The bushings that hold the linkage together for my wipers have dry rotted and fell apart. There is not even enough left for me to see what shape they are to match them. (Of course this happens in the middle of a texas thunderstorm at 530 on my way to work.) does any know a part number for them and where to get some. there should be 3 bushings

 

Bill Gilbert provides some excellent advice in this old thread, including the NAPA part number (which is still current):

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ghlight=wipers

There are four bushings; the single most helpful tool in replacing these things is a good pair of channel-locks.

 

happened to me just last week in RI in a storm. Made a heck of a racket and I thought it was engine related for a minute. They are generic from the "HELP!" section found in most parts stores. This one was from Car Quest, HELP! part # 49440. They are round, hollowed like a cup with a solid bottom, and conical on one end, with a tab sticking off the side the travels down the whole length of it.

 

wow thanks for the info i will have to go after work today to get some.

 

Wonder why they switched to the plastic bushings? The '72 dodge uses a different metal bushing setup that has survived 1000's of hours of use I'm sure with no ill effect?

 

I'm sure it was a cost issue PapeCAT. Thankfully these same plastic bushings are also used on Darts, Valiants, Cordobas, Imperials, Etc. so good availability remains. Those bushings used on the early trucks were unique to those trucks.

 

Go to any dodge dealer, they have them in stock CHEAP!!! They are the exact same bushings still in use on the trucks today, so they fit all years. I bought some last year to replace them all and I think it ran me $5.

 

Servicability. I've got a 1971 and a 1984. The '71 had worn linkage and there is no way to repair it. I made some aluminum rods so they work now but it was a hassle. The plastic on my '84 failed last summer and I got the linkage bushings atAutoZone in the Help section. More of a pain to replace so I replaced all of them while I was in there.

 

I agree with grouch, if your in there do all the bushings and not just the broken one(s). I also found that one of my pivots was a bit tight. I could not figure out how to get it apart so I flushed it and worked it back and forth after removing it and got it freed up. Then spray lubed it and reinstalled. Point is failure can also be caused be seizing pivots as well as tired plastic.

 

ok well if that is the case I don't know... I guess I can EASILY replace the wiper assembly with a newer one for pennies on the dollar if it seizes up. Doesn't seem to be an issue here with a west coast truck yet though.

 

I promise you it'll only fail in a rainstorm, when you least want to be dealing with fixing it. Ask me how I know.

In my limited experience, plastic and rubber parts fail more often due to the passage of time than to wear and tear. If that is indeed true, then being on the west coast won't help you (time passes just as quickly in California).

Best to replace all four bushings on a nice sunny Saturday afternoon.