Howdy all - been a while since I posted - I'm hoping the resident gurus can help me out again.

I have had the same problem with two Troopers I've owned - my old '86 & the '90 I'm driving now. The windshield wipers have too much sweep. That is to say that when the operate, they whack the bottom edge of the windshield molding at the bottom of their sweep, then at the top of the sweep, the driver's side one not only hits the vertical edge of the windshield (to the left of the driver)...but in any kind of a wind - it actually goes past & sort of hangs out in space before sweeping back.

I've adjusted the arm position - but what seems to be needed is not repositioning, but a reduction in sweep. If it would travel maybe 5 or 10 degrees less, it would be great . As it is, it goes "wonk" on the bottom, then "wonk" on the top - very aggravating. Is there a way to adjust the sweep in the linkage somewhere? I could find no adjustment for this in my shop manual...tried a search here too. Thanks for any advice...

Have you or someone else changed the wiper motor? You may have a newer trooper, or rodeo wiper motor that has the wrong sweep. Just a thought.

I have both a 98 and an 88 and I noticed they looked awefully similar. I'd say they'd bolt up, but not work correctly.

Thinking out loud here,

Joe

I think the problem may be excessive wear in the linkage that connects the two sides. I replaced my linkage several years ago to deal with this problem.

Sheesh I took long enough to get back to this - but for the sake of future generations I wanted to post how I fixed the problem.

It was indeed the linkage. Couldn't find a new linkage for sale anywhere so I took my chances on one I pulled from a wrecked Trooper in a junkyard. Works fine so far.

To replace it, you've got to:
-remove the wipers
-remove the large nuts on the wiper posts so the splined center posts fall down into the cowl.
-open the two small access holes in the cowl/firewall(each slightly smaller than the arms that have to go into them...careful they can be sharp)
-pry the linkage off the ball connector on the wiper motor
-lube up the new unit (I used lithium grease because it looks like what was already on there)
-install in reverse order. The snapping off/on of the ball/joint connector is the toughest part but not too bad.
-adjust your wipers on the splines so they sweep properly
-enjoy

Ahh, what's half a decade between friends? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" />