How To Access Wiper Linkage?

[Birdbrain]

Hi all, thanks very much for hosting this forum. Hope I can get some help for a problem that's really annoying:

There's a bad squeek coming from the wiper linkage on my '94 Sierra, so I'd like to lubricate it. (The noise is metallic, not blade-on-windshield noise. Blades are brand new, and windshield is clean.)

Question #1: Can the linkage be accessed by removing the black plastic screen, that goes across the base of the windshield? Or is there some other way to access it?

Question #2: The wiper arms need to come off, before the screen comes off. How are the wiper arms removed from their shafts? They are held on by some kind of stainless steel fastener that I've never seen before.

Thanks in advance!

[Birdbrain]

In case anyone else has this problem, I found the answers:

 

1. The stainless steel fasteners that hold the wiper arms onto the shafts, slide sideways. They have to be ALL the way over, or they won't release the arms. There's almost zero tolerance at this release point, so any gunk in there might stop the fasteners from going all the way over.

2. The wiper arms may be seized onto the splined shafts. One of mine was, and needed a 24 hour soak with penetrating oil.

3. The black plastic screen comes off with about 6 Phillips screws, (including a couple under the hood) and then the wiper linkage is accessible. There are also small side sections of the screen that come off.

 

You can actually lube the centre pivot of the linkage without removing that plastic screen, by poking the tube of a spray lube through the black plastic screen. You need a strong light to see your way in. But you have to remove that screen to lube the two pivots on each side.

 

I hope this helps others, so they don't get frustrated like I did, when one of my wiper arms would not come off. Prying won't help! Good old penetrating oil to the rescue. WD 40 might work as well, but I can't stand its stink.