Corolla wiper mounts - not lasting forever

magnethead

I don't get it, I've only had the car 17 years, with a low 250K on it, so it's just beginning it's life cycle for a Toyota corolla, but I noticed the wipers were catching on the bonnet when I lifted it.
I took off the plastic thing, to see the driver side mount and there was all kinds of wear on it
I feel like my car for life contract has being broken, I was planning on getting buried in this thing! I feel robbed!!

The mount looks all kinds of connected(some side bar crimped to it)....Obviously I won't be replacing it until it falls off, but is this a pricey part? Did something obviously fail to keep water out, the wiper has really dug in on the top side (see here)




and the underside, is disintegrating , probably water dripping down it

biko

Goddammit, they don't built them like they did in the 50s

CJhaughey

Strip it clean it out and regrease, brass pipe will shim the wear out.

joujoujou

Well known problem, especially affecting UK built corollas of that vintage, but also happens on Japanese ones (not so often though).

rex-x

You need to replace the whole wiper unit, get a cheap low miler

magnethead

THanks for the replies, I couldn't kick this car to the kerb over a wiper mount.
It's only being in the garage once in 17 years for new rear suspension, so I owe it something I do the Oil changes myself, and it only had a busted radiator apart from that. It is a Jap model

CJhaughey Did you mean put some brass tubing over the existing disintegrating aluminium mount? I don't think any tubing would fit inside it.
Have you seen that done before, or just imagining how it could be repaired?

Could you weld a bit of aluminium around the mount? ....fill in that area that's groved out at the top?
I can get a MIG welder and start making sparks....metal looks thin and ****ty, It could all go horribly wrong...

rex-x

The brass bushes are totally worn out, the only fix is to replace the whole unit, its only a few bolts! And good luck with a mig welder on aluminium or brass :pac:

magnethead

THanks rex-x .. Does that unit include the motor, Sounds like a bit of a Car part racket!!(Sound be just the mount) Well I'll bite the bullet once, the wiper starts touching the bonnet during normal operation, at the moment, it's just when I open and close the bonnet, and I can just push it back when I do that so it doesn't scratch.

rex-x

magnethead wrote: »

THanks rex-x .. Does that unit include the motor, Sounds like a bit of a Car part racket!!(Sound be just the mount) Well I'll bite the bullet once, the wiper starts touching the bonnet during normal operation, at the moment, it's just when I open and close the bonnet, and I can just push it back when I do that so it doesn't scratch.

Yes its a common thing on many cars, its a consumable part. Whole thing motor and all, although motor is removable.

JohnBoy26

joujoujou wrote: »

Well known problem, especially affecting UK built corollas of that vintage, but also happens on Japanese ones (not so often though).

Not really a problem on the japanese built corollas of that vintage because the bushings are metal. The uk built corollas use a different linkage and wiper motor and don't last near as long.

250k is very good going though, even for the jap built variant it's very good. Most cars nowadays and even many cars back then and from the 00's including the e12 corolla don't have wiper linkages that can go near to 250k miles.

JohnBoy26

rex-x wrote: »

The brass bushes are totally worn out, the only fix is to replace the whole unit, its only a few bolts! And good luck with a mig welder on aluminium or brass :pac:

If it's an jap built e11 the op might have good success in a breakers yard as even with relatively high mileage the linkages on these can have very little wear.

magnethead

Fairplay, didn't think of a breakers yard! any recommendations for a jap one around the Dublin area?

JohnBoy26

magnethead wrote: »

Fairplay, didn't think of a breakers yard! any recommendations for a jap one around the Dublin area?

I don't have any recommendations but what year is your car and is it a saloon or a 3dr, 5dr hatcback or estate?

magnethead

It's a salon, 4 doors. Jap import 2001, Look like european 2003-2007 model, round front, with silver grill. (exactly like below)

JohnBoy26

magnethead wrote: »

It's a salon, 4 doors. Jap import 2001, Look like european 2003-2007 model, round front, with silver grill. (exactly like below)

That would be the same as the e12 we got here but the european version was built in turkey and the uk and could have a different linkage because they usually wear out on those well before 250k miles, or is it 250k km's? In any event an e12 linkage from a breaker wouldn't be a good idea as they do wear.

magnethead

ok, just incase any is interested, since the assembly is still working perfect, the only problem, was the wiper was touching the bonet and slowing eating into the paint there. I just stuck some heavy duty rubber bands I got off ebay onto the section where is touches..(I think they are old bike tubes cut up.....
It's €150 for a new one from the dealers, I didn't have any luck at the salvage yards, and they weren't too interested when this is the only part I needed either.... Sure IF it actually stops working, I'll move on the drastic choice or replacing it.

Hard to see(bottom left corner), but I put a few rubbers under the pivot point too, just to put the motor under more strain and give it a quick honorable death ;p

biko

"It'll be grand"

joujoujou

Wiper arm just needs adjustment - take it off, turn 2-3 cogs anti-clockwise and tighten the nut.

JohnBoy26

joujoujou wrote: »

Wiper arm just needs adjustment - take it off, turn 2-3 cogs anti-clockwise and tighten the nut.

The linkage is probably still worn though. I think the wiper arm in sticking out at the bottom. I'd just change the linkage tbh. The other wiper is probably going past the screen onto the pillar which will wear the paint on that eventually too.

joujoujou

Linkage is more than likely worn alright, but adjustment may extend its agony for quite a long time without destroying paintwork.

magnethead

Ah yeah. the arm holder is worn out, see post 1 for pics ..Good call on the arm adjustment,, I'll give that a go after the rubber bands fail....or maybe explore a duct tape option damn right, it'll be grand.....Maybe at year 40, I'll buy it the present of a new linkage, but it's still a spring chicken at 18 years of age....

Thanks for the advice, and emotional support ;p

Stoolbend

https://www.donedeal.ie/carparts-for-sale/windscreen-wiper-linkage-repairs/17466573

magnethead

Fairplay Stoolbend, I spoke the the lad (Very nice guy) about it, and I know in the picture it shows a nicely buildup brass fitting where my one has being eaten away. For this spindle repair, you need to send it to him, as he's got to machine it and make it exactly to measure.



The bushings he sends out are just the bushings for the actual linkage arms unfortunately.

The repair option is not really worth it for me, as €150 for a new one without the hassle of courier the part to kerry and back would be a better alternative.
Thanks anyway

I went with joujoujou fix for now, and JohnBoy26 is right, it's barely tipping the upright support for the windscreen now, I think it would be a seriously long time before it did any damage there (It's just a real gentle tap)

joujoujou

Glad to hear that.

Bear in mind that pulling the arm out of the place (especially if it sits there since the car's built) can be tricky.

Here's simple solution, no specialist tools needed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty1IszPwnnM

iwillhtfu

You should look at putting a piece of that rubber between the bolt and wiper arm before you bolt it on. If anything it will give better grip and reduce the wear.

magnethead

ok, the story ends with disaster(new part replacement)

WHen this thread was going on, I had noticed that there was a patch the size of my head directly in front of me not getting wiped on the window, I thought the wiper blades were gone, but unfortunately, the problem was the actually mounts (see post 1)...because they had disintegrated so bad, the wiper itself was missing the patch pictured below.



I just want to say thanks to everyone here for there tips and trying to breath life into this wiper assembly! THe car got one over on me this time,and I was unable to bodge something together I feel like pissing in the petrol tank!!




Like a kid who came out of Charleys Chocolate factory, 17 years ago with his everylasting Gobstopper....THe cracks in reality are starting to show. This car might not last another 20 years, I might not be buried with/in this car afterall.

Picture taken yesterday evening, with the first snowflakes falling

JohnBoy26

It's a small problem really and is to be expected on an old car with high miles. From your other pics I could see no other option but to get it repaired or replaced tbh.

In the long run you will be much better off. You now have wipers that are working correctly that won't damage the paintwork or the windscreen.