Carpokes Porsche Forum

Since last fall I've had to regularly Pop my Wiper Linkage together.
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

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.

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

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

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.

If hand strength isn't sufficient, it is possible to get a large channel lock pliers to clear between the fuse box and hood strut.


Finished!

What hardness TPU did you select for the grommets?

944er wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2024 6:44 pm What hardness TPU did you select for the grommets?

I used 98A. It's decently rigid for TPU.

I came back to say never mind, I just read the post in the 3d section. You're just too fast.