Wipers

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 8:59 pm

I could only afford the one pair when I went so bought drivers side 24"

It's a vast improvement!

but the arms must be twisted or something, the left wiper skips and groans on the upward stroke while the new one skips and groans on the downward stroke

admiral51 · Post by **admiral51** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:05 pm

hi Mike
if you have time pop up my local scrappy (you know the one a river in nottinghamshire!!) they have a xantia up there with wiper arms probably cost a £1 cant hurt can it

colin

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:12 pm

Hi Colin, good point! Thanks. See if you can develop a knack of getting them off without breaking the wafer-thin by-now-very-brittle scuttle. I tried removing mine but they were so stuck fast I couldn't get any leverage without risking breakage.

Dickieg · Post by **Dickieg** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:23 pm

MikeT wrote:It's a vast improvement! but the arms must be twisted or something, the left wiper skips and groans on the upward stroke while the new one skips and groans on the downward stroke

The really important thing with wipers is to ensure that the blade is at 90 degrees to the screen ensuring that the blade can flop equally between each stroke of movement. Therefore should the blade shudder or smear in one particular direction grab hold of the whole arm and bend it appropriately, that normally sorts it out.

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:24 pm

Been there, tried that. I think I got "memory metal" arms on mine

admiral51 · Post by **admiral51** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:42 pm

i have always been lucky with wiper arms always gave way eventually with pulling and pushing but would not something like a balljoint seperating tool not work or maybe a G clamp if it enough of a split at one end???

colin

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 8:33 am

To see if your wiper arms are bent, stop the wipers half-way through their sweep (turn the ignition off) and then remove the wipers. Place the wiper arm back on the screen. Is the flat metal of the arm parallel to the glass? If not, get an adjustable spanner, set it to about 2mm (the thickness of the wiper arm) and use it to twist the arm straight.

Never failed yet.

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:03 am

It's always been the method I use and it never failed me before now

I put a pair of stilsons on the arms and twisted with considerable force until I heard creaking and cracking. I daren't go beyond that point for fear of breakage and although it improved the angle, they still sit wrong.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:42 am

The arms are made of mild steel. You can wind them into a spiral before they break. What you're hearing is probably the holding spring objecting to some very odd angles while it's being reset.