2004 - 2008 F-150

Re-indexed wiper arms

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 12-22-2004, 09:10 PM
yob2kanobe's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Washington State
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re-indexed wiper arms

Well the wiper not clearing enough snow off the left side of the windshield got the best of me, man what a blind spot that makes it into...
Anyway I pulled off the wiper arms and popped out the indexing key with a pair of pliers then reinstalled the arms on the splines, only indexing them ONE notch higher while in the park position. What a difference, now the drivers wiper actually covers the entire windshield area you are trying to look thru, not leaving the 3+" area on the LH side.
The parked position is fine too not too high either.
Try it, its not a permanent mod as you can reinstall the index key again if you arent happy with the results like I am.


'sings...." I can see clearly now......."
 
  #2  
Old 12-22-2004, 09:16 PM
jhartz's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UPSTATE NY
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have noticed...Will try....
Thanks
 
  #3  
Old 12-22-2004, 09:20 PM
RockyJSquirrel's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,376
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I've read on here in the past that swapping the left and right wipers helps as well, I assume they are indexed slightly differently. Keying the driveshaft sounds like a wonderful idea in order to prevent idjuts from screwing it up, but it helps if the engineers at the factory index it in the correct position.
 
  #4  
Old 12-22-2004, 10:09 PM
yob2kanobe's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Washington State
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, I should have mentioned that I also did that first, swapped the arms. It helps a few cm but not near enough.
I think the engineers should have to drive these trucks in a snow storm at night before they finalize incidentials like this.
Its things like this, that will never sway me from loving this truck, however making stuff better is what its all about.
 
  #5  
Old 12-23-2004, 10:04 AM
bleedblue55's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the idea

Spent about 5 secs on this problem when I first got my truck but didn't really follow thru. Popped out key this morning, reindexed, and installed new winter blades. Hard to beleive a great suggestion was on here that didn't cost me a lot of money.
 
  #6  
Old 12-23-2004, 01:11 PM
dewyrussler's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Fairfax VA
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm gonna change mine as soon as I get home. I took the wiper off a while back and saw they key...and that was as far as I went. I didn't know you could remove the key. Thanks for sharing!
 
  #7  
Old 12-23-2004, 01:30 PM
kamikaze2b's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Could post some pics on how to do this?
 
  #8  
Old 12-23-2004, 02:05 PM
yob2kanobe's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Washington State
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Its too easy Kamakazi,
First, Just remove your wiper arm assy. ,,with the wipers in the park positon, remove the arm by first pulling the arm to the spring loaded "up " position, then at the shaft mounting point open the retention clip with your thumbnail and wiggle the arm off the splined shaft.
Now look in the end of the arm assy you just removed and you will see a very small indexing "key". Just take a pair of pliers (I used my Leatherman cuzz it was handy) and wiggle the key out of the grove and remove it.
Now reinstall the arm assy onto the splined shaft you took it off of except index or align the arm so that it is one spline up, or higher on the windshield than it was.
wiggle the base to ensure it is on all the way and then relatch the retention clip.
WA-LA , try it out while squirting the winshield and you will see it now covers the dead area on the LH side of the windshield it was missing before. I did both arm so they would match in the park position.

rock on
 
  #9  
Old 12-23-2004, 02:42 PM
morristj2's Avatar
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Missouri
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the great information! I'll be doing this tonight before heading on a road trip tomorrow morning.

Sometimes the simple solutions work the best. Thanks again!
 
  #10  
Old 12-23-2004, 03:03 PM
04 RED LARIAT's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Ky/Va Mountains
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yep, I fixed mine a few months ago when I put the new wipercowl on.
 
  #11  
Old 12-23-2004, 07:49 PM
kamikaze2b's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wonder why they don't do this at the factory? Thanks for the post, I'll give it a shot.
 
  #12  
Old 12-23-2004, 07:51 PM
kamikaze2b's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh, and a few pics would still be appreciated!
 
  #13  
Old 12-24-2004, 12:29 AM
yob2kanobe's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Washington State
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ok fine, I will take pics tomorrow on Christmas Eve after I brave the winter wonderland storm on the way to grandmas house to roast chestnuts by the open fire..:santa:
 
  #14  
Old 12-24-2004, 02:55 AM
kamikaze2b's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ok fine, I will take pics tomorrow on Christmas Eve after I brave the winter wonderland storm on the way to grandmas house to roast chestnuts by the open fire..

You da man! Merry Christmas! :santa:
 
  #15  
Old 12-24-2004, 11:55 AM
Jackslapp's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: NY
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just finished mine took about 2 minutes to complete. Thanks for the info.
 


Quick Reply: Re-indexed wiper arms



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:07 PM.