FJ40 1974 Windshield Hinge Bolt Star Washers

[DaveyB]

Hello there friends,

Simple question. Do I need to use those star crush washers on the windshield hinge bolts. I’m cringing at the thought of removing all rust, throwing some fresh paint on, and letting a star washer expose bare metal as it digs in. I’d rather check for loose bolts occasionally than see rust pouring out from my hardware.

 

[Pighead]

I wonder if there needs to be electrical continuity to the windshield frame for the wiper motor. And maybe a dedicated ground wire would work instead?

 

[DaveyB]

I wonder if there needs to be electrical continuity to the windshield frame for the wiper motor. And maybe a dedicated ground wire would work instead?

Pig head, rocking my memory on the windshield wiper wiring. It’s a good point none-the-less. But I’ll peak that the wiper motor and see what’s going on there.

 

[Engineer8000]

The wiper motor gets grounded at the wiper switch in LO and HI. A ground is shown on the EWD, this provides a ground for the wiper motor after the switch is pushed full in, until the park switch changes state.

 

[SteveH]

Obviously, they act as a lock washer. You could grease them and use them, or leave them off and use a little blue thread locker on the WS screws. I have never had a 'rust under the screws' issue, but my truck is garaged and in a dry-ish climate.

 

[DaveyB]

Obviously, they act as a lock washer. You could grease them and use them, or leave them off and use a little blue thread locker on the WS screws. I have never had a 'rust under the screws' issue, but my truck is garaged and in a dry-ish climate.

I like the idea of a thread locker better. Can’t really imagine those screws coming loose either way.

 

[SteveH]

Most people have trouble getting them out, so I use anti-seize and just check them randomly.

 

[Paul_A]

After all that good paint work I'd be inclined no to use them and try a thread locker, instead. I seem to recall the factory star washers were made dished to fit the bevel and created less bite into the paint, where as the replacements are made flat and need to be crushed into shape and I would prefer not to do that. My .02.

 

[rockcod]

I swapped out the old rusty bolts and replaced with stainless and used blue thread locker.