How To Remove Windshield Wiper Arms

bam1555 · July 7, 2009

well I may sound stupid but I can't figure out the windshield wiper arms took off the nut that holds it to the wiper motor, but can't seem to pry it off of the there. do i have to take the motor out or is there a lock on it somewhere? I just want to take them off so I can sand and repaint them, the paint is all peeling. thanks

gm4yrs · July 7, 2009

Flip the cover, remove the nut, and pry up, on the wiper arm. Add some grease to make it easier to remove, next time.

Vortec-Z71 · July 7, 2009

Use a battery terminal puller to pry it up.

Tsmith · July 8, 2009

or invest in one of these: Windshield Wiper Arm Puller

Stylous · July 8, 2009

Flip the cover, remove the nut, and pry up, on the wiper arm. Add some grease to make it easier to remove, next time.

Funny...I JUST did mine right now!

It was exactly as this gentleman describes. I just sprayed a little WD40 on top of the bolt which seeped down to the cone to loosen the grip a little between the arm and the mounting cone. I let it sit for about 5 mins then just rocked the arms back and forth a little while pulling up...no special tools needed. They came off in 3 seconds.

I am going to put a dab of white lithium grease on the cones before I reinstall.

bam1555 · July 13, 2009

ok thanks alot I'll try it tommorrow morning

Tsmith · July 13, 2009

I've twice now tried to remove the arms on my wife's Jeep Liberty but to no avail. Used WD40 and a Commercial brand stuff we have at work. So I've ordered one of the removal tools to attempt.

Silverado 56 · November 30, 2013

Had the same problem. Using the WD-40 helped, after removing the black vinyl cap and the nut. The upward shaft from the motor that the arms slide onto has grooves like a gear. You do have to rock the short part of the wiper arm that attaches to the shaft, back and forth to loosen it, while holding the longer part of the arm that the wiper blade attaches to, upward, away from the windshield. It's spring loaded. It will come off. It was the fact that it is spring loaded, that was tilting the small arm at an incorrect angle. That's why it would'nt come off for me. I also added white lithium grease to the shaft, as someone else recommended, for easier removal next time.

Recommend wrapping the wiper arm near the rear painted part of your hood with an old small hand towel or something soft, so as not to scratch the paint on your hood. Good Luck.......You can do it!!!!