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Sherrinonie
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2011
Posts: 133
Location: Santa Monica
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 Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:47 pm Post subject: Torque Wrench for Wiper shaft |
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So before looking for the valuable info the samba offers, I phoned Gowesty and explained that my passenger windshield wiper blade motor was working but wiper was not moving. I was told that I needed a new wiper arm shaft. It arrive today but I am going to head to the hardware store tomorrow and looking for info on what tools to pick up that are needed to remove the wiper arm. Which torque wrench and lug nut attachments do I need? I'm going to pick up a sharp pick or exact o knife to clean the threads/spines. Hoping that's all that needs to be done. Shoot, there are no returns for this wiper arm shaft that I received, only exchanges. 
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10356
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2014 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not positive but I think replacing the shaft is major. Is that really what you bought, and am I correct that replacing it means pulling the entire dash to get to that shaft and wiper linkage? More details please.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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pnwkayaker
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2008
Posts: 987
Location: Sammamish, WA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:57 am Post subject: |
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Might be obvious, but did you try to adjust the screw in the wiper arm, before assuming the arm was broken? I had a similar problem a while ago, and it turned out it was a lose screw at the end of the arm
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87 Syncro Westy EJ25 ("Tardis")
Seattle Meetup at Marymoor (link)
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zeohsix
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2012
Posts: 501
Location: United States
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 7:53 am Post subject: |
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I've had success putting shim stock between the wiper shaft and the wiper on shafts with worn out splines. Carefully tightening that little nut 
Last edited by zeohsix on Sun Feb 02, 2014 7:59 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Sherrinonie
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2011
Posts: 133
Location: Santa Monica
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 7:55 am Post subject: |
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| I'm going to attempt to adjust the nut on wiper arm today. Looking for suggestions on which torque wrench and lug nut attachment kit I should buy. |
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Letsgo
Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2014
Posts: 34
Location: New York City
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 10146
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 9:01 am Post subject: |
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| zeohsix wrote: |
| I've had success putting shim stock between the wiper shaft and the wiper on shafts with worn out splines. Carefully tightening that little nut |
THE SPLINES ON THE STEEL WIPER SHAFTS DO NOT WEAR OUT. When there is something stopping the wiper arm from moving (e.g. frozen to windshield) and someone turns on the wipers, the force of the wiper motor overcomes the strength of the aluminum wiper arms and smears the aluminum. When that has happened and the wiper arm is then removed, it may LOOK like the splines are worn out, but instead, they are just filled with aluminum. Sometimes, the wiper arms have had that happen enough times that the hole in the arm gets enlarged enough that they need replacement. Usually the solution is much easier. I remove the wiper arms and then use the point of a sharp utility blade to scrape the aluminum out of the splines of the shaft. Once all traces have been removed, I replace the wiper arms and crank them on fairly well. If the splines are all clean and the wiper arm holes are not overly enlarged, then the wiper arm will hold fairly well. In working on many vans for many years, the only issue I've seen with the wiper shafts themselves is where the threaded part has snapped off. |
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dobryan 
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17329
Location: Brookeville, MD
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 10146
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 9:08 am Post subject: |
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| I would add that if the splines are filled with aluminum and the arm is installed, no amount of cranking on the nut will get the arms to hold to the shafts. If you try to crank them on tight enough to hold (with filled splines) you WILL snap off the threaded portion of the shaft. |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10356
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:47 am Post subject: |
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Again - details? Not sure we are getting a clear enough picture what's wrong n what parts r being replaced, to help the poster.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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chimivee
Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2009
Posts: 745
Location: Orange, CA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| Sherrinonie wrote: |
| I'm going to attempt to adjust the nut on wiper arm today. Looking for suggestions on which torque wrench and lug nut attachment kit I should buy. |
Most folks probably wouldn't use a torque wrench for this - not critical. A basic metric socket wrench set is all you need - one that has at least 8mm, 10mm, and 13mm sockets will cover most small jobs on the van.
To get the wiper off, hold the wiper base firmly as you loosen the nut (10mm?). There's a thin washer under there too. After removing the wiper and cleaning out the splines you may have to give it a couple tries to get the wiper aligned properly on the shaft so that it is in the correct position on the window - but definitely check this before you fully tighten the nut.
As far as tightening the nut... hard to describe how tight to go if you don't have a feel for this stuff. Maybe hold the wrench fairly close (to the socket end) to avoid over tightening. I would think your wrist strength alone would be sufficient here (without putting your whole arm/body into it).
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86 Syncro Westy, etc |
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Sherrinonie
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2011
Posts: 133
Location: Santa Monica
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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| You all have been so generous with your help!! So I picked up a cool little kit with torque wrench and an assortment of adapters 5-10mm. I wish I would have had this from the beginning before calling gowesty. The lug nut was completely loose and just needed tightening. I didn't tighten too tight as to avoid causing damage to the wiper arm shaft. Now I will return the gowesty wiper arm shaft in exchange for a new pair of wipers for the future. Any suggestions on the best wiper blades? Thanks again!! |
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 10146
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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| If you didn't clean the splines of the shaft as I described earlier, then the first time it's snowing, the wiper arm will very likely slip on the shaft. |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8606
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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| chimivee wrote: |
| As far as tightening the nut... hard to describe how tight to go if you don't have a feel for this stuff. |
For the record, in case anyone cares about precision  , Bentley says...
Front wiper arm nut: 43 inch-pounds (5 Nm / 3.5 ft. lbs.)
Front wiper relay rod nut: 69 inch-pounds (8 Nm / 5.75 ft. lbs.)
Rear wiper arm nut: 54 inch-pounds (6 Nm / 4.5 ft. lbs.)
Rear wiper mounting nut: 54 inch-pounds (6 Nm / 4.5 ft. lbs.)
In other words, not extremely tight. 
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 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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geo_tonz
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2012
Posts: 1473
Location: Courtenay, BC, CANADA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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I put Bosch Icons on mine and liked them. Get a 21" (drivers side) and a 19" (passenger side) this is bigger than the stock 2x 18" wipers but will still fit without bumping the seals and give you more clear wind sheild. This is the same as the Go Westy big wiper kit (which is actually not too badly priced if shipping costs aren't astronomical).
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 "Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper |
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woggs1
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2007
Posts: 531
Location: South Pacifica California
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| geo_tonz wrote: |
| I put Bosch Icons on mine and liked them. Get a 21" (drivers side) and a 19" (passenger side) this is bigger than the stock 2x 18" wipers but will still fit without bumping the seals and give you more clear wind sheild. This is the same as the Go Westy big wiper kit (which is actually not too badly priced if shipping costs aren't astronomical). |
What do you recommend for the biggest back wiper size?
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10356
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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I'm apparently in a parallel universe....
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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geo_tonz
Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2012
Posts: 1473
Location: Courtenay, BC, CANADA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 2:03 am Post subject: |
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| woggs1 wrote: |
| What do you recommend for the biggest back wiper size? |
They're 16's stock. You might get a 17" to work. I mistakenly bought an 18" and it hit the rubber window seal and rode up on it. I returned it for a 16".
| IdahoDoug wrote: |
| I'm apparently in a parallel universe.... |
Because? Are the Darleks still alive in your world?
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"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10356
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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Poster: lug nuts, wiper shaft, torque wrench, adapters
Me: makes no sense, clarify?
Poster: zip nada
Outcome:
lug nuts = nut
wiper shaft = arm
torque wrench = ratchet
adapters = sockets
Thus, I am in a parallel universe in a land far away....
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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Dampcamper
Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2013
Posts: 789
Location: Rainy Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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You might be right. I've driven through Northern Idaho and it seemed...different.
But therein is the charm. |
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