87 Sable wagon rear wiper issues.

[timbosho]

A little background on the issues:

Defroster tab keeps breaking off on the rear window, I've tried everything to get it to stay on, soldering, parts store kits, etc. I finally broke down and got a used glass at a junkyard. I had to destroy the wiper arm to get it off, but saved the motor. The problem is, even before I swapped the motor around, it was pretty slow and didn't have very good contact with the glass. The new wiper arm was bent further down (making even tighter contact with the glass) and the motor couldn't even move the wiper because of the tight contact. I bent the arm out a little bit and the motor turns the wiper very slow.

So, I'm wondering if the motor has just had it? I'd hate to get a new motor and have the same problems, but I'm leaning towards it right now. Is the arm supposed to be bent really tight to the glass? It never made good contact before, and maybe it was bent too far out. The new arm helps the wiper make better contact, but struggles to sweep the whole window without some help. I hate to keep bending the arm (after getting the wrong one twice, and struggling to find one in stock online).

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[Bull Geek]

Since I have an 87 out back, I'll grab a picture and check tomorrow after work. I forget how it looks on the car.

There is a little tang under the wiper like on old Fords from the 60s that holds the wiper to the motor.

[timbosho]

Originally Posted by Bull Geek

Since I have an 87 out back, I'll grab a picture and check tomorrow after work. I forget how it looks on the car.

There is a little tang under the wiper like on old Fords from the 60s that holds the wiper to the motor.

Yeah, there is a tab that you are supposed to be able to move and the arm slides right off. The corrosion that was holding it in did not allow this, that's why I had to destroy it to get it off and get a new arm.

I'll get some pictures of how much bend is in the new arm vs. the old arm, but honestly I think the motor has about had it.