How to Remove the Windshield Wiper Arm on a 1998 Dodge Truck

Iskandar Blogger 4:05 AM

The 1998 Dodge lineup of trucks included the Ram, Dakota and Durango SUV. All three of these trucks have wiper arms that are held on by a pivot nut that attaches the arms to the rotating wiper pivot. Wiper arms can become rusted and bent over time, and replacement sometimes becomes the only option for repair. Wiper arms can be sanded and painted if they are not too rusted or corroded. You'll need a special tool to pull the wiper arms from the truck.

Instructions

    1

    Trace the bottom of the wiper on the front or rear glass using a white crayon. This mark is easily removed and will help reduce installation difficulties. Pry the pivot nut cover upward at the base of the wiper arm using a flat-head screwdriver.

    2

    Open the truck's hood and set the hood prop if equipped. Remove the pivot nut from the wiper arm using a ratchet and deep well socket, turning the nut counterclockwise.

    3

    Insert a battery terminal puller over the base of the wiper arm and place the center bolt onto the center of the wiper pivot. The wiper pivot is the shaft with splines in the center of the wiper mounting hole. Turn the puller bolt clockwise to remove the wiper arm from the truck.

    4

    Roughly measure the new wiper blade length side by side with the old wiper blade. There should be no more than a half-inch difference in length between the two blades. If you are not replacing the arm and wiper, proceed to Step 6.

    5

    Turn the new wiper blade perpendicular to the arm, creating a "T" shape between the new blade and arm. Push the new wiper arm through the wiper blade frame and set the hook on the rounded clip of the wiper blade. Pull the wiper and arm in opposite directions to lock the two parts together.

    6

    Place the new wiper arm and blade onto the transmission mount loosely. Align the bottom of the new wiper blade with your alignment mark on the glass. Push the wiper arm down onto the wiper pivot by hand to ensure proper alignment with the pivot splines.

    7

    Install the pivot nut onto the wiper arm and tighten the nut to 212 inch-pounds using a torque wrench and deep well socket. Push the dust cap over the pivot nut by hand until it locks into place.

    8

    Repeat steps 1 through 5 to complete the wiper arm replacement in any position on the 1998 Dodge Ram, Dakota or Durango SUV.