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My wiper linkage is showing its age. The large ball joint between the rods has a bit of play. Both the rubber boots are hardened and brittle. The plastic sockets for the two large ball joints are both cracked, though intact.
Question: can these plastic two-piece sockets be removed from the rods without breaking the plastic? Obviously, mine are cracked already, but I am talking about removing the plastic sockets from a new linkage.
Of course, the linkage is no longer available for the 60 Series, but it is available for a 70 Series of the same age. I would guess that much of the hardware is the same (ball joints, sockets, grommets, possibly the spindles), only the rods and the spindle housings which bolt to the scuttle/cowl are going to be different.
Source: https://partsouq.com/en/search/all?q=85150-60131
I see two ways I could make a good 60 Series linkage out of the two.
- Strip the plastic sockets, boots, shafts from the 70 linkage and fit them to the 60 linkage.
-Carefully cut and weld the joints from the 70 linkage onto the 60 linkage.
I understand that aftermarket plastic sockets are available, but I suspect one of my metal ball joints is worn, and the boots are pretty much useless. That and I have little faith in aftermarket parts means I am not considering to just change the plastic sleeves.
Question: can these plastic two-piece sockets be removed from the rods without breaking the plastic? Obviously, mine are cracked already, but I am talking about removing the plastic sockets from a new linkage.
Of course, the linkage is no longer available for the 60 Series, but it is available for a 70 Series of the same age. I would guess that much of the hardware is the same (ball joints, sockets, grommets, possibly the spindles), only the rods and the spindle housings which bolt to the scuttle/cowl are going to be different.
Source: https://partsouq.com/en/search/all?q=85150-60131
I see two ways I could make a good 60 Series linkage out of the two.
- Strip the plastic sockets, boots, shafts from the 70 linkage and fit them to the 60 linkage.
-Carefully cut and weld the joints from the 70 linkage onto the 60 linkage.
I understand that aftermarket plastic sockets are available, but I suspect one of my metal ball joints is worn, and the boots are pretty much useless. That and I have little faith in aftermarket parts means I am not considering to just change the plastic sleeves.