Help! Wipers went bang

[Alan Surrey]

Many thanks to Matt and Ashley.

 

[Alan Surrey]

I think I got on all right today.
I now have the entire wiper mechanism and motor out of the car (thanks for the tip about the washers, Phil and thanks Zep for the disassembly instructions) and I must say that, apart from being broken, it looks to be in pretty good order, though a bit grimy in places. The motor is just fine. I checked it before I took it off the car. The steel ball of the broken ball joint is intact and in position and so is the nylon socket (that looked rusty in the earlier photos.) I can push the ball into the socket and it snaps nicely into place. But it also easily snaps out of place. So what do you say? Can I buy and fit a replacement nylon socket? I would like to because everything else seems to work. Maybe I could do a really good job and replace all the sockets so that when I put it back on the car, all the articulation points are as new

While I have the scuttle off, should I do anything with the air filter I can see on the passenger side (top right of above photo?) Take it off and clean it? Replace it? Leave it alone?
This is how the mechanism looks, with some extra shots of the offending ball joint, before, during and after being snapped together.









Sorry to post so late, but my DVD arrived today. "Le Mans '66." It tells the story of the development of the Ford GT 40, winning at Le Mans, the hard fought contest with Ferrari and some internal wrangling at Ford and I just had to watch it tonight.

 

[CatmanV2]

If it snaps easily out, probably worth replacing. But at least you know you can put it back together and take it apart with confidence.

I suppose you could you try something to apply some compression to the ball and socket like perhaps a cable tie. No idea how well that would work

C

 

[philw696]

Come on Chris it's a Maserati
What's needed is better link rods made with better engineered ball joints that can be replaced if needed.
Using Marine white grease to which is waterproof would really help them last too.

 

[CatmanV2]

Come on Chris it's a Maserati

True. But it's also quite an old Maserati now

C

 

[ScaldedCat]

Surely you need at least one cable tie on your car to be truly authentic.

 

[mowlas]

If it snaps easily out, probably worth replacing. I suppose you could you try something to apply some compression to the ball and socket like perhaps a cable tie. No idea how well that would work

C

Come on Chris it's a Maserati
What's needed is better link rods made with better engineered ball joints that can be replaced if needed.
Using Marine white grease to which is waterproof would really help them last too.

Is it at all possible that the design of this was that the joint pops as opposed to break if the movement of the arms is restricted?

Is there a chance that if Alan does snap it back into place, that it will stay and work OK? And would a bit of marine white grease possibly promote free-flowing operation and limit adverse tensions?

 

[CatmanV2]

Is it at all possible that the design of this was that the joint pops as opposed to break if the movement of the arms is restricted?

It may be a function of the design that the joint will give before another component, but it doesn't feel desparately likely to me

Is there a chance that if Alan does snap it back into place, that it will stay and work OK? And would a bit of marine white grease possibly promote free-flowing operation and limit adverse tensions?

It might work assuming no further obstructions is my take. All the linkages might benefit from lubrication, but, of course, lubricating the ball joint will make it easier to pop out....

C

 

[Zep]

If it has popped out, it will keep popping out. Either the ball has rusted and therefore shrunk to the point where is is no longer retained, or the socket is worn with the same effect.

It seems extremely rare, but unlikely to be fixable in the long term.

 

[CatmanV2]

Personally I'd give it a try, but expect to have to replace it

C

 

[mowlas]

In which case, this might be a solution!

 

[Zep]

For £95 and the pain of removal, is the juice worth the squeeze?

 

[mowlas]

For £95 and the pain of removal, is the juice worth the squeeze?

It’s a fair point. It’s the curious mind within me. I also came across this clip which may be interesting.

1x Universal Windscreen Wiper Linkage Rod Arm Link Mechanism Repair Clip Unit UK | eBay

1x Universal Wiper Motor Linkage Rod Repair Clip On. Stop your linkage popping off, restoring your wiper to full health. 1 X Wiper Repair.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Alan Surrey]

Whilst I would prefer to do this job only once, so that I have more time for actually driving the car, the issue I have is that, apart from being broken, the mechanism I have seems to be in good repair: nothing corroded(other than the ball) or bent, all gaiters intact. Grimy in places, but all in all in good condition, apart from the broken ball joint.
Would somebody else's used part be in better condition?
So would fitting it save me having to do it again?
All in all, this leads me to thinking that if there is a way I could repair the broken ball joint - by replacing the nylon socket, it might be the way to go. Thanks ,Zep, for raising the notion of corrosion related reduction in diameter of the ball. I hadn't thought of that, but I could test the renewed and reassembled ball joint for propensity to pop out before refitting and if it seems poor, I could fit the £95 used part.
Thank you for the videos Mowlas. The previous ones you posted were excellent so I shall study these closely.
Then, perhaps, there will be the issue of sourcing the nylon sockets.....

Many thanks to everyone for their technical and emotional support throughout this.

 

[mowlas]

I believe this is a Denso unit and they may be able to help with the nylon socket. I’d certainly consider the clip above as a fall back.

 

[Alan Surrey]

I've watched the videos. The plastic solution does not look like the way for me to go. The clips, on the other hand look spot on. I'll have a look round to source clips.

 

[Alan Surrey]

Wiper linkage, you can get clips to remedy from places like Halfords that work surprisingly well.

@Lozzer Was it Mowlas' clips that you were referring to? It would be ideal if Halfords have them.

 

[mowlas]

I've watched the videos. The plastic solution does not look like the way for me to go. The clips, on the other hand look spot on. I'll have a look round to source clips.

I’ve linked to an eBay item above - ships from within the UK. Here it is..,

1x Universal Windscreen Wiper Linkage Rod Arm Link Mechanism Repair Clip Unit UK | eBay

1x Universal Wiper Motor Linkage Rod Repair Clip On. Stop your linkage popping off, restoring your wiper to full health. 1 X Wiper Repair.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Alan Surrey]

Yes. The motor is marked "Denso". Perhaps that means they are the OEM of the mechanism (and hence the nylon sockets) too.

 

[Alan Surrey]

Mowlas ! Ebay list the clip at £2.89. That's two decimal places cheaper than the new mechanism price from Maserati, £289. How could I possibly not try it first.
***
And how about that then? Halfords near me have it in stock