Goddamn wiper thingies!!

OK. The wipers are fooked. Not the 'lectrics...the mechanical bits. In the snow t'other day the wiper arm fell off the drivers side although conveniently froze to the bonnet so easily retrieved!!

Getting new arms and splined drum doobreys. What I am uncertain of is the wiper arms over-running the edges of the window. Existing blades are knackered because they overrun the edges of the windscreen and I wondered how I could stop this happening. I can alter the arms on the splined drums to stay on one edge but they always overrun the other edge...on the drivers side.

Is this worn gearing...or is there something I can adjust?? I'd appreciate any thoughts.

I'd suspect that the inner (flexible) part of the drive cable has stretched.
Remove the wiper arms, disconnect it at the motor end and pull it out of the sleeve that it runs in. (You might need an assistant to turn the splined shafts while you pull it). You will then be able to examine it and see if the pitch of the coils is even throughout its length. If it is stretched, you can get a replacement from a breakers.
Give it a coating of grease before pushing it back in.

If it looks OK, then the problem will be in the little gear boxes on the inner end of the splined shaft - that's a dash out job I'm afraid.

our defender td5 has just had the worm drive motor and wheel boxes replaced.

Cheers Trewy. Sounds like an excellent starting point.

Bloat, if I lived near Sussex I'd be straight round to allow you to demonstrate your new-found skills.

Having snapped the bit of the wheel box that pokes thru the bulkhead, I now have to replace the wheel box. Have got the old one out but am struggling to get the new one in.

Have taken the dash out no prob ( he lied as one of the screws did not want to play) and have full access, but I can't get the drive shaft into the new wheel box unless I thread it on from he end. Is this the only way to do it or is there something I'm missing ( like a brain).

The old wheel box came out easily as the cog dropped off when I removed it.

Any words of wisdom much appreciated.