Wiper Linkage Removal And Regrease.

[suzuki91]

attachment=4877:3_bolts.jpg]just removed my wiper linkages today. regreased and put back on to the car. took some photos for this forum.

the linkages were not siezed so was an easy job. the harder parts were the motor plug removal, placed a screw driver into the top part and pulled it off in the end. the other hold up was the rubber part the suports the wiring on the nearside of the linkage bar by the water bottle. a little wd40 helped. noted the top suspension struts were rusty and had water in the top parts. i covered them with alli sheet to prevent it refilling with water i hope. also cleaned up all the leaves and rubish that collects in the bulkhead.

1. remove end trims by pulling the up and off. then the wiper arms.

2. remove washer jets and pannel.

3. remove next cross member pannel this is a bit fiddly but does come out.

4. remove motor plug

5. remove cabel suport by pressing middle section in with a screw driver and some wd40

6. remove air filter lid (3 screws)and loosen washer bottle to give space.

7. remove the assembly bolts

8. wiggle and pull the linkage out carefully.

9. remove E washer, washer, and rubber seal pull the link apart, i did this by moving the arms from side to side to get the links apart one at a time. if not siezed, if siezed see other posts for advice,

10 re grease note the two shim type washers at the end of the link. replace to linkage and replace the washers.

11 rebuild the car and job done.

hope i have made this clear if not let me know.

Edited June 12, 2009 by suzuki91

[suzuki91]

more photos

[gregers]

good job there suzuki,ill pm nik to get these added to the faqs

[big_kev]

Very impressive....10 out of 10

 

I will have to remember to do take some photos on my next job as well and post them.

[DaveJH]

Well Done

 

The key photo is of the complete assembly when removed.

 

When I did my wiper machanisms, I separated the linkage bars (the ball and plastic socket joints), completed the wiper spindle task, and thenreconnected the linkage bars incorrectly (they can actually be connected in two ways, one gives the correct motion; the incorrect configuration that I used gives a limited motion and then jams- as i found when I had put it all back in the car....).

 

Yes, I know, there is always one !

 

Thanks for the photos

 

DaveJH

[crazyad]

Well Done

 

The key photo is of the complete assembly when removed.

 

When I did my wiper machanisms, I separated the linkage bars (the ball and plastic socket joints), completed the wiper spindle task, and thenreconnected the linkage bars incorrectly (they can actually be connected in two ways, one gives the correct motion; the incorrect configuration that I used gives a limited motion and then jams- as i found when I had put it all back in the car....).

 

Yes, I know, there is always one !

 

Thanks for the photos

 

DaveJH

 

 

Excellent info, i too managed this to 3 hours, however, the wiper motion is now incorrect.The wiper moves through the correct motion when switched on (any setting) but when switched off they finish half way upi the screen? Now when diagnosing intial problem with the unit on the bench, I disconneted the wiper motor from the linkage to see what had seized.

Should the motor spindle have been in a particular postion or have i got another problem to do with the control unit?

 

Slightly puzzled and in need of a few pointer.

 

Thanks

Ad

Edited July 10, 2009 by crazyad

[suzuki91]

the photo of the complete unit out on the floor is as it came out, if yours is different try to make look the same.

i guess you moved a joint out of place with the motor off?

[Caff]

I'd advise using a waterproof bearing grease on reassembly or you'll be repeating the experience, even if it's a lot faster, after a while.

Also use the opportunity to change the pollen filter. It's a doddle with all the gubbins out of the way!

[suzuki91]

i was thinking that the greasing up may be done with out removing the linkage as long as it's not siezed up, just by undoing the wiper nuts and removing the blades, then the e washer and rubber seal and dropping the pins down to grease if they would drop far enough to get the grease on? Edited July 12, 2009 by suzuki91

[DaveJH]

Excellent info, i too managed this to 3 hours, however, the wiper motion is now incorrect.The wiper moves through the correct motion when switched on (any setting) but when switched off they finish half way upi the screen? Now when diagnosing intial problem with the unit on the bench, I disconneted the wiper motor from the linkage to see what had seized.

Should the motor spindle have been in a particular postion or have i got another problem to do with the control unit?

 

Slightly puzzled and in need of a few pointer.

 

Thanks

Ad

 

 

If the wiper blades complete a correct full cycle but when switched off finish half way up the screen, then there is nothing wrong with the linkages or motor spindle, the I guess you have simply connected the blade-arms at the wrong angle. When its switched off with the baldes up the screen, simply undo the blade-arms and refit at the correct angle and all should be well.

 

I hope that this helps

 

daveJH

[seatkid]

Excellent info, i too managed this to 3 hours, however, the wiper motion is now incorrect.The wiper moves through the correct motion when switched on (any setting) but when switched off they finish half way upi the screen? Now when diagnosing intial problem with the unit on the bench, I disconneted the wiper motor from the linkage to see what had seized.

Should the motor spindle have been in a particular postion or have i got another problem to do with the control unit?

You refitted the linkage to the motor spindle at the incorrect position. Remove the linkage at the motor spindle - reset the wiper position to the park position and refit.

[WelshWheeler]

i was thinking that the greasing up may be done with out removing the linkage as long as it's not siezed up, just by undoing the wiper nuts and removing the blades, then the e washer and rubber seal and dropping the pins down to grease if they would drop far enough to get the grease on?

Hi Good article could be very useful - a new set up of linkages is

[suzuki91]

will you let us know the answer?

[spitfiremac]

Hi folks, have posted on this subject before....buried in the depths somewhere....anyway..usually no need to strip down the spindle assembly at all, just drill a 3mm hole in the monkey metal bearing housing about halfway up just till the drill bit touches the steel spindle, then use a good spray grease and give it a liberal squirt, best to use the fine tube applicator that normally comes with the grease and operate the wipers whilst spraying...did this over a year ago and still going strong..took ten minutes tops...good luck.

[WelshWheeler]

will you let us know the answer?

Hi Tried to do it in situ but couldn't drive the spindle out it was solid in the sleeve. So had to take the assembly out. I then disconnected the drive arm and was careful not to move its position. Had to use a pin punch and and rest the assembly on a block of wood close to the spindle sleeve, to drive out the spindle - both sides. Then I used wet and dry paper to clean up the spindle and cleaned out the housing. Then regreased with waterproof grease. Did the same to other side. I found it useful to place the wiper arm nut back on the spindle to save the threads from risk of damage, tried a small drift but this seemed to risk the threads, pin punch worked great. Found that I did not need to remove the coolant tank, asasembly came out ok with it in situ. Then rebuild. No problem with position of wipers as I used tape to mark positions on glass, it worked first time. Also taped top trim with washers out of way on windscreen so no need to remove.

What a differance I believe it may be possible to take out spindle now with regreased assembly in place, but any tightness at all would make this impossible. Many thanks to you Suzuki91 and this forum youve saved me a fortune with your excellant post.

[frogeye]

Hi folks, have posted on this subject before....buried in the depths somewhere....anyway..usually no need to strip down the spindle assembly at all, just drill a 3mm hole in the monkey metal bearing housing about halfway up just till the drill bit touches the steel spindle, then use a good spray grease and give it a liberal squirt, best to use the fine tube applicator that normally comes with the grease and operate the wipers whilst spraying...did this over a year ago and still going strong..took ten minutes tops...good luck.

 

Spitfire - have you got a photo of the location of your 'fix'

[spitfiremac]

Hiya...no pics sorry but V simple...the main Zinc alloy casting that holds the wiper spindles (shafts) just pick a readily accessible spot to drill approximately halfway between the tapered end where the wiper arm mounts and the bottom where the link arm sits...pop the hole in till you feel the drill hit the steel spindle, don't worry if you go too deep as it is not critical....squirt away and hey presto...give all of the other linkages a drop too for good measure, did mine whilst the wipers were moving and worked a treat...

[zonegod]

I have a T reg Galaxy 2.3 GhiaX, and it suddenly developed this problem recently.

i dont have much experiance with mechanical repairs,But i followed the advice in

this article and have stripped down the whole assembly.and after 3hrs 20 mins i

now have the wipers working as new.

 

Thanks alot everyone

[jbgt2]

will you let us know the answer?

 

Hi great info provided by all in this thread especially the originator Suzuki91. I managed to do the job in just over two hours without removing the wiper mechanism from the car thanks to the thread contributors.

[chrispb123456]

will you let us know the answer?

 

Hi great info provided by all in this thread especially the originator Suzuki91. I managed to do the job in just over two hours without removing the wiper mechanism from the car thanks to the thread contributors.

Hi and welcome to the site, well done for doing it on the car, although if you had removed the mechanism which is fairly simple you could have changed your pollen filter with ease as they are a bugger to do.

[Andrew G]

Great instructions, gave me all the confidence I needed. Pictures good but can not really convey the awkwardness of the parts. The coolant bottle was not the main problem for me nor was the clip you mentioned, both were a doddle, it was the engine. In the end I used brute force quite effectively and the linkage all cam out with no hassle. That was the good part. I have one very important tip:

 

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HAMMER A STUCK PIN OUT OF THE LINKAGE. Not a good use of brute force and very ignorant. I badly damaged the thread so when I finally freed it all up (use a vice to hold the moving part and move the linkage around it), smoothed it all out regreased and got it all back in I had an extra hour getting the final nut back on! :rolleyes: How stupid did I feel? Be patient, use WD40 and just wiggle the pin out slowly. It only took 5 mins in the end. Oh make sure the circlip is out of course as per original instructions.

 

I noticed during the whole procedure that my trim had been damaged by the windscreen guys and they had used window goop to hold it all in place! I am now on the hunt for the two edge trims that surround the wiper mounts.

 

Thanks again for sound instructions. I saved myself

[vimer]

Hi folks, have posted on this subject before....buried in the depths somewhere....anyway..usually no need to strip down the spindle assembly at all, just drill a 3mm hole in the monkey metal bearing housing about halfway up just till the drill bit touches the steel spindle, then use a good spray grease and give it a liberal squirt, best to use the fine tube applicator that normally comes with the grease and operate the wipers whilst spraying...did this over a year ago and still going strong..took ten minutes tops...good luck.

i tried this and it worked like a charm 10 min max wot a result no taking apart . i used a long 3mm hss drill bitt and cordless drill and done both housing . i kept spraying grease in hole wilst wipers were on untill all rust stopped coming out. saved me 2 hrs or

[groover1973]

thanks to this post i have just completed the procedure. it took around 5 hours as the spindle was completly seized in and was a nightmare to free.now it is running like a dream and the wipers are arcing correctly now as the driver side was stopping short by around 2.5-3inch.

thanks again for the post and a massive saving in garage bills which i can now save for beer tokens :angry2:

i must add that i dont uasualy do mechanic repairs but i will be doing so from now on :o

[nick wood]

Cautionary tale if you want to take any notice of this. I was unaware of this problem with the galaxy, put the wipers on, nothing apart from clicking noise, stripped car down to linkage, couldn't see anything, to local spanish garage, out comes linkage, snapped at one end due to the wiper being seized, not motor.

 

600!!! euros for linkage, plus labour, didn't know what spanish for scrap yard was.

 

Regular maintainance from now on, I will be drilling those holes.

 

Regards Nick

[rob Hunt]

Thanks a lot everyone!!!!! This worked a treat, I am so very grateful . Saved me a fortune. well chuffed

 

Rob