Wiper Arms Seized Onto Spindle!

[A4_MaJiK]

My car was supposed to have a new windscreen fitted at National Windscreens on Saturday morning. Dropped the car off and got a phonecall about 40 minutes later saying they can't get the wiper arms off! They refused to use their wiper removal tool on the driver side arm due to the fact there isn't enough space in doing so without causing scratches/damage. They asked if I wished for them to use the tool and I of course refused and insisted I'd get them off myself and rearrange for the windscreen replacement another time. I then asked if they had used any penetrating oil (WD40 etc.) and they advised they weren't allowed to use them in their workshops so not to affect the condition of the air or the bonding treatment. Fair enough I thought.

So I got home and got the 17mm socket out. Nuts came off a treat, "What was all the fuss about?" I thought. I soaked them in WD40 and let them soak, heated them up with a heat gun (as carefully as possible without melting the scuttle panel), wedging a balljoint removal fork underneath (causing a fresh crack in the lower part of windscreen), knocking the arm with a mallet, knocking the spindle with a mallet and extension...several cuts and grazes across my fingers later I gave up.

So has anyone got any bright ideas or suggestions that may be of any use or experienced this issue before? I sprayed some more WD40 on the spindles on Saturday morning before putting the nuts and plastic covers back on just to let it soak it all up and going to have another attempt later on today hopefully. So tempted to buy a proper wiper removal tool, but National Windscreens insisted the one they had would damage/scratch the scuttle which has put me off it for the time being to be honest.

Thanks in advance, Azeem.

 

[Mike_B]

This is what I used - Sealey VS3802 Ball Joint Removal Tool 28-55mm £26.19 Ex VAT - it's a balljoint removal tool, intended for large balljoints on things like LandRovers - I acquired mine in my days of working on LandRovers. Pop into your local 4x4 specialist and borrow one. If you get totally stuck then I could of course post it down to you as long as you pay postage and return it of course.

Raise the arms off the screen. Fit the tool - I recommend you put some protection (towels) around it. Leave the nut right at the top of the spindle so the stud can locate "in" it. Tighten it enough to put some tension on, hold it firmly as it will almost certainly pop off and there is a risk of paintwork damage of course, hence having protection - then tap the stud sharply with a hammer.

The arm will pop off the spindle, but as the nut is still on, it is unlikely to go anywhere. This worked easily on both my front arms, and popped the rear off with no trouble at all.

The "proper" ones with a knurled plastic knob at the top generally aren't up to the job - and you certainly can't tap them with a hammer!

Hope this helps - Mike

 

[DarkBunny]

May seem like a silly little thing, but do you have the arms 'up' (ie. with the wiper not resting on the windscreen when trying to remove)?

Reason I ask that sometimes that tiny bit of pressure on one side of the spindle will stop it from releasing...

As well as that it's just a case of WD40 (leave them to soak!), then literally wiggle the base of the arm until comes free. A light 'tap' on the spindle with a hammer can help break the seal as well.

 

[A4_MaJiK]

This is what I used - Sealey VS3802 Ball Joint Removal Tool 28-55mm £26.19 Ex VAT - it's a balljoint removal tool, intended for large balljoints on things like LandRovers - I acquired mine in my days of working on LandRovers. Pop into your local 4x4 specialist and borrow one. If you get totally stuck then I could of course post it down to you as long as you pay postage and return it of course.

Raise the arms off the screen. Fit the tool - I recommend you put some protection (towels) around it. Leave the nut right at the top of the spindle so the stud can locate "in" it. Tighten it enough to put some tension on, hold it firmly as it will almost certainly pop off and there is a risk of paintwork damage of course, hence having protection - then tap the stud sharply with a hammer.

The arm will pop off the spindle, but as the nut is still on, it is unlikely to go anywhere. This worked easily on both my front arms, and popped the rear off with no trouble at all.

The "proper" ones with a knurled plastic knob at the top generally aren't up to the job - and you certainly can't tap them with a hammer!

Hope this helps - Mike

Don't think I'll have enough space for that tool. Gonna pop down to Machine Mart later and grab this tool.

Clarke CHT427 Windscreen Wiper Arm Remover - Machine Mart

May seem like a silly little thing, but do you have the arms 'up' (ie. with the wiper not resting on the windscreen when trying to remove)?

Reason I ask that sometimes that tiny bit of pressure on one side of the spindle will stop it from releasing...

As well as that it's just a case of WD40 (leave them to soak!), then literally wiggle the base of the arm until comes free. A light 'tap' on the spindle with a hammer can help break the seal as well.

Thanks, but I've tried everything you've mentioned.

 

[NHN]

I usually find, when I remove the nut, then apply pressure downwards on the arm & then pull upwards, doing this a number of times & it then breaks the seal & wiggles of, works everytime flawlessly & done it multiple times of late, but if yours haven't been removed ever, it may prove to be a bxtch.

On one car I had to resort to cutting the arm of & fitting new one as it wasn't budging no matter what tools I used.

 

[palfy86]

I had a similar problem with the nuts removed just put a rag over the wiper arm and give it a few gentle taps around the sides with a tapping stick (hammer) that mixed with the penetrating fluid it works a treat.

 

[A4_MaJiK]

I usually find, when I remove the nut, then apply pressure downwards on the arm & then pull upwards, doing this a number of times & it then breaks the seal & wiggles of, works everytime flawlessly & done it multiple times of late, but if yours haven't been removed ever, it may prove to be a bxtch.

On one car I had to resort to cutting the arm of & fitting new one as it wasn't budging no matter what tools I used.

Tried this as well unfortunately. Someone on a Skoda forum mentioned to keep applying penetrating oil every other day and it eventually comes off!?

I had a similar problem with the nuts removed just put a rag over the wiper arm and give it a few gentle taps around the sides with a tapping stick (hammer) that mixed with the penetrating fluid it works a treat.

Thanks but I have tried this too I'm afraid.

 

[palfy86]

Azeem i hope you havent jinxed this as im having national windscreens out at the weekend.

Think id better get the arms off before hand.

 

[palfy86]

Think the stuff i used was called plus gas.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Abr...=UTF8&qid=1375702799&sr=8-2&keywords=plus+gas

 

[A4_MaJiK]

Azeem i hope you havent jinxed this as im having national windscreens out at the weekend.

Think id better get the arms off before hand.

haha! Let me know if you need to borrow my special wiper removal tool I'll be getting later on today.

 

[palfy86]

No no stop it sssshhh lol im not going to need it, they will just slide off.

 

[A4_MaJiK]

Think the stuff i used was called plus gas.

English Abrasives 802-10 Plusgas Aerosol 400ml: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Any ideas where I could get a can of this today (i.e. not online)?

 

[hades-]

as you have cracked the plastic and are gona get a new 1

get the new 1 give it to screen place to fit and they will use there removal tool and sort it

it is a bxtch to get off and there tool does it a treat but can crack the plastic you have cracked anyway

 

[A4_MaJiK]

as you have cracked the plastic and are gona get a new 1

get the new 1 give it to screen place to fit and they will use there removal tool and sort it

it is a bxtch to get off and there tool does it a treat but can crack the plastic you have cracked anyway

The plastic isn't cracked Bez, the windscreen is. Otherwise I would of done what you have mentioned.

 

[palfy86]

Any ideas where I could get a can of this today (i.e. not online)?

Any local car parts/motor factor to yourself?

maybe even halfrauds unfortunately.

 

[A4_MaJiK]

Bought the Clarke wiper removal tool with the plastic handle and Mike was spot on. Just wasn't up to the job unfortunately. So I filed in the toolbox anyway. Then I found something lying in my toolbox which was similar:

Halfords | Laser Ball Joint Separator Cup

Put some cloth between the tool and the scuttle to prevent any damage, screwed the nut on a few threads onto the spindle to get a good contact area and voila! Wiper arms popped right off! Took it straight to National Windscreens afterwards and got a fresh Saint Gobain windscreen (OE).

Thanks for all the help guys, muchos gracias!

Azeem

 

[DarkBunny]

Glad you got it sorted chap!

 

[.Jas.]

Cool. I'll need to buy myself one of those now so I can sort mine!

 

[maikysupra]

Glad you got it sorted! Did your new windscreen come with the rain/light sensor? Would you mind me asking how much did you pay for the whole thing? my B7 Cab could do with a new glass too...

 

[A4_MaJiK]

Glad you got it sorted! Did your new windscreen come with the rain/light sensor? Would you mind me asking how much did you pay for the whole thing? my B7 Cab could do with a new glass too...

Thanks, yes came with rain/light sensor as I had these options as standard. Paid £75 excess via Admiral insurance.

 

[palfy86]

Oh thats great azeem. How did you find the workmanship of national windscreens? ive got them coming out on saturday :icon_thumright:

 

[A4_MaJiK]

Oh thats great azeem. How did you find the workmanship of national windscreens? ive got them coming out on saturday :icon_thumright:

Sorry for the late reply and I know you've probably had the work done already. I had my car taken to their unit as opposed to a mobile fitting (due to availability) and it was in and out in an hour! But he did say they had about 3 of them on it at the same time. Was a Saint Gobain screen (OEM) and workmanship was great. Guys were very honest and recommended I leave the car parked outside for a bit and take a slow walk to the shops or something before I drive away. They also stuck on my road tax disc holder for me on the new screen!

Hope you had a good outcome too.

 

[stuhow3361]

Just a minor point guys,the socket to use on the wiper retaining nut is 16mm not 17mm unless they vary from model to model.The sure fire way to get the arms off is to protect the screen with towels in case you're a crap shot and then continuously tap the partially undone nut( so as not to damage the spindle threads) whilst applying upwards pressure on the wiper arm base with your other hand.Mine came off fairly easily after i'm assuming ten years when i changed to aero blades last year.

 

[Clive Morrell]

My car was supposed to have a new windscreen fitted at National Windscreens on Saturday morning. Dropped the car off and got a phonecall about 40 minutes later saying they can't get the wiper arms off! They refused to use their wiper removal tool on the driver side arm due to the fact there isn't enough space in doing so without causing scratches/damage. They asked if I wished for them to use the tool and I of course refused and insisted I'd get them off myself and rearrange for the windscreen replacement another time. I then asked if they had used any penetrating oil (WD40 etc.) and they advised they weren't allowed to use them in their workshops so not to affect the condition of the air or the bonding treatment. Fair enough I thought.

So I got home and got the 17mm socket out. Nuts came off a treat, "What was all the fuss about?" I thought. I soaked them in WD40 and let them soak, heated them up with a heat gun (as carefully as possible without melting the scuttle panel), wedging a balljoint removal fork underneath (causing a fresh crack in the lower part of windscreen), knocking the arm with a mallet, knocking the spindle with a mallet and extension...several cuts and grazes across my fingers later I gave up.

So has anyone got any bright ideas or suggestions that may be of any use or experienced this issue before? I sprayed some more WD40 on the spindles on Saturday morning before putting the nuts and plastic covers back on just to let it soak it all up and going to have another attempt later on today hopefully. So tempted to buy a proper wiper removal tool, but National Windscreens insisted the one they had would damage/scratch the scuttle which has put me off it for the time being to be honest.

Thanks in advance, Azeem.

Same problem on my '09 A3 Sportback Black Edition. Should have traded it in, years ago, but it's such a nice car. Solution: Remove the nut (mine is a 13mm), then apply some Finlube (other anti-seize products are available) on the spindle thread, and while that's working its magic, put a towel or something on the windscreen to protect it, prior to removing the wiper blade. Replace spindle nut, a couple of turns, apply a GENTLE tapping stick on the loosened spindle nut, bend the wiper arm back against the spring (mind your fingers), grab the lower section, and work it up and down a few times. et voila! Patience and persistence, with a modicum of brute force and ignorance, is far cheaper than buying any kind of puller, especially at Halford prices. Nice tools but they really are quite expensive. I hope that this helps, gives encouragement that it is possible, and saves you some money.

My reason for removing the wiper arm, was to get under the plastic cover that goes up to the windscreen and covers the wiper motor, as I've had this annoying rattle for some time, which appears to be coming from within the dash, on the offside (driver's side), and is getting progressively worse. I've removed the front wheels, to look up at the top of the suspension strut, but nothing appears to be loose. I've also removed the fuse panel cover, to see if there is anything mounted up behind that, but found nothing. Much head scratching, and little to show for it. If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate it, and 'refuse nothing but blows', as they say in Glasgow. I'll post my illusive rattle problem, on another thread.

Cheers!

 

[jay1601]

I use this on wiper arms, has never let me down yet in the last 10 years