Can anyone provide any pointers on removing both wiper arms?

I've removed the rubber covers and removed the nuts. Found the First Aid kit and patched up grazed knuckles

.....and now I'm stuck :bang:

There's something very odd about how the arms are fixed. I'm worried about using too much force and I'm a bit concerned a special tool might be involved.

Anyone done it?

If the fronts are anything like the back undo the nuts and give them a good yank.

I admit no liability if you do that and brake them

OK so youve undone the nuts and you cant pull off the wiper arms so just pull the arms up so the arms are looking at the sky and now rock the section of the arm thats engaged on the splined section of the wiper motor shaft backward and forward and that should brake the taper and when you put them back do it in reverse and you should be ok

PNL said:

OK so youve undone the nuts and you cant pull off the wiper arms so just pull the arms up so the arms are looking at the sky and now rock the section of the arm thats engaged on the splined section of the wiper motor shaft backward and forward and that should brake the taper and when you put them back do it in reverse and you should be ok

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Thanks Phil

I've removed plenty of wipers arms in my time and know they can be tough but was a bit concerned the Stilo might have used a radically different system especially as I couldn't see the end of the spline ( A bit like hammering away at caliper pistons only to discover they screw in ).

A job for tomorrow now I think

Argonought said:

Thanks Phil

I've removed plenty of wipers arms in my time and know they can be tough but was a bit concerned the Stilo might have used a radically different system especially as I couldn't see the end of the spline ( A bit like hammering away at caliper pistons only to discover they screw in ).

A job for tomorrow now I think

Click to expand...

Dont forget to give the splines a spray with WD40 just to help them on their way

PNL said:

Dont forget to give the splines a spray with WD40 just to help them on their way

Click to expand...

Not sure if you've ever actually removed your wiper arms but this turned out to be a nightmare of a job.

In the end bought a double arm 75 mm gear puller which I then had to file down to allow easier access to the wiper arms. A 50 mm puller would probably have been ideal but these are a bit tricky to find.

Even with this tool I had to exert a frightenly large amount of force until the arms came free.

With the scuttle cover removed gave the whole area a good clean and gave the linkage a good lub which after 3.5 years it looked like it was starting to need it.

........and then fitted the siren which was the original point of the exercise.

All in all I wouldn't recommend anyone should attempt to remove either wiper arm unless they have a very good reason for doing so.

Blimey that bad was it Argonaught I'v never ever had that kind of problems removing wiper arms from a car before your comment is duely noted I think I will be soaking the splined area of the arms with release oil on a regular basis now ready for the day I have to remove mine thanks for letting us all know

Just done the whole job again and what a difference!

Time from start to removal of scuttle cover was less than 10 minutes - big difference to two/three days

Not sure how many Stilo's are likely to suffer this problem but best to be forewarned

Argonought said:

Just done the whole job again and what a difference!

Time from start to removal of scuttle cover was less than 10 minutes - big difference to two/three days

Not sure how many Stilo's are likely to suffer this problem but best to be forewarned

Click to expand...

Looks very much to me that from the initial fitting there has been oxidation taking place causing the problem just a small amount of copper grease would have stopped this happening to you so as you say a warning to all of us while i am posting Argonaught tell me is there yes or no a splined end to the motor spindles or do Fiat use some other method of fitment

PNL said:

...tell me is there yes or no a splined end to the motor spindles or do Fiat use some other method of fitment

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It IS splined but quite different to any other wiper arm I've removed

If you consider a conventional spline (as you and I would be used to on say an older motor) then the spline angle would be about 30-40° (viewed as a triangle). On the Stilo this angle is much much wider and is about 100°

In other words you'd expect it to just fly off as soon as you undid the nut (which it now does on mine) and be generally much easier to remove.

As I've said before the force required to remove the arm from the spindle simply defied belief. I actually thought I'd shattered the wiper arm when it finally came off with an almighty twang! One of those horrible moments when you examine the (broken) bits and think "So that's how I should've undone it!" :bang:

As it so happens no damage done and most importantly no damage to the linkage either.

Having same problem trying to remove them on a Grande Punto

you need a wiper arm puller, i got mine on ebay for £3, it clamps on and you wind in the arm its pulls the arm off with very little force needed, i think sometime the nuts is just to tight and forces the arm onto the splines that cause the removal very hard

Cheers for your reply I bought one of those and it broke on the bottom fork that goes under the arm I have had to leave the car now till the w,end