Windshield Wiper Arms

[Mako825]

The black paint on my front windshield wiper arms for my 2003 Expedition has flaked off in several places and now I have rust on them. I had a similar problem on the rear wiper so I pulled it off, sanded and repainted with a black satin engine paint. It turned out well but was time intensive.

The front ones in much worse shape and will take a lot more time. So, before I do this for the front ones, I was thinking I might check at the local Pull A Part salvage yard to see if there are any serviceable ones there.

Does anyone know if the wiper arms on a '03 are specific for that model year? Or are the same arms made for multiple years? Or, better yet, does anyone know how to check parts number and model year compatibility? I don't mind checking, but don't know how to do it.

Any help or guidance is appreciated!

Mako

 

[Hamfisted]

You can probably find some in good shape on eBay. '03-'06 should work. Others "might" also work but you'd have to check the arm length a geometry to be sure.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-FORD-...090116?hash=item5475d42484:g:n0IAAOSwQ0teAMf5

 

[RichardH]

Don't know about the model year part, but I've had some good luck with parts at salvage yards for my last 2 trucks.

Looks like your area has an LKQ pull a part. Wiper arms are listed as $5.75. Of course you can check car/truck inventory before you land there.

https://www.lkqpickyourpart.com/locations/LKQ_Pick_Your_Part_-_Charlotte-228/prices/

 

[Mako825]

Well, I contacted 4 Ford parts houses. You can still buy a new drivers-side wiper arm but the passenger-side is no longer available. Plus, I could never get a straight answer if other model years that are available are compatible with the '03. I checked eBay and all the used ones looked like they needed TLC. So, I decided to take mine off and clean and sand them. Waiting for some warmer weather to prime and paint them.

 

[Mako825]

Last weekend, the outside temperature was close to 70, so I decided to forge ahead on the wiper arms. Before I removed them from the Expedition, I placed some painters tape on the windows above and below the wiper blades as a guide for how they should go back on. Once off the truck, I took off the blades and started to sand with some 400 & 600 grit sandpaper. There were several areas pitted with rust. I used some Evapo-Rust Gel I had around the shop to neutralize the rust. Then washed it off and let it dry. I sanded a little more to scuff the paint that I didn't fully removed and sanded to metal all the oxidized and rusted areas. Once all surfaces were smooth, I wiped them down with rubbing alcohol to remove any dust, wax or oils. I then used painters tape to mask off the plastic parts I didn't want to paint.

I had a rattle can in the shop of good fill-in primer from a previous job that I bought from Eastwood. I sprayed primer to fill in the heavily sanded areas where I removed the rust, and on any bare metal surfaces. Just 2 - 3 coats. Then sanded and wiped down with alcohol. I purchased a rattle can of satin black VHT High Temperature Roll Bar & Chassis paint from my local O'Reilly's. I followed the directions and applied 3 coats and then hung on a wire in the garage to dry. I waited 2 or 3 days for it to dry and cure good. While waiting, I noticed the nuts that hold the arms on were a little rusty. So I poured some liquid Evapo-Rust in a small jar and soaked them in it overnight. I retrieved them the next day and washed them off and they were as good as new. I also removed the windshield cowl and washed it off and proceeded to clean up the plastic with some black Solution Finish. It looks like new but took ALOT of time to get the solution into all the nooks and crannies and then wipe it off. I went back to the wiper arms, removed the painters tape on the plastic parts of the arms, attached the blades and then re-installed on the Expedition. Everything looks great and works well!