Touch Up Wiper?

[bgladd]

Should I touch up this wiper blade or paint the whole thing? I’d hate for it to rust.

Thanks!!

 

[bloc]

Clean it well (including using a fiberglass pick to remove any of the paint around the edge that isn't bonded well) and touch it up, that'll handle any potential corrosion easily. No need to do the entire thing for such a small spot.

 

[bgladd]

Clean it well (including using a fiberglass pick to remove any of the paint around the edge that isn't bonded well) and touch it up, that'll handle any potential corrosion easily. No need to do the entire thing for such a small spot.

Great advice. Thanks!

 

[40Man]

Personally, I'd take it off and paint the whole thing. SEM Black Trim Paint is a very good color, and holds up well.

 

[bgladd]

Personally, I'd take it off and paint the whole thing. SEM Black Trim Paint is a very good color, and holds up well.

Thanks! Is there's a write-up on how to take the wiper off? I searched the forum but to no avail.

 

[40Man]

Thanks! Is there's a write-up on how to take the wiper off? I searched the forum but to no avail.

Usually the cap pops open and there is a bolt underneath that holds the arm down. The FSM may have a torque value to retighten, but I usually just do it snug and run wipers for a minute and then retighten.

 

[bloc]

The wiper attaches to the shaft on a taper with splines also. After you loosen the nut don’t expect it to come right off.. it is attached pretty solidly. you either use a very small jaw puller, or CAREFULLY put pressure on the pivot between the base arm and the longer part in an alternating motion to “wiggle” it off the taper.

Front wiper arm nuts go to 18ft-lbf. The splines do a good job of putting it back to the correct orientation.. just make sure it is roughly in the right range and the splines will guide it to the original spot.

For the record I’ve had one of mine off correcting it’s park position not being perfect.. but I didn’t take pictures.

Personally I’d still do the touch up. Toyota uses very high quality trim paint applied in perfect conditions and has the ability to do it before the upper and lower arm even get riveted together. You’ll have trouble truly matching their advantage doing this stuff when new, and I can’t see SEM paint being so much better (if it even is at all.. factory may be powder coat) that it justifies the work of a full removal, prep, paint, install. All for one tiny spot.

 

[bgladd]

The wiper attaches to the shaft on a taper with splines also. After you loosen the nut don’t expect it to come right off.. it is attached pretty solidly. you either use a very small jaw puller, or CAREFULLY put pressure on the pivot between the base arm and the longer part in an alternating motion to “wiggle” it off the taper.

Front wiper arm nuts go to 18ft-lbf. The splines do a good job of putting it back to the correct orientation.. just make sure it is roughly in the right range and the splines will guide it to the original spot.

For the record I’ve had one of mine off correcting it’s park position not being perfect.. but I didn’t take pictures.

Personally I’d still do the touch up. Toyota uses very high quality trim paint applied in perfect conditions and has the ability to do it before the upper and lower arm even get riveted together. You’ll have trouble truly matching their advantage doing this stuff when new, and I can’t see SEM paint being so much better (if it even is at all.. factory May he powder coat) that it justifies the work of a full removal, prep, paint, install. All for one tiny spot.

I figured it out. Thanks so much for the careful instructions!!

 

[CharlieS]

If you remove the plastic cap, undo the nut (14mm?), and have the wiper arm perpendicular to the mounting surface, you can use the arm as leverage to wiggle it off the splined shaft very easily.