Wiper wheelboxes

Post by **Nimrod** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 2:47 pm

There's a ppssibility my wiper wheelboxes may be starting to seize - is there any way of shoving (say) some WD40 or other lubricant into them without removing them?

Ta!

Post by **simmitc** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:07 pm

Remove the glove boxes and peer upwards. You'll see the wiper boxes. It should be possible to use the plastic straw sellotaped to every can of WD40 to direct the magic lubricant into various openings. You can alsi trickle the stuff down from the spindles, but will probably get it all over the bodywork.

The only way to test the boxes is to remove the wiper arms and the wiper rack so that you can turn the spindles and feel how stiff or otherwise they are.

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:16 pm

There's a ppssibility my wiper wheelboxes may be starting to seize

Chances are its the original grease that has decided to do its best to turn into a heavy glue type texture, the only real solution it to remove the assembly and clean the old stuff out and replace with modern grease.

Post by **Nimrod** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:23 pm

Kevin wrote:
There's a ppssibility my wiper wheelboxes may be starting to seize
Chances are its the original grease that has decided to do its best to turn into a heavy glue type texture, the only real solution it to remove the assembly and clean the old stuff out and replace with modern grease.

Is that relatively easy to do, or is it a long time-consuming job?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:04 pm

And that grease will be all the way along the rack tube - and in the motor gearbox. Easy enough to check - take the top off the motor gearbox and disconnect the rack from the drive wheel. You should then be able to push and pull the rack manually (take wiper arms off) to decide if it's stiff or not. Could be needing new motor brushes.

Post by **Packedup** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:11 pm

Bear in mind WD will magically lubricate for a short time, then dry out taking any remnants of real lubricant with it..

Post by **Roni** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:01 pm

I can vouch for the improvement of re-greasing the rack and gearbox. The 40 year old grease was more like wax and the rack was very tight to move by hand. It is not a bad job to do but the time taken depends on how much you do. I ended up taking the whole lot out as the car was stripped for painting. Just pulling the rack out, cleaning the tube interior, regreasing and re-assembling doesn't take that long. It is worth taking the glovebox liners out to get good access to the wheel boxes. It also helps to contain the mess that seems to happen with grease.
When re-assembling it is worth turning the rack and wheel box pinions 180° to use the unworn portions of them.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:33 am

To do that - be sure to mark them clearly before you pull it all apart!

Post by **millerman** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:07 pm

Is there an easy way to remove the chrome nut that holds the chrome embelisher to the wheel-box spindle other than cutting with a junior hacksaw?