Hey all,

I can't seem to get my driver's side windshield wiper to contact the surface of the windshield correctly in order to wipe away the rain, a problem that is made worse the faster that I drive (and the colder it is outside). I've tried different types of wipers, and they all have the same problem. I know it's a real simple apparatus, but I can't seem to find a way of bending the wiper arm to get it to contact right. The passenger's side does fine! Anyone know the correct way a wiper should sit on the windshield? I'm driving a '76 Supercab 2wd.

Thanks!

Justin

 

If you've already been bending the driver's side arm, maybe you should take the passenger side arm off, and bend the driver's side arm to match. That way, you'll at least have identical angles and have eliminated the arm from the equation.

I think the arms are identical, so if that doesn't work, off to the junkyard you go, I'd be thinking. I'd think the wiper blades are merely incidental, as they're identical too. So, it would seem to boil down to the angle of the arms, and your ability to match the bend to the passenger side arm. (might save you headaches to just go find a better arm in the long run, but it's worth a shot to try).

 

Better still go to FORD and buy new wiper arms ( you can still buy new ones ) for about $15-$20 bucks each. The springs in the old arms get weak and road wind will lift the wiper blades off the windshield. A small price to pay for safety.

 

Gotta agree with Hillcrest...if you can still get them new, I'd do that. I didn't know they were still available. But then, I suppose they've been the same arm for years and years, so they should be around.

 

D6TZ17526A .. Wiper Arm ~ Right/Left is the same.

Still available from Ford.

From: FTE sponsor DIRECT FORD PARTS (Gaudin Ford-Las Vegas NV)

Ford suggested retail price each: $49.37 / FTE member net price: $37.80.

Direct's link is on the forum main page = refresh till it appears.

Replace one or both of these wiper arms = problem solved.

 

The passenger side has been a problem sinc eday one.

Tridon still sells the original chrome refills...it is in the classic category.

I have 2 sets of the original complete arm and blade, IYI

 

The passenger side has been a problem since day one.

Tridon still sells the original chrome refills...it is in the classic category.

I have 2 sets of the original complete arm and blade, IYI

 

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Any of you recall how difficult it is to take off those arms? I replaced the wiper motor last year, I remember the shaft of the arms connecting with a clip to the motor - is that where they can be disconnected to be pulled from teh truck or is there another spot?

And yes, Mil1on, I'd be interested in a set of those if they're in better shape than mine. And about the orignal chrome refills - what's the difference between those and say, one of those typical Anco refills?

Thanks!

Justin

 

Is it the arm thats bad?I ditched my metal crappy wiper blades and used the bosch micro edge blades that come with a ford adapter to mount the new wiper to the stock arm for these trucks..

 

Like Hillcrest said earlier, it's possible that the spring in the arm itself has lost some of its tension, and is no longer capable of placing enough downforce on the windshield to be of any service. So, in short, it wouldn't matter if you have the best wiper blades on the planet made out of teflon coated squeegies, assembled by vestial virgins from the planet NAPA, if the arms are bad, they won't wipe bupkis.

 

I have a wiper arm remover now.

I used to use a pair of needlenose pliers, a piece or 3/4" dowel ,and a rag to protect the paint.

Slide the pliers under the mounted area, place the rag on cowl around it,place dowel under pliers and pry downward .

I'll post photos of the wipers tomorrow.

 

One more trick for removing the wipers: In the arm of the wiper about 1/2" away from the pivot point, there is a small hole that goes through both sides when the arm is lifted away from the glass. Un-bend a standard paper clip and stick it in the hole after you pull the arm about 5" off the glass. This will hold the arm away from the glass and take the spring tension off the wiper arm. Then you can use a small prybar or regular flat screw driver with a terry cloth towel under it to easily pry the wiper arm off the post. Pry on the small tab you see under the base of the wiper arm that sits in a small grove. The arm assembly will pop right off. To put it back on: re-install the pin in the wiper pivot and push the wiper arm back onto the splined shaft then remove the pin.

 

TRICO makes the original replacement blades

It is number #43-150

 

Those arms look great - do you know if they worked well when you took them off?

 

Yes they did ..they even worked well before I removed them