yes, you are right Mark, I was wrong in my thoughts about pass side wiper - I just looked at my van. I could/might still be done without dash removal, but tricky.

alistair

On 2012-08-16, at 1:30 PM, Mark Tuovinen wrote:

> If you want to install the new one you will have to pull the dash as the
> passenger side is behind the heater box.  The drivers side can be reached
> without pulling the dash which is why your passenger side is the one that
> broke, that darn Murphy's law again.  The repair idea sounds interesting
> and worth a try if you have the inclination.
> 
> Mark in AK  BTDT
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Aug 16, 2012 at 11:45 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> 
>> A few days ago I mentioned that the passenger side windshield wiper
>> threaded stud of the shaft on my 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile had
>> snapped.  Well, I have a new shaft in hand from Van Cafe.  Now I realize
>> that the conical pressable piece that the stud and splines of the shaft fit
>> into has stripped.  Evidently this requires a new wiper arm, as the damaged
>> piece seems not to be replaceable.  Is that true?
>> 
>> A couple of other questions:
>> 
>> 1.  Does anyone know for sure that the dash must be pulled in order to
>> replace the shaft?  Is it possible that it can be reached and replaced
>> through the top grill opening?  That might be easier to do, if indeed it
>> can be done.
>> 
>> 2.  GoWesty has a procedure on their web site for drilling and tapping the
>> stud in the shaft, and then fitting the wiper arm on with a bolt rather
>> than a nut.  Has anyone ever done this, and was the fix successful?  That
>> might be easier than replacing the shaft, especially if the dash must be
>> pulled to do so.  But, there is not much there to drill and tap.  The
>> GoWesty procedure says to file the stud off flat, punch the center, then
>> drill it, then tap it.  Interestingly, I mentioned such a possibility to
>> the shop I consulted in Burlington, Washington a couple of weeks ago, and
>> the guy just looked at me as if I was kidding, and said, "Never work, not
>> enough metal there to hold anything even if you could drill and tap it."
>> GoWesty's page seems as if it is something done with some regularity:
>> http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=1512
>> 
>> Given my skills and general lack of patience, this may be something I
>> should hire done, but it should be cheaper in that case than hiring someone
>> to remove the dash to replace the shaft.
>> 
>> Comments?
>>