windshield wiper arm removal

[Rocket1]

need some help with removing the wiper arms off my Trans Am. I'm trying to take the cowl trim off and removing the arms is needed.

I have a matco tool to remove them but once I tighten the knob it gets so tight I can't turn it anymore. I also noticed that the tool won't work for the pass. Side arm because there isn't enough room to get the tool in between the arm.


Below is the to I have

 

[Rocket1]

Forgot to mention that once the tool is so tight I can't turn it anymore it still hasn't budged the arm. If its this hard to get off how hard will it be to get it back on.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

Torch it...


I kid I kid Have you soaked it in some form of penetrate or lube and tried again? Or maybe a tap or two with a hammer

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Try also tapping the puller GENTLY sideways, 90 degrees to its shaft in several directions. Rock the whole thing on the wiper shaft to poppitloose.

 

[lametec]

Surely the nut was removed first, right?

 

[Rocket1]

haha yeah the nut is off.

Ill try some penetrating oil on it. I thought about swapping the knob out with a bolt so I could use a ratchet and socket but I don't want to mess anything up.

 

[mikeceli]

Does your w arm have a hole where you can raise the arm a little and slip a drill bit in the hole. To relieve the spring tension, applying twist to the mount?

 

[Mike83]

I use a 24" pry bar with a piece of wood under the fulcrum and rags to protect paint Pops them off pretty violently but works for me!

 

[BlindViper]

Hmm on my ford you just lift the arm and pull the retaining clip.

 

[speed bump]

Hmm on my ford you just lift the arm and pull the retaining clip.

Thats what I was going to say.

Personally I would try penetrating oil and maybe the heat gun (not the torch though).

 

[z28snksknr]

I use a 24" pry bar with a piece of wood under the fulcrum and rags to protect paint Pops them off pretty violently but works for me!

On this car, you're prying against either the windshield or plastic, neither of which would be happy about it.

On my '94 Z-28, I gave a few taps on the top and sides of the wiper arm with a small hammer and it let loose. The key is to use a light hammer but quick taps, so it's more of a "shock" than a "blow".

 

[DynoDale]

I've used a battery terminal puller on other cars. Not sure if you have enough room for one.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=battery+terminal+puller&vName=

Try replacing the knob with a bolt then hit the bolt head after tightening.

 

[ImportTuner]

I did one on a Trans Am about a week ago .. removed nut, sprayed some PB Blaster on threaded section, let soak for 5 mins. and it came off easily with a slight tug ..

 

[ddd]

i work fitting screens come across this all the time.
as said put nut back on a few threads:thumbup tighten puller as tight as poss soak in some fliuid and where the wiper arm bends tap it with a rubber hammer should do the trick

 

[Rocket1]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll try using some PB blaster on it this weekend when I work on it again. I think that should work with a little nudge from a rubber mallet. if I have to I can apply a little heat with my heat gun.

 

[malibu101]

I am not saying to grab a hand sledge and start wailing on it
But any time a fit like this is giving problems, in addition to your flavor of penetrating oil like mentioned, some impact helps.
Like was said to rock the arm back and forth- tap back and forth gently with a small hammer.
Heat also helps seperate these types of fits very well also. However, I don't think heat will help you much here. You can't really put enough heat into it to be effective without cosmetic damage.
Perseverance pays off, just keep pressure on it with the tool and try moving/tapping it around a bit.
You will get it.

Edit- Hey, please revive this thead when you get them off and let us know if it went pretty easy or if you learned some new cuss words.

 

[Rocket1]

UPDATE:

I finally had tome to work on the car again. I sprayed both arms with PB Blaster and let it soak. I sprayed them again about 20 minutes later and put the tool on the driver side arm and gave a couple gentle taps with a rubber mallet. I was able to tighten the tool a and it the arm made a loud pop sound and it had moved up. Still was too tight to pull off by hand so I had to use the tool to get it tthe rest of the way off.

The passenger side is different and there isn't enough clearance between the arm and the drive shaft to get the tool in place. Guess I need a different tool for the job.

Regardless I got the plastic cowl off and there was a mess underneath. I dyed the plastic back to black from the gray it had faded to. Now I just need to get it put back on the car and bolt the wiper back in place.