Wiper arm quality
Discussion
Hi there,
Replaced the driver's wiper arm some years ago as it was looking rusty and suspected the spring had worn. The replacement has not lasted well and there is now considerable play at the hinge joint, which is going to fail soon I suspect. Clearly there are arms of differing quality out there.
Anyone bought ones and USED them for a good period of time to be able to advise of good ones. Haven't found any of the big suppliers saying "these are higher quality ones than others you find on the market" or similar, as for other parts like ball joints.
Thanks.
Replaced the driver's wiper arm some years ago as it was looking rusty and suspected the spring had worn. The replacement has not lasted well and there is now considerable play at the hinge joint, which is going to fail soon I suspect. Clearly there are arms of differing quality out there.
Anyone bought ones and USED them for a good period of time to be able to advise of good ones. Haven't found any of the big suppliers saying "these are higher quality ones than others you find on the market" or similar, as for other parts like ball joints.
Thanks.
t. Shiny things. Chrome! I need an old bike to play with, dream dream dream. I'm talking arms not blades.
I already have a better washer jet system (still arm mounted) but not the original TVR one and it should be swappable onto any arms (the jet heads are just glued to the arms).
So I am literally after good quality arms.
Looked at Leven, very pricey. Accept they are good quality but will they really last 3 times as long as others - they'd need to for the price. Plus I don't need the washer system, which is presumably a lot of the price.
In summary, I just want good strong arms that won't develop slack at the hinge point or corrode quickly.
I already have a better washer jet system (still arm mounted) but not the original TVR one and it should be swappable onto any arms (the jet heads are just glued to the arms).
So I am literally after good quality arms.
Looked at Leven, very pricey. Accept they are good quality but will they really last 3 times as long as others - they'd need to for the price. Plus I don't need the washer system, which is presumably a lot of the price.
In summary, I just want good strong arms that won't develop slack at the hinge point or corrode quickly.
taylormj4 said:
I'm talking arms not blades.
I already have a better washer jet system (still arm mounted) but not the original TVR one and it should be swappable onto any arms (the jet heads are just glued to the arms).
So I am literally after good quality arms.
Looked at Leven, very pricey. Accept they are good quality but will they really last 3 times as long as others - they'd need to for the price. Plus I don't need the washer system, which is presumably a lot of the price.
In summary, I just want good strong arms that won't develop slack at the hinge point or corrode quickly.
The Leven arms only are £25.42 per pair excluding VAT & carriage. The washer jet system is on the blades. They appear to be a good quality product (see photo below) but how long they last I can't say. I guess corrosion will depend to some extent on whether the car lives inside or out.I already have a better washer jet system (still arm mounted) but not the original TVR one and it should be swappable onto any arms (the jet heads are just glued to the arms).
So I am literally after good quality arms.
Looked at Leven, very pricey. Accept they are good quality but will they really last 3 times as long as others - they'd need to for the price. Plus I don't need the washer system, which is presumably a lot of the price.
In summary, I just want good strong arms that won't develop slack at the hinge point or corrode quickly.
Hey Tinker,
Thanks for that. The primary concern is the strength / materials at the hinge joint. The ones I bought last are weak in this area and considerable slack developed there after only several months use. The corrosion is a secondary issue, that can always be painted up.
The arm is obviously metal but the inner part that sits on the wheelbox is some sort of plastic (not the little cover but the bit is inside that), which is clearly not strong enough.
The nearside one is probably original TVR as I've never changed it so is at least 11 years old. Has some slack but not as much as the offside one developed after just several months.
Hadn't realised Leven sold the arms separately. Is their jet system clipped onto the arm then ?
Is the inner part plastic on the Leven ones too ?
Thanks for that. The primary concern is the strength / materials at the hinge joint. The ones I bought last are weak in this area and considerable slack developed there after only several months use. The corrosion is a secondary issue, that can always be painted up.
The arm is obviously metal but the inner part that sits on the wheelbox is some sort of plastic (not the little cover but the bit is inside that), which is clearly not strong enough.
The nearside one is probably original TVR as I've never changed it so is at least 11 years old. Has some slack but not as much as the offside one developed after just several months.
Hadn't realised Leven sold the arms separately. Is their jet system clipped onto the arm then ?
Is the inner part plastic on the Leven ones too ?
Edited by taylormj4 on Wednesday 16th January 13:26
taylormj4 said:
Hey Tinker,
Thanks for that. The primary concern is the strength / materials at the hinge joint. The ones I bought last are weak in this area and considerable slack developed there after only several months use. The corrosion is a secondary issue, that can always be painted up.
Hadn't realised Leven sold the arms separately. Is their jet system clipped onto the arm then ?
No - it's on the blade...Thanks for that. The primary concern is the strength / materials at the hinge joint. The ones I bought last are weak in this area and considerable slack developed there after only several months use. The corrosion is a secondary issue, that can always be painted up.
Hadn't realised Leven sold the arms separately. Is their jet system clipped onto the arm then ?
taylormj4 said:
Hey Tinker,
Thanks for that. The primary concern is the strength / materials at the hinge joint. The ones I bought last are weak in this area and considerable slack developed there after only several months use. The corrosion is a secondary issue, that can always be painted up.
The arm is obviously metal but the inner part that sits on the wheelbox is some sort of plastic (not the little cover but the bit is inside that), which is clearly not strong enough.
The nearside one is probably original TVR as I've never changed it so is at least 11 years old. Has some slack but not as much as the offside one developed after just several months.
Hadn't realised Leven sold the arms separately. Is their jet system clipped onto the arm then ?
Is the inner part plastic on the Leven ones too ?
The little cover is plastic but the bit underneath is some sort of cast alloy. As Bassfiend points out the spray unit is on the wiper blade not the arm.Thanks for that. The primary concern is the strength / materials at the hinge joint. The ones I bought last are weak in this area and considerable slack developed there after only several months use. The corrosion is a secondary issue, that can always be painted up.
The arm is obviously metal but the inner part that sits on the wheelbox is some sort of plastic (not the little cover but the bit is inside that), which is clearly not strong enough.
The nearside one is probably original TVR as I've never changed it so is at least 11 years old. Has some slack but not as much as the offside one developed after just several months.
Hadn't realised Leven sold the arms separately. Is their jet system clipped onto the arm then ?
Is the inner part plastic on the Leven ones too ?
Edited by taylormj4 on Wednesday 16th January 13:26
Tinker15 said:
If you buy the complete Leven kit it comes with arms and contoured wiper blades with the spray unit and rubber tubing.
...note though that the blades are identical for both sides. (The arms only are right and left side specific.) A friend had the Leven ones a few years back and the blades were different in those days but when I purchased mine last summer they were the same for both sides. I phoned and queried this with Leven and they confirmed that they are identical these days. Passenger side doesn't quite wrap around at bottom of travel but it's not far off. Certainly not enough to worry about. Go for the Levens!
Tinker15 said:
The little cover is plastic but the bit underneath is some sort of cast alloy. As Bassfiend points out the spray unit is on the wiper blade not the arm.
Thanks, they sound stronger than the plastic in mine then. It's a toss up between Racetechs and Levens. Perhaps I'll give them both a call and see if the materials are better on one than the other.
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