v8cobraman
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Lots of wear in my wiper spindles, well overdue for replacement, so have just bought some new ones. Looks like access is not exactly easy - has anyone attempted this? Do I have to take the fuel tank out? Thanks, Ian
Technical Anyone changed a wiper spindle?
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Technical Anyone changed a wiper spindle?
I've messed about with the wiper assembly but not replaced the actual spindles. From your brilliant tale I presume you have a LHD and therefore you've either bought the whole mechanism or a large part of it? Do you have the type with a large spindle?
I think you possibly can remove it all with the tank in-situ but it's not hard to remove the tank in any case; this will definitely make access possible (or easier).
The spindle on the passenger side is connected to the arm with a tiny "C"-clip. The driver's spindle is similarly connected but is riveted through the bracket that holds the motor and not replaceble separately.
The mechanism is a PITA and I suspect it is neglected on many cars.
to you for making a repair a priority.....you're obviously going to carry on using it a lot.the hobbler
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Having had the wiper linkage in and out many times on my car (it has to be moved out of the way in order that I can gain access to the bolts that hold my Abarth style instrument cluster in) I would agree with Peter---it is a bit of a PITA job, made MUCH easier if you remove the fuel tank. One tip---before you pull the linkage out, have a good look at what it goes behind or in front of with regard to the wiring loom and if neccesary, tidy up the wiring loom to make it easier for you to remove/refit the wiper linkage
v8cobraman
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No one happened to mention that one of the spindles is permanently attached to the linkage - I just have two new spindles! Can I not cut off/remove the rivet, insert the new spindle and secure with the circlip like the one on the other side? Or have I got to send these back and buy £80 worth of mechanism complete? Thanks for your help. Ian
Okay Ian, you made me dig it out. Pictured is an RHD version; so handed differently. You could do this by grinding out the peened-over back of the pivot on one of your new passenger spindles and doing the same on the existing spindle on the driver's side. You would then need to weld, braze or otherwise secure the replacement to the arm that takes the drive from the motor and transfers it to the second spindle.
If you're as handy and resourceful as I think you are you'll be able to do it.
If you're as handy and resourceful as I think you are you'll be able to do it.
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v8cobraman
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That's brilliant! I'll get it all off - we have great welders/brazers/TIGers here at work!!
v8cobraman
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Not to be recommended at all! No job for an amateur, that's for sure. The new spindles are not exactly the same as the old ones (slightly longer) so they struggle to get through the hole in the bulkhead with the grommet in place - destroyed one grommet trying! Didn't even have a grommet before!
We had to make a square drive on the end of the spindle to fit the mechanism and then weld it on, in addition to welding the "collar" of the new spindle on.
Then we found the mechanism fouled on the body once in action, so we had to take it all to bits again and fit a spacer on one of the spindles to give us more clearance.
Removed both the fuel tank and the bonnet for better access!
Hope I won't be having to do this job again anytime soon. It would have been far better to have sent these spindles back and bought the whole assembly in one piece. Lesson learned.
Ian
We had to make a square drive on the end of the spindle to fit the mechanism and then weld it on, in addition to welding the "collar" of the new spindle on.
Then we found the mechanism fouled on the body once in action, so we had to take it all to bits again and fit a spacer on one of the spindles to give us more clearance.
Removed both the fuel tank and the bonnet for better access!
Hope I won't be having to do this job again anytime soon. It would have been far better to have sent these spindles back and bought the whole assembly in one piece. Lesson learned.
Ian
Well done anyway...at least you've kept the car original.
Were the new spindles fatter, thinner or the same as your originals?
If they were of dubious fit, you never know, a full mechanism may have had similar problems....now justify the work and the expense......get out in that rain.
Were the new spindles fatter, thinner or the same as your originals?
If they were of dubious fit, you never know, a full mechanism may have had similar problems....now justify the work and the expense......get out in that rain.
