Wiper Shaft Assembly, what else will work?

[Wildthings]

Since the Vanagon wiper shaft to wiper arm connections are problem prone and the OEM arms aren't always even available new, I was wondering what other wiper shaft assembles from other vehicles could most easily be made to work on a Vanagon.

[djkeev]

This question gave me pause........

I really have absolutely no clue how modern Wiper Arms are connected to the Wiper Pivot shaft today!

I haven't taken off a wiper arm on anything but a VW since my 1968 Chevelle back in about 1972!
That was a small spring clip holding the arm on the serrated drum.

Watching with interest.

Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[Steve M.]

[Steve M.]

Looking at the alternate arms I got through GoWesty and the OEM arms I got from Brickwerks I think you might be able to put any "new" arm on the shaft as long as it has the right lemgth and the hole for the shaft has not mounted to impress the spline pattern into the soft metal og the arm. Are the holes for the Shaft a "standard dimenson? Or are they different sizes for the weight of the blade?
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[Wildthings]

[DanHoug]

all the older 'foreign' cars i've had used wimpy wiper arms/mechanisms... Fiats, Volvos, VWs, Japan stuff, even Mercedes. that's one thing the American cars have largely got right is more robust wipers. and heaters. maybe it is a climate perspective thing? then Volvo and Saab should be great, and they aren't. dunno. i've got every mechanism joint lubed in my Vanagons and i always subconsciously hold my breath when i turn the wipers on.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[alaskadan]

It is a wimpy connection. Maybe on purpose? It seems at least once per winter season i accidentally use mine when still frozen to the windshield . Something has to give, id rather it was right out on the front of the van. This winter I've been really carefull every time I start the van to make sure the wipers are off. But two weeks ago the windshield looked thawed but no, the pass side was still frozen on, %#&@$$<÷!.

[DanHoug]

on some of the old US cars that had really strong drivetrains, when the wipers would freeze down you'd hear a thermal cutout kick out and in as the motor struggled to move the wipers. no damage.

the VW method of damage prevention is to make the shaft a harder material than the wiper hub so the hub would strip out before the spindle. i don't like this method, just make everything strong but have over current protection when the motor is locked.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[Wildthings]

Having worked ski areas for years, I just clip the park wire on my work vehicle so the wipers will not try to run with the switch turned off. One could also add a circuit breaker to the system to break the circuit before the wiper motor got too hot.