The windshield wipers on older cars did not feature plastic bushings, as did the later models. They used a ball-and-socket arrangement that was actually better and more reliable in the long run. As long as the ball and socket are lubricated, they should provide good service. This article will explain how to remove and service all the control arms and adjust the wiper arms.
Remove the windshield-wiper arms and blades. Insert a flathead screwdriver under the arm at the base. Push up on the tab, hold the arm straight and pry it off.
Lift the hood and remove the screws from the cowl. The cowl conceals the wiper mechanism. The arms have a depression in the end for the ball, and use a top cap with a depression. The top cap also houses the opposite half of the ball. The top cap is held on with two 3/8-inch bolts.
Remove the wiper gear mechanisms to gain access to the wiper arms. Take out the two 3/8-inch bolts that secure them in place. Remove the two bolts from the end of the wiper arm, where it is attached to the wiper motor.
Hold the arms close together and extract the entire assembly through the access hole. Remove the bolts on the control-arm ends. Clean and grease the ball and housing. Reinstall the cap and tighten.
Install the arm assembly in the access panel, reinstall the wiper gears and tighten the bolts. Before the wiper motor arm can be attached, the motor should be set to the "park" position. To do so, simply turn the key and turn the wipers on and then off; this will "park" the arm. Install the remaining arm in the wiper motor.
Install the cowl. Install the wiper arms and blades by locating them 1 inch above the bottom window molding. The bottom of the arm is spring-loaded and houses the splines; hold it level and push the arm straight down onto the gear until it snaps in place.
