Wiper arm keeps falling off of pivot ball. Any quick fix ideas?

[jimdigs]

I put the arm back on the pivot ball thingy but after a few rotations it falls back off. The socket is not a tight fit to the ball. Any quick ideas on how to rig it up until I get better weather to work on the thing? thanks, Jim

[bravekozak]

I presume you are talking about the where the ball on the wiper motor arm snaps onto the pivot arm. Are all the plastic fins still intact? or are some broken? You cannot just buy that little piece of white plastic with the big glob of yellow grease in it. It is part of the entire wiper arm assembly. The worst possible thing is to snap the steel ball into the cold plastic without first warming up the plastic.

[jimdigs]

You presume correctly. But you didn't offer a quick fix or possible patch unless there is none.

[bravekozak]

There are two other white plastic cups at the other two pivot joints. On close inspection, I cannot see any way to remove them. It almost looks like one flanged cup glued from the top nested into another flanged cup on the bottom. You will have to find another arm and pivot assembly. Ford part#F1BZ-17566-A.

Part Number:	F1BZ17566A		Email:	Send Seller Email Inquiry
Description:			Location:	Siler City, North Carolina
Price:	$137.08
Quantity:	1

[jimdigs]

Thanks for the reply and info. Was hoping someone would have a backyard temporary fix.

[Prafeston]

Duct tape..

[drddan]

Go to a pull it yourself junkyard, get the parts from a festiva.

Problem solved, maybe $15-$20.

[WmWatt]

Try a shim? Aluminum pop cans are pretty good source of shims. Aluminum deforms so well to fit!
Also toothpicks and matchsticks dried out in a toaster oven. When they take up moisture again they swell tight.

[Safety Guy]

WmWatt wrote:

"Try a shim? Aluminum pop cans are pretty good source of shims. Aluminum deforms so well to fit!
Also toothpicks and matchsticks dried out in a toaster oven. When they take up moisture again they swell tight."

You get the "Cheapskate of the Month Award!" Congratulations!!

And I mean that in the BEST way possible! I'll have to remember this in case I ever need this technology. Awesome.

Karl

[drddan]

Try a shim? Aluminum pop cans are pretty good source of shims.

This actually does work! lol

[jimdigs]

I'll try the shim idea, thanks. Does anyone know the size of the nut that holds the wiper arm to the pivot? Biggest socket I have is 7/8 and it does not fit. Looks like maybe a 15/16 or is it some weird metric size I'll have to buy? thanks, Jim

[jimdigs]

Just a quick update..I got another wiper arm linkage from a 90 festiva and swaped them and everything works great. The photos and descriptions in the ford festiva service manual I picked up on ebay, along with the info from you guys really helped with a easy install. Thanks, Jim Oh, I tried the shim idea but the socket that goes on the ball just broke off so I had to get a replacement after that happened.