Date:         Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:45:04 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      windshield wiper repair
Comments: To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

A few days ago I mentioned that the passenger side windshield wiper threaded stud of the shaft on my 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile had snapped.  Well, I have a new shaft in hand from Van Cafe.  Now I realize that the conical pressable piece that the stud and splines of the shaft fit into has stripped.  Evidently this requires a new wiper arm, as the damaged piece seems not to be replaceable.  Is that true?

A couple of other questions:

1.  Does anyone know for sure that the dash must be pulled in order to replace the shaft?  Is it possible that it can be reached and replaced through the top grill opening?  That might be easier to do, if indeed it can be done.

2.  GoWesty has a procedure on their web site for drilling and tapping the stud in the shaft, and then fitting the wiper arm on with a bolt rather than a nut.  Has anyone ever done this, and was the fix successful?  That might be easier than replacing the shaft, especially if the dash must be pulled to do so.  But, there is not much there to drill and tap.  The GoWesty procedure says to file the stud off flat, punch the center, then drill it, then tap it.  Interestingly, I mentioned such a possibility to the shop I consulted in Burlington, Washington a couple of weeks ago, and the guy just looked at me as if I was kidding, and said, "Never work, not enough metal there to hold anything even if you could drill and tap it."  GoWesty's page seems as if it is something done with some regularity:  http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=1512

Given my skills and general lack of patience, this may be something I should hire done, but it should be cheaper in that case than hiring someone to remove the dash to replace the shaft.

Comments?