68 wiper door operation stiff
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
68 wiper door operation stiff
my wiper door assembly has sat for many years and now I have soaked it with WD 40 several times around the white plastic bushings without much results . Any help would be appreciated .I have the entire assembly out of car now .
Wes
Wes
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
All pivots and bushings should be lubed with white lithium grease (from a tube...not spray stuff). If the joints are free and haven't been modified, it should be fine if set up per AIM instructions.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
Wes
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I would suggest that you DO NOT try to remove the bolts holding the door to the linkage system. They are 'shoulder' bolts and are very weak. If the threads are corroded at all (and they always are), you will snap those bolts off with just moderate effort. It would be much better to try forcing a bit of grease into the areas of the bushings, then work the linkage until it frees up.
If you have soaked those bolts in WD-40 for several hours....PB Blaster is much better, IMO....you can try to loosen them. But, if they don't back out with just light effort, don't bother with them. If you snap off a bolt, you will have to drill out the stub and, in that process, damage the threads. Any reworking of those threads will cause a misalignment of the bolt with the linkage and cause binding. Not a good situation.
If you have soaked those bolts in WD-40 for several hours....PB Blaster is much better, IMO....you can try to loosen them. But, if they don't back out with just light effort, don't bother with them. If you snap off a bolt, you will have to drill out the stub and, in that process, damage the threads. Any reworking of those threads will cause a misalignment of the bolt with the linkage and cause binding. Not a good situation.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The bushings are delrin and not supposed to need lube. Just the same, a little squirt couldn't hurt.
Be gentle and you can work the wiper door open and closed with your hands.
Be gentle and you can work the wiper door open and closed with your hands.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 154
From: Deplorableville Nebraska
I have the entire assembly out of car now .
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
I would suggest that you DO NOT try to remove the bolts holding the door to the linkage system. They are 'shoulder' bolts and are very weak. If the threads are corroded at all (and they always are), you will snap those bolts off with just moderate effort. It would be much better to try forcing a bit of grease into the areas of the bushings, then work the linkage until it frees up.
If you have soaked those bolts in WD-40 for several hours....PB Blaster is much better, IMO....you can try to loosen them. But, if they don't back out with just light effort, don't bother with them. If you snap off a bolt, you will have to drill out the stub and, in that process, damage the threads. Any reworking of those threads will cause a misalignment of the bolt with the linkage and cause binding. Not a good situation.
If you have soaked those bolts in WD-40 for several hours....PB Blaster is much better, IMO....you can try to loosen them. But, if they don't back out with just light effort, don't bother with them. If you snap off a bolt, you will have to drill out the stub and, in that process, damage the threads. Any reworking of those threads will cause a misalignment of the bolt with the linkage and cause binding. Not a good situation.
Thanks
Wes
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
thanks I have to buy one as mine has a small leak on the opening side .Mine is a May 68 car so looks like I need the 1lb can type if they are available ??Finally got wipers sorted out had several problems .Now off to getting headlights working then final painting so I can get this one sold and then finish up my 70LT1 Motion race car to take to Bowling Green around the new track.pm me and I will send you picture of 70 as I still cant figure out how to post pictures .i know it's easy but I guess I am
Wes
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
7T1 has some sound advice. If indeed it's out of the car, put it back in with the door attached, and grill off. I've had some success with the mechanics friend mixture of 50/50 acetone and ATF. If you soak the bushings for several days, the added rigidity of the entire assembly may allow you to gradually free it by coaxing it slowly.
Wes
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,412
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
I would suggest that you DO NOT try to remove the bolts holding the door to the linkage system. They are 'shoulder' bolts and are very weak. If the threads are corroded at all (and they always are), you will snap those bolts off with just moderate effort. It would be much better to try forcing a bit of grease into the areas of the bushings, then work the linkage until it frees up.
. If you snap off a bolt, you will have to drill out the stub and, in that process, damage the threads. Any reworking of those threads will cause a misalignment of the bolt with the linkage and cause binding. Not a good situation.
. If you snap off a bolt, you will have to drill out the stub and, in that process, damage the threads. Any reworking of those threads will cause a misalignment of the bolt with the linkage and cause binding. Not a good situation.
The riveted pivot fasteners in the door brackets may be the cause of the friction. I know Paragon at one time sold all of these riveted pivot fasteners and an installation tool. Maybe the pivots are the culprits.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
I removed the door on my 70 and snapped one of the little bolts. I went to J&D Corvette to buy a salvage door. They probably had about 50 doors. I started looking at them one by one. Door after door had a snapped off bolt in it. Lets say there were exactly 50 doors I looked at. When I got to the 47th door, I found an undamaged one!
The riveted pivot fasteners in the door brackets may be the cause of the friction. I know Paragon at one time sold all of these riveted pivot fasteners and an installation tool. Maybe the pivots are the culprits.
The riveted pivot fasteners in the door brackets may be the cause of the friction. I know Paragon at one time sold all of these riveted pivot fasteners and an installation tool. Maybe the pivots are the culprits.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
7T1 has some sound advice. If indeed it's out of the car, put it back in with the door attached, and grill off. I've had some success with the mechanics friend mixture of 50/50 acetone and ATF. If you soak the bushings for several days, the added rigidity of the entire assembly may allow you to gradually free it by coaxing it slowly.
Wes