[Mongoose]

Maybe if I got a passenger side wiper - though it appears that these are a little shorter than the driver's side (perhaps by an inch when measuring up.

Do you reckon there may be an MOT issue here?

[Thom89]

Can you post a pic of your car! Are you wanting to fit RHD arms? I'm a little confused...

Thom

[Mongoose]

Hi Thom,

My car is a 1987 8v complete with LHD wiper arms....pic below.



The problem is only on the driver's side, where the notches/grooves have worn away so that the wiper no longer engages with the spline on the motor.

I do not want to fit a RHD wiper arm, but cannot seem get hold of a LHD one anywhere. I have just purchased via e-bay what looks to be a rhd arm which looks to be for a mk2 and is described as "small spindle". It was less than a tenner so a figured that I would take a punt on it in the hope that I can get someone to remove the end piece (assuming it is not damaged liek mine) and transplant it onto my LHD damaged wiper arm.

There also appears to be a passenger side arm for sale which appears to be LHD but I am aware that the passenger wiper is shorter than the driver's side by about an inch so will not quite cover the screen as it is meant to.

Why is it that ther never appears to be quite the part needed at the time that it is needed, but the internet seems full of near misses!! LOL

[Thom89]

The wiper arms are NOT splined from new, only the wiper spindle is splined! and its likely that your wiper arms can be brought back to life with a little patience! the wiper arms are made from a soft diecast material, that is designed to give/strip should the wiper stick to the screen from frost, or shear weight of snow... when this happens, the hard stainless splines fill with debris from the arm, and will simply lose its grip! and will never work properly again unless the spline is cleared... use a sharp Stanley blade to chase out every last bit of the alloy debris, leaving the spline looking like new...

The wiper arm should also receive a little attention before refitting, find a socket that fits on the under side of the wiper arm mounting hole, and one that fits the top side of the hole, you now need to compress the mounting by striking the socket with a hammer, onto the other socket, you only need to alter the base by a few thou, so easy does it

Refit the arm by placing exactly where you want it on the screen, try not to swivel the arm on the sharp splines...

Below is a spindle from a mk2 rear wiper, had exactly the same problem, but is now fine, not the best pic, but notice how crisp the splines now look, before cleaning out with a blade it looked smooth!



Thom

[Mongoose]

Thanks Thom.

I realise that the spline, being steel, would maintain its integrity at the expense of the wiper's softer alloy hole lining (I guess as it should be if we want to avoid burnt out motors when wipers get stuck to frozen windscreens). Unfortunately, this lining has basically been stripped bare of all of its notches. I have picked the spline clean, but there is simply nothing for it to grip on. I had wondered whether an alloy wheel refurbisher could perhaps build this lining back up and machine in the necessary notches - seems unlikely though.

[skydivebaz]

Do you need a new motor? Spindles and arms? let me know i am in Germany in the army and loads here and will get them for you!!

I have an 88 10 millionth edition but just replaced the windscreen scuttle and repaired the bulk head during my 1.8t conversion so know the left right saga

skydivebaz@hotmail.com and will get it to you at cost

Although scrappy prices here are a bit crazy sometimes!!

Oh and to put a little pun in we have here access to all at vw classics up at WB at tax free!!!! you would not believe what is put on ebay as rare and unavailable!!! cheap from VW Germany!!!

last month all 4 G60 arches 320 Euro all four 90 spec side trims including the rare deleted gti badge 85 Euro!!!

[molegti]

Thanks Thom.

I realise that the spline, being steel, would maintain its integrity at the expense of the wiper's softer alloy hole lining (I guess as it should be if we want to avoid burnt out motors when wipers get stuck to frozen windscreens). Unfortunately, this lining has basically been stripped bare of all of its notches. I have picked the spline clean, but there is simply nothing for it to grip on. I had wondered whether an alloy wheel refurbisher could perhaps build this lining back up and machine in the necessary notches - seems unlikely though.

Thats why he's suggesting compressing the wiper arm slightly with a socket. It will deform into the hole giving something to grip. The arm will cut the notches in itself, no maching required.

[Mongoose]

Thanks all for the help everyone

I think I've been a little slow on the uptake on what Thom was meaning. :embarassed:

This looks like a really good fix.

Cheers.