Bloody wiper arms!

**Darkstar-SFX** · Saturday 24th May 2014, 16:57

When I bought my 850R, I soon noticed that the driver's side arm was rubbing against the bonnet - I resolved to fix this, but before I had chance, I received a terminal stone hit on the A14 and had to have a new screen fitted. Despite failing to re-connect the scuttle drain tubes and clean where the roof trims came off, the Autoglass technician did manage to set the arms well - and I subsequently fitted Bosch Aero Blades and everything was hunky-dory.

Then, last week - exactly 7 months to the day - my new screen took a massive, terminal hit....
A new screen was fitted this morning, but now the wipers aren't worth squat! It's obvious from looking at them that they were originally the wrong way round. I'm guessing they were still that way after the first screen was fitted, except the driver's side must have been put back on "up a spline", so as not to be rubbing the bonnet edge?

I can't seem to get the suggested alignment given by my Haynes manual 35mm driver's, 45mm passenger's (from edge of scuttle). I presume they're wiping badly because they've taken "shape" from having been the wrong way - though I've swapped the blades over and it's made no difference.

The glass fell out of my DS side wing mirror a couple months ago, so I guess I've another 7 years of this **** to put up with!!

**M-R-P** · Sunday 25th May 2014, 09:58

Have the arms been put back on the wrong way round? (left to right)

**merc85** · Sunday 25th May 2014, 10:23

The wiper arms bend with age mate, bend them back to how you want them should clear the bonnet then.

**Saaamon** · Sunday 25th May 2014, 12:00

With gav on this, mine were causing trouble and a breaker said he's seen it before, just need to bend them to where they should be.

**AndysR** · Sunday 25th May 2014, 20:16

Common problem, I've been researching this myself recently. The thick ally part bends over time due to the strength of the double springs, passenger wiper arm is now no longer available from Volvo either unfortunately. As mentioned you can bend the softer part of the arm but it's the larger part of ally that is the route cause of the fault and it will continue to go out of shape unless you try and bend that bit back but tbh it's probably more likely to snap than bend. I've bought a new drivers wiper arm from Volvo and will straighten the passenger side one as much as possible to buy time, then I'm going to start looking into the mods required to fit the modified later S/V70 wiper arms...

**foammanmark** · Sunday 25th May 2014, 20:29

Originally Posted by M-R-P

Have the arms been put back on the wrong way round? (left to right)

The wiper arms on Gul were the wrong way round when I bought her, and I've seen that on at least one more 850 since. Even if they are the wrong way round, I don't know if they rub. Mine just missed part of the windscreen on the driver's side when wiping.

**Darkstar-SFX** · Sunday 1st June 2014, 09:23

Mine were definitely the wrong way round when I bought the car, as the RH/DS side was rubbing the bonnet. I suspect the first Autoglass Tech put them back on this way, but moved them up a spline - leaving them clearing the bonnet and looking set ok. The second Tech must have then switched them, either accidentally or knowingly, leaving them in correct orientation, but wiping like a wet dishcloth! I've checked the steel part of the arms and they are definitely correct - but just don't look right! I also can't get the horizontal position right, as they either a spline too high, or low (maybe this is adjustable on the motor assembly, under the scuttle?). It's possible the previous owner switched the blades over as they worked better the wrong way round, given the bending issue?

A small detail, perhaps - but it has me vexed!!

the-man-that-can · Sunday 1st June 2014, 10:13

I have wiper trouble the drivers side wiper completely misses the middle To top party of the screen. From looking at it the wiper blade pulls away from windscreen as it reaches the middle and top! Have already fitted brand new flat aero type wiper blades hoping it would cure the problem but still no joy. Would I possibly need to bend the wiper arm?

**claymore** · Sunday 1st June 2014, 10:29

Originally Posted by the-man-that-can

I have wiper trouble the drivers side wiper completely misses the middle To top party of the screen. From looking at it the wiper blade pulls away from windscreen as it reaches the middle and top! Have already fitted brand new flat aero type wiper blades hoping it would cure the problem but still no joy. Would I possibly need to bend the wiper arm?

Sounds like you've got the passenger side arm on the driver side spline, just swap the arms over.

the-man-that-can · Sunday 1st June 2014, 14:23

Hey thanks for that claymore! but my wiper arms was the correct way round mate. all i did was bend the drivers side arm a little and now its perfect

**Darkstar-SFX** · Thursday 5th June 2014, 16:59

You have exactly my problem, The Man.... My DS wiper (Bosch Aeroblade) is off the screen in the middle. I think the trick is to bend the spring steel strip between the hinged bit and the "hook" where the blade attaches. It's hard to bend - and will probably snap if you bend it too far. Mine looks like it has had some bending applied (the PS side doesn't). Presumably this didn't work for the previous owner, who maybe then swapped the blades? As others have said, you'd need to be very careful if trying to bend the arm part that fits to the spline, as it's some kind of alloy. This is no doubt where the whole "bending out of true" thing happens, due to constant spring tension?

**partsforvolvos.com** · Thursday 5th June 2014, 17:13

perhaps if they are always being lifted too harshly when the car is being cleaned these arms bend the wrong way (away from the screen) a lot more easily than they go back as they are lifted due to having the double spring.