Yesterday I designed a 3D Printed Replacement (STLs here) for those now rock-hard original rubber grommets.
Hopefully this is a more permanent solution. If not, it is about 10¢ in plastic to reprint.
This linkage is on the driver's side of my Late 944 US-model left-hand drive. I don't know about Early 944's. I don't know whether/how this part is mirrored on right-hand drive models. I suspect this linkage exists on 968's.
Remove Wiper Linkage Arm with Brute Force
- Use a rubber mallet and a short length of 1x2 (or something similar)
- Place the end of 1x2 onto the inboard end of the wiper linkage arm and apply a strong but not stoopid whack or three using the mallet to pop the linkage arm free
- Remove the lid from the fuse box for a bit more clearance
- Brute Force Removal
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- Linkage Arm Removed
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Remove Old Grommet(s) and Prep Metal Arm
- Destructive removal of the old grommets is easiest
- Over-apply heat and tap them out with your favorite blunt tool
- File the resulting rough edges of the hole where the grommet used to live
- Apply paint or clear coat to the raw metal that resulted from filing
- This part appears to be galvanized steel. It will definitely rust where the coating was filed away.
- Remove Old Grommets
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Print the Replacement Rubber Grommets
- Download the STL's from the link at the top of this post
- Use your experience and the print settings recommended there as a starting point
- Replacement Parts Printed
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Install New Grommet(s) into Metal Linkage Arm
- You must manually trim the single-wall perimeter from the gap of the newly printed part
- Don't install them upside down!
- Gentle application of heat from a heat gun and your favorite blunt screw driver ought to be enough to install the replacement grommets into the linkage arm
- Use a bench vise or something similar to hold the linkage arm so you don't slip and stab yourself with your favorite blunt screwdriver
- Trim Single-Perimeter from Gap
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- Grommets Installed
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- Grommets Installed into Linkage Arm
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Reinstall Into Car
- Gently heat new grommets with a heat gun - don't go nuts here
- You're only softening them up a bit for ease of installation into car
- I applied a small amount on silicone lube to the inside surfaces of the new grommets
- I snapped the outboard side on first. Hand strength was all that was needed
- I snapped the inboard side on last. Again, hand strength was all I needed.
- Be very careful with your open hood and the so-very-small clearance it has with the windshield glass. You don't want to slip and press upwards onto the hood with your head, for instance.
- Channel Lock Pliers Last Resort
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Finished!
- Wiper Action Gif
- Grommets in Action.gif (4.79 MiB) Viewed 742 times
