Driver Side Windshield Wiper Arm

[osmium]

I know we all have to find the path to Volvo enlightenment that is right for us. But for those still wrestling with this issue, if you own or can borrow a Dremel tool, it's super easy to relieve about 1mm or less from those two nubs shown at the right of Erik's photo. The result is a totally clean wipe at zero cost.

Just went and ground those nubs down a bit with the dremel. Took off a little bit at a time, checked the coverage each time.

The DS wiper is now contacting the windshield completely over its travel.


Didn't realize how bad it had become until I drove home one night last week in heavy rain; could barely see.


-Os

What's the bit number of the Dremel part you used for grinding?

Don't know the numbers, but the ones I used looked like #1 and #3 in the photo above except they have grooves on them. The ball shaped one worked the best.

-Os

[viper69]

Yes, the height of the gray nubs determines the angle.

I have done the grinding by leaving the arm and spring in place, just flip up the arm. It may come down to the shape of the Dremel grinding bit you have, and whether or not the bit can access all of the gray surface. Don't let your grinding wander back behind the gray nubs into the black area, or the grinding will make shiny silver surfaces that show up after the wiper arm is folded back in place. No effect on function but the black arm will have a silver spot. Ask me how I know ...

Thanks! I didn't think about the potential for silver. I presume that's annoying or causes possible reflection should silver appear.?

I don't have a Dremel grinding bit. I assume I'll need a metal bit of some type, not sure the best shape. I assume the grey nubs need to be relatively flat across their length as shown in that picture w/the red lines.

How do you know if you have ground off TOO MUCH material? What should I look for in terms of wiper performance or arm movement etc ?

[beigg]

too much can result in shorter wiper life, wiper blade "chatter", premature failure of wiper's transmission/motor.

[viper69]

too much can result in shorter wiper life, wiper blade "chatter", premature failure of wiper's transmission/motor.

Thanks, the last thing I need is my wiper motor to go. That's an expensive part to replace due to labor.

I really have to fix the driver shield wiper arm, either try that Dremel, or replace it with a later model arm. I know some people have done that with success, can't recall if they replaced both arms or just the driver side. I hate having the blade lift up continuously, drives me nuts.

[Teddy1975]

Trimming off the metal of the base of the wiper arm won't fix the underlying cause for the blade lifting from the window. The metal gives due to age and the constant pressure from the springs and will continue to do so even after trimming the metal. In the end the base of the arm will rub against the hood, so it's only good for a short term fix.

Just buy a new wiper arm for less than $25 from IPD or europarts and it'll likely last for the next 10 years if not more. It takes less than five minutes replacing it.

Just my opinion of course

[viper69]

Trimming off the metal of the base of the wiper arm won't fix the underlying cause for the blade lifting from the window. The metal gives due to age and the constant pressure from the springs and will continue to do so even after trimming the metal. In the end the base of the arm will rub against the hood, so it's only good for a short term fix.

Just buy a new wiper arm for less than $25 from IPD or europarts and it'll likely last for the next 10 years if not more. It takes less than five minutes replacing it.

Just my opinion of course

So the people who have used the Dremel are only experiencing a SHORT TERM solution. I've always knew the springs were an issue. I THOUGHT the tension of the springs was too strong, that is they pulled on the arm too strongly, causing it bend. I have no idea why most people report the Driver side being an issue and not the passenger side too.

I've removed my own wiper arms it's not hard.

Are you suggesting buying a new 850GLT arm, or one from the new models that do not have this problem? If a later model, from which model year to buy a driver side arm for? And, I'm not sure if I have to replace both arms simply because I'm replacing the driver side with a different model.

I know for a fact the original driver side arm lasted less than 10 years.

[misha]

I trimmed the metal at the bottom of the wiper arm like described at topic "wiper arm-the real fix" two weeks ago and got nothing.
Everything is the same if not worse.
I use flat type of wipers on both of my cars and i think that problem is in their design.
I ended up bending the wiper arm like it was before i tried to fix it.
I have a problem ONLY with driver's side wiper arm.

[Teddy1975]

So the people who have used the Dremel are only experiencing a SHORT TERM solution. I've always knew the springs were an issue. I THOUGHT the tension of the springs was too strong, that is they pulled on the arm too strongly, causing it bend. I have no idea why most people report the Driver side being an issue and not the passenger side too.

I've removed my own wiper arms it's not hard.

Are you suggesting buying a new 850GLT arm, or one from the new models that do not have this problem? If a later model, from which model year to buy a driver side arm for? And, I'm not sure if I have to replace both arms simply because I'm replacing the driver side with a different model.

I know for a fact the original driver side arm lasted less than 10 years.

I replaced mine with a new one for 850. The base of the arm is made from cast aluminum and due to the flawed design of the wiper arm the springs will eventually bend that one as well. It isn't the tension of the springs being too strong I think, it's the S-bend in the wiper arm allowing for the base to be twisted that is the real problem.

I look at the replacement wiper arm as an extra cost to keep the car running. Sort of like changing spark plugs, though at different intervals of course. I based the longevity of the arm on my own '96 850, which had the original arm when I purchased it (Sorry for missing that statement in my first post). Even if I may end up having to buy a new in 5 years time, it'll still be less than $5 per year to have a wiper that I won't need to worry about. PO had bent the arm and the base was knocking into the edge of the hood every time I used the wipers and still it didn't touch all of the window. The new arm does the trick and sits where it is supposed to.

[xHeart]

+3

Trimming off the metal of the base of the wiper arm won't fix the underlying cause for the blade lifting from the window. The metal gives due to age and the constant pressure from the springs and will continue to do so even after trimming the metal. In the end the base of the arm will rub against the hood, so it's only good for a short term fix.

Just buy a new wiper arm for less than $25 from IPD or europarts and it'll likely last for the next 10 years if not more. It takes less than five minutes replacing it.

Just my opinion of course :)

[abscate]

too much can result in shorter wiper life, wiper blade "chatter", premature failure of wiper's transmission/motor.

Thanks, the last thing I need is my wiper motor to go. That's an expensive part to replace due to labor.

I really have to fix the driver shield wiper arm, either try that Dremel, or replace it with a later model arm. I know some people have done that with success, can't recall if they replaced both arms or just the driver side. I hate having the blade lift up continuously, drives me nuts.

I pulled one from my parts car in 15 minutes. It isn't too bad a job with a small 1/4 inch drive for clearance