Windshield wiper arm removal

[Merrymacs]

Can anybody tell me how to remove the windshield wiper arms off of my 1999 310 Sundancer? They are getting pretty corroded so I thought I would take them off and clean them up and respray them black. The arms are attached to the motor but I could not figure out how to remove them from it. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[npcrx]

if like mine, 1998, the spring releases the arm, on underside....

 

[RonF]

sort of a tab that you have to pull away from the spline with a tool like a screwdriver blade, while pulling up on the wiper holder

 

[Merrymacs]

Thanks for the reply. I see the tab that you are talking about. I grabbed a standard screw driver and pulled it back but when I pull up on the wiper arm it won't budge. Is it the tab that is locking the wiper arm into place on the wiper motors shaft?

 

[RonF]

If you have pulled the tab out far enough to clear the splines, and the housing does not release, then you might not be pulling straight up. The wiper arm tension spring tries to put a side load on the housing. Try to grab it right at the base and pull straight up.

 

[Lazy Daze]

What Ron said... and try to wiggle/rock it a bit as you pull. DO NOT have your face right above it - this is one of those things where it might all of a sudden free up and you'll smack yourself in the nose! There could be some corrosion in there making it worse, too. If you keep having trouble, try spraying a little PB Blaster in there with the straw and let it sit for a day.

Also, sometimes, I'll put down a piece of thick cardboard and then while one hand is holding the tab with a screwdriver, I use another large screwdriver to pry the the arm up a bit. Once you get it going, it gets easier.

One last thought: If you don't already have the "J-Hook" style arm, you may want to consider stopping by your dealer and picking one up. That way you can get replacement blades at any auto store.