Cherokee Wiper Arm swap

[beaux312]

I have been wanting to do this for some time, glad this came up.

 

[jsnouffer]

Just did this today, thanks for the write-up. Got everything needed at the local Advance Auto Parts.

 

[jbawall]

I actually found the cherokee springs to be too stiff. the wipers chattered like crazy, wet or dry. I robbed some springs from my mustang parts, and it was perfect. no chatter, but at 80mph, they stay on the windshield (yes, I drive 80 in the rain)

So that is why mine are chattering! Been driving me crazy. What year mustang springs did you use?

I do love this site!

John

 

[miikee73]

Great,now there is going to be a national cherokee wiper blade shortage.Prices will soar. Get yours today,don't delay.
It won't be long before someone puts a premade kit together.
Along with the intermittent wiper switch,what's next.
Great article,thanks for thinking of us.

 

[MIDEVIL214]

I actually found the cherokee springs to be too stiff. the wipers chattered like crazy, wet or dry. I robbed some springs from my mustang parts, and it was perfect. no chatter, but at 80mph, they stay on the windshield (yes, I drive 80 in the rain)

Same thing with mine. Too much chatter. I tried stretching the spring a bit but I still wasn't happy with the result.

 

[sprdv1]

Great,now there is going to be a national cherokee wiper blade shortage.Prices will soar. Get yours today,don't delay.

Noo... don't say that.. lol

 

[ugly74]

So that is why mine are chattering! Been driving me crazy. What year mustang springs did you use?

I do love this site!

John

the springs I used were from a 1970 ...

 

[Packham25c]

Just ordered the wiper arms off Amazon. $20 ea w/ free shipping.

 

[.94 OR]

I just did mine.

With dry glass, I am noticing substantially more drag on the system. I can only imagine that will translate into better water removal than my previous "floaters".

I removed 3.75" of the arm and am using a 12" wiper. I'm not sure a 14" would have gained me much. I also took out the little retaining clip that holds the arm onto the knurled spindle. This helped to dry fit the wipers and getting them on and off without wrestling with it too much. Once I am happy with it, I might put them back in if I can remember where they are by then.

 

[rwill]

I bought mine ready to install from a member on here (Jeff Mays,Hudson,NC). THe conversion is sweet.

 

[BucknEB]

Thanks Wyflyer. I'll be doing this ASAP. This is a great cheap and easy upgrade.

 

[1970excursion]

Bump for thread,

got my junkyard arms for $10, picking up some 14" blades this afternoon.

 

[markperry]

One of the best mods I have done also!

 

[broncoitis]

Working on this conversion tonight. Hopefully I can git'er done because I wanna take a little road trip with the bronco this weekend! ;D

Nice write up by the way as well! Good Job!

 

[Broncotj0]

I had installed mine a few months back and got to use them for the first time last weekend. I coated my windshield with mud and with a flip of the switch my windshield was clean. My old wipers like you all know would have just smeared it around until I got out and cleaned it myself. I bought my kit off of ebay I think. $58 sounds right to me. Well worth every penny.

 

[SDlivin]

Expecting to do this mod over the next day or two...

With that said, a few people have experienced the original cherokee spring being TOO tight and opting to use a different spring.

Has anyone tried NOT cutting the arm 4" or so but less, still have the same rivet point as if you cut it at 4", but having a longer 'tail' on it so that where you drill the hole for the spring attach is farther in, thereby relieving some of the tension on the spring?

I don't have the parts yet, so this is purely theoretically, but does that make sense? or am I missing something?

 

[garberz]

I did this conversion, yes the spring is tight, but that works well keeping the blade on the windshield. The issue is putting the arm back together with the spring. It's a pain. I used some needle nose visegrips to hook the spring back on.

 

[SwedenBronco]

I stumbled over some boat wiper arms that are adjustable at the Swedish "Autozone", they are a straight fit, I just bent the top of the arm to get the wiper parallel to the windshield gasket. They are stainless as well.

http://biltema.se/sv/Bat/12-V/Vindrutetorkare/Torkararm-rostfri/

 

[apathy]

Great writeup, but why remove the washer fluid nozzles? Is there any reason NOT to use them?

 

[badmuttstang]

You would have to find an area to run the rubber hose to the arm's and most don't want to drill holes to do that