Operation; Removal; Installation; Wiper Blade Description - Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual

8R - 18 WIPERS/WASHERS
WIPER ARM (Continued)
plenum cover/grille panel near the base of the wind-
shield and the wiper blades on the windshield glass
(Fig. 18). These wiper arms feature an over-center
hinge that allows easy access to the windshield glass
for cleaning. The wiper arm has a die cast metal
pivot end with a large internally serrated socket for-
mation at one end. A key within the socket formation
indexes the wiper arm to a keyway in the pivot shaft
of the wiper module to provide wiper alignment, and
a spring-loaded latch on the underside of the wiper
arm pivot end locks the unit to the pivot shaft when
it is fully installed. The right and left wiper arms for
this model are not interchangeable, as the right
wiper arm is slightly longer than the left one.
The wide end of a tapered, stamped steel channel
hinges on and is secured with a hinge pin to the
blade end of the wiper arm pivot end. One end of a
long, rigid, stamped steel strap, with a small hole
near its pivot end, is riveted and crimped within the
narrow end of the stamped steel channel. The tip of
the wiper blade end of this strap is bent back under
itself to form a small hook. Concealed within the
stamped steel channel, one end of a long spring is
engaged with a wire hook on the underside of the die
cast pivot end, while the other end of the spring is
hooked through the small hole in the steel strap. The
entire wiper arm has a satin black finish applied to
all of its visible surfaces.
A wiper arm cannot be adjusted or repaired. If
damaged or faulty, the entire wiper arm unit must be
replaced.

OPERATION

The wiper arms are designed to mechanically
transmit the motion from the wiper pivots to the
wiper blades. The wiper arm must be properly
indexed to the wiper pivot in order to maintain the
proper wiper blade travel on the glass. The serrated
and keyed socket formation in the wiper arm pivot
end interlocks with the serrations and keyway on the
outer circumference of the wiper pivot shaft, provid-
ing positive engagement and alignment of this con-
nection. The latch positively locks the wiper arm to
the wiper pivot shaft when the arm is fully installed.
The spring-loaded wiper arm hinge controls the
down-force applied through the tip of the wiper arm
to the wiper blade on the glass. The hook formation
on the tip of the wiper arm provides a cradle for
securing and latching the wiper blade pivot block to
the wiper arm.

REMOVAL

(1) Lift the wiper arm to its over-center position to
hold the wiper blade off of the glass and relieve the
spring tension on the wiper arm to wiper pivot shaft
connection.
(2) Pull the latch on the pivot end of the wiper
arm outward (Fig. 19).
Fig. 19 Wiper Arm Remove/Install
1 - WIPER ARM PIVOT END
2 - LATCH
(3) Remove the wiper arm pivot end from the
wiper pivot shaft.

INSTALLATION

The right and left wiper arms are not interchange-
able. The right wiper arm is slightly longer than the
left. Be certain that each wiper arm is installed on
the proper wiper pivot.
(1) Place the wiper arm hinge in its over-center
position prior to attempting installation.
(2) The wiper arms are indexed to the wiper pivot
shafts with integral keys in the wiper arm pivot ends
and keyways in the wiper pivot shafts. Align the key
of the wiper arm to the keyway on the wiper pivot
shaft.
(3) Once the wiper blade is aligned, push the pivot
of the wiper arm down firmly and evenly over the
wiper pivot shaft until it is fully engaged. When the
wiper arm is fully engaged on the wiper pivot, the
spring-loaded latch (Fig. 19) will snap back into place
against the wiper arm pivot end.
(4) Gently lower the wiper arm until the wiper
blade is in position on the windshield glass.
WIPER BLADE
DESCRIPTION
Each wiper blade is secured by an integral latching
pivot block to the hook formation on the tip of each
wiper arm, and rests on the glass near the base of
the windshield when the wipers are not in operation
(Fig. 20). The wiper blade consists of the following
components:
DR