1972 Duster Build with my Daughter
Wiper linkage. One of the clips had a broken tab so I assumed they were brittle so after a lot of research I determined that the Dorman bushing where the replacement. Got them today so we started to investigate. First the original clips are NOT brittle. I pried the remaining 3 tab out and they where very pliable and did not break. I then started some measurements and experiments. The inner diameter looks dead on. There is a recess that should lock in the clip if you push it in far enough. One trick it is drill a bleed hole so it does not get vapor lock as you try to press it in but I have not got that far. The bigger problem is the outer diameter. The existing hole is too small and does not have the notch for the new bushing. Some have ground off the tab but the right way would be to grid a notch in the arm so the tab fits in. Its purpose is to keep the bushing from spinning on the outer diameter. The new bushing expects a 0.535" hole and the hole in the arm is 0.450. The existing OEM bushing has about a 0.015" clearance so the hole should be 0.535"+0.015" = 0.550" That says a 1/2" drill bit is still a bit small but I would guess the wallowing while trying to drill will hog it out a bit more than 0.500" but what you should use is a a 17/32" drill bit or reemer. Then a Dremel tool could grind out a notch for the tab.... I am at a crossroads. Because the clips are very flexible I am trying to convince myself that the originals will be fine......
Wiper linkage. One of the clips had a broken tab so I assumed they were brittle so after a lot of research I determined that the Dorman bushing where the replacement. Got them today so we started to investigate. First the original clips are NOT brittle. I pried the remaining 3 tab out and they where very pliable and did not break. I then started some measurements and experiments. The inner diameter looks dead on. There is a recess that should lock in the clip if you push it in far enough. One trick it is drill a bleed hole so it does not get vapor lock as you try to press it in but I have not got that far. The bigger problem is the outer diameter. The existing hole is too small and does not have the notch for the new bushing. Some have ground off the tab but the right way would be to grid a notch in the arm so the tab fits in. Its purpose is to keep the bushing from spinning on the outer diameter. The new bushing expects a 0.535" hole and the hole in the arm is 0.450. The existing OEM bushing has about a 0.015" clearance so the hole should be 0.535"+0.015" = 0.550" That says a 1/2" drill bit is still a bit small but I would guess the wallowing while trying to drill will hog it out a bit more than 0.500" but what you should use is a a 17/32" drill bit or reemer. Then a Dremel tool could grind out a notch for the tab.... I am at a crossroads. Because the clips are very flexible I am trying to convince myself that the originals will be fine......
