Windscreen wiper arm for your car

Your Windscreen wiper arm worn out? » Read more about common malfunctions • Repair • Replacement manual

Clear view with the windscreen wiper arm

The wiper arm links the wiper motor with the wiper blade. It is fixed tightly on the car and generally lasts the entire car's life span. Yet, important reasons for replacement could occur.

Simple mechanics – most of the times

The construction of a wiper arm enables a curved shape of the wiper blade. Every wiper arm also has a folding mechanism, allowing the arm to be folded away from the windscreen. This is necessary on occasion of e.g. the manual cleaning of the windscreen. Luxury cars like e.g. the Mercedes-Benz offer exceptional concepts. Halfway the 80ies, some models were equipped with a one-armed wiper. For cleaning the broad windscreen with just one wiper the curved shape doesn't suffice. Halfway its trajectory the wiper arm has to overcome a flat surface. Mercedes' solution to this problem is a complex mechanism equipping the wiper arm with a sliding bolt. This solution is chic and practical but has its price.

At the mercy of the elements

The main challenge for a standard wiper arm is the weather. The arm consists of riveted profiles, connected to the wiper motor with screws. Technically, most wiper arm constructions are very simple. Over time, wind and rain considerably affect the component. After 10 – 15 years the elements cause it to corrode. Apart from the fact that this looks bad, it could ultimately destroy the entire wiper arm. The weakest link of the one-arm wipers by Mercedes is the sliding bolt. Corrosion or accumulating dirt cause it to jam, not only impairing the wiping function, but endangering the entire wiping system, including the wiper motor.

Replacement of a wiper arm

Replacing the wiper arm is generally the cheapest, quickest and safest method to repair the wiper system. The wiper arm is simply unscrewed at the central bolt linking it to the wiper motor and then pulled off. Subsequently it can be replaced by a new part. It makes sense to replace the entire windscreen wiper. Sometimes the wiper arm must be placed on its rack several times to find the optimal position. A new wiper arm and wipers lay the basis for an intact wiper system.

Costs of a new wiper arm

Prices for a new wiper arm start at ca. 15 EUR (c. £13) from a branded manufacturer. Technical high-grade wiper arms are more expensive accordingly. Buses and trucks require especially large wiper arms, which are rather costly. Wiper arms for the rear windshield on the other hand are rather cheap as they suffer less technical strain than the windscreen wipers.

Checking the wiper system

Replacement of a wiper arm is the perfect occasion for checking the entire wiper system. The hoses of the nozzles sometimes come off. In this case, simply cut a piece from the hose and fix it to the spray nozzle again. Nozzles can clog or twist. Both problems can be adequately solved with a needle. Ultimately the wiper tank must be always filled according to season. This simple trick keeps the windscreen clean and clear at every time of the year.