My wiper arms were looking pretty fugly so i decided to get these things back to how they used to look.
You will need:
1. 14mm socket
2. pb blaster
3. 600 grit sand paper
4. Bulldog adhesion promoter
5. Duplicolor Bumper coating paint (or any matte finish black paint)
6. automotive masking tape
7. newspapers, misc rags and solvent resistant gloves
8. Aircraft paint and primer stripper/remover
9. 100% pure acetone (you do not want to be leaving any residue)
The materials needed for this were all purchased at walmart and cost under $25 total.
First you need to remove the 14mm closed end nuts that hold the arms to the windshield wiper motor posts. They should break pretty easily even if you live in a climate where road salt is used.
Next comes the hardest part of the diy (well atleast for me due to corrosion) spray each post with pb blaster to loosen the bond between the arm and post. let is soak in for a few before attempting to pull them. I was able to jiggle the arm back and fourth to pull straight off but you may need a puller tool of some sort if they are really frozen on.
Once the arms are removed place them on a work bench on top of some news papers and prep the area for the Aircraft stripper. (this stuff is naaaasty for you skin so be sure to get your gloves out at this point). In my case I decided to tape off the lower section of the arm because the finish was still in very good shape. Spray the entire arm holding back about 8 inches with the stripper.
*** NOTE!!!*** avoid your skin, eyes and any area that is a painted surface that you inted to keep that way. DO THIS FAR AWAY FROM YOUR CAR!!! once it touches the paint it's catastrophic to its integrity.
Simply wipe off bubbled paint with a rag being careful not to touch your skin to anything that has been incontact with the stripper (i found out the hard way that it burns baaaaad) make sure nothing remains of the original finish. You may need to apply a second time if anything remains on the surface of the arms.
ps. if your bored... check out the pic of the aircraft finish remover. see if you can find the
face...