Windshield Wiper Arm Replacement Cost Estimate

Any signs of damage, failed inspection if factory scheduled maintenance lists the windshield wiper arms, and sun spotting are the major causes of diagnosing the wiper arms as deficient. If the windshield wiper arm fails to hold the windshield wiper blade, fails to engage the windshield wiper arm drive gear, or cannot be folded down for smooth contact of the windshield, these would all call for replacement of the windshield wiper arm.

The old wiper arm is removed from the geared, articulating linkage at the base of the windshield. One per windshield wiper. There are a multitude of fasteners and means of retaining the windshield wiper arms, so the correct tools must be used to remove them. Once removed, the wiper arms will slide off, and the new will slide on. If the windshield wiper arm will not slide off, and since heat should not be used in the area, the wiper arm may be removed with a gear puller.

Some windshield wiper arms may be from the same manufacturer, look the same, have the same dimensions, and same functionality, but when attempting to install, the pattern does not match where the wiper arm connects to the vehicle. When purchasing parts for a DIY replacement, have the old part with you to ensure you are purchasing the correct part number, and the correct part is being given to you.

When replacing a wiper arm, a non-OEM wiper arm will most likely look different than the OEM wiper arm. Avoiding this issue requires replacing both wiper arms with one brand, or replacing the defective wiper arm with a genuine OEM part. If the appearance of the vehicle is of no consequence, this information can be disregarded so long as the wiper arms do not contact one another in their normal range of motion and cause the wiper blades to work effectively.

Windshield wiper arms are a good DIY when they are accessible, but some vehicles require the removal of aesthetic trim panels. As long as the trim panels are carefully removed and installed, and the wiper arms are aligned correctly on the mount, the repair is done easily.