Wipers hitting the bonnet

[james13009]

My wipers keep intermitting hitting the bonnet on the downward stroke.

I say intermittingly because when I am on a motorway the air pressure seems to stop them at the correct postion which is about 2 inches above the bonnet. But then at slow speeds or just all of a sudden, they will wack each other and the bottom of the bonnet again.

Anyone got any ideas?
I found one old thread discussing this and I have responded by:
Replacing the wipers (As the fixing joints might have worn down)
I have also tightened some of the wiper arm nuts which where loose, but the problem remains.

I fear I might have to replace the wiper arm, but I have not got the time or money as I am going traveling with the bongo in just over a week. So I would prefere to repair a part

[Poohbear]

It sounds like the linkage between the two wipers has come loose for some reason. I would take a look at the linkage and see if something's come loose or worn.

[321Away]

with the car parked jump out and see how much up/down movement is in the wipers, should only be an inch or so, if you have more then the plastic cups in the linkage have worn and broken up, and the wipers have been offset to compensate, you only get it when the wipers are travelling at full speed and will either whack the bonnet or A pillar
Julian

[james13009]

With it parked up I can't move it up much, but I can manually move it all the way down to the bonnet. Any idea of a fix, for the linkage?

[Alacrity]

If there is no play in the linkage then it could be the wiper arms are incorrectly positioned on their spindles. Just undo the retaining nut under the little cap, loosen them off, & raise the arm up the screen slightly. I had to do mine as it didn't wipe to the edge of the screen.

[jaylee]

This may give an dea what to look for..?!! http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsm ... mgno=.html

[321Away]

IIRC its the shorter of the 2 rods that wears, or at least one end does
Julian

[james13009]

Is it possible you can just replace the rod - if so where can I get one from. Or it a bush that needs replacing?

[james13009]

So.... Really is the case of the straw that broke the camels back.



A broken / worn rubber bush/cap was make the small linkage arm very loose
(Spot on 321away btw

Dimensions are:
22mm OD
11mm Clip Height
14.5mm Clip Height including the remaining broken wings.
13.5mm ID

The ball that it clips onto measure about 14mm


now to source a replacement - I was hoping to have something at work when a 'bush' was mensioned buy we don't do plastic, just rubber.

Any idea's seems a really waste to buy a whole new arm for the sake of a clip thats worth £1

[munroman]

I had similar with a Renault Scenic, ended up buying a new linkage.
When a colleagues Scenic went the same way, we worked out that the metal casing holding the nylon bush could be squeezed so that it stayed on the ball. (Mine was too far gone for this, and sods law we were going on holiday in 2 days!)

Would it be possible to 1) Clean up the linkage the broken part fits into 2) make sure the 'ball' is covered in lubricant then 3) Using something like Chemical Metal cast a replacement Bush around the linkages, maybe using cardboard and sellotape in best Blue Peter fashion?

Once it sets, in theory there should be a plastic bush attached to the linkage and surrounding the ball, but it should be free to move.

[james13009]

I hear what your saying, I was thinking of glueing the cap on (essentially that's all it does) but it needs to have some play in it.

I like that idea, I've got some epoxy glue and some clean film hmmm. Would prefere a preminate fix though.

Anyway put it back together now seems to be working ok now (for how long I don't know) might take some glue and clean film with me unless anyones got any kind of solution. (I think I'm looking for a part off another car that will fit mine. Not enough time really - leaving for my 6 month trip around Europe in 8 days :S

[munroman]

I am sure that using something like Chemical Metal would be permanent, after all the Lotus Elise and many aircraft are glued together with epoxy adhesives.

[nicstrike]

many moons ago i had a rover 827 vitesse (luvverly) , on which the wipers went west on a particularly soggy day. the cause was worn socket joints on the linkage. at that time there were no other 800's in local yards , the "oh no , you need the upgrade" part was the thick end of £200 from the main stealer! so in true tradition an " old fashioned repair" was in order. it was a real sod to get all the gubbins out but once it was all on the bench all i did was drill right through the ball joint and sockets and installed machine screws and nyloc nuts to keep the two halves together .it lasted 2+ years till i sold the old bus. at least its all easier to get to on a bongo!