My Vanagon's wiper arm feels loose and isn't working right. Will this hardware kit fix it and what exactly is included?

Yes, this is a common issue on Vanagons! The original design used a single flat washer, which allowed the nut to loosen over time, often damaging the wiper shaft threads. This kit provides a simple, proven solution by adding a wavy washer for extra grip. It includes everything you need for ONE wiper arm: a wiper arm cap, a wiper shaft-to-body cap, a wavy washer, a flat washer, and a lock nut. You'll need one kit per wiper arm, so order 1, 2, or 3 depending on your Vanagon.

How hard is it to install this Wiper Arm Hardware Kit on my Vanagon?

Installation is straightforward and designed to be done with basic tools. The hardware installs in a specific order from the outer wiper cap towards the body of the Vanagon: wiper cap, nut, wavy washer, flat washer, and then the wiper arm itself, followed by the body-to-shaft cap. We've even included easy-to-follow instructions to guide you through the process.

Is this kit compatible with all Vanagon models, including 2WD and 4WD?

Absolutely! This Wiper Arm Hardware Kit is designed to fit all 1980-1991 Vanagon models, regardless of whether you have a 2WD or 4WD drive system, or an automatic or manual transmission. It’s a universal upgrade for any Vanagon experiencing loose or faulty wiper arm hardware.

My original wiper hardware is rusted or missing. Will this kit replace everything I need for a single Wiper Arm?

Yes, this kit is specifically designed to replace all the critical hardware for one wiper arm, especially when the original parts are corroded or gone. The kit includes a new wiper arm cap, shaft-to-body cap, wavy washer, flat washer, and lock nut to ensure your wiper arm is securely fastened and operates smoothly again. It's a complete solution in one package.

Wiper Arm Hardware Kit (Single) [Vanagon]

Thumbnail of Wiper Arm Hardware Kit (Single) [Vanagon]

Wiper Arm Hardware Kit (Single) [Vanagon]

Product:	VANO-WIPER-HDWR
Works With:	1980-1991
Manufacturer:	Quality Aftermarket
Restock ETA:
Availability:
Wrench Rating:	Requires no or basic hand tools and no mechanical knowledge.

Proposition 65: This product may contain chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

If you have a wiper arm that slips on the shaft no matter how much you tighten the nut, you are not alone. Luckily, this common problem has a simple solution. Get your wiper arms locked down tight with this simple hardware kit. It includes everything you need for one wiper arm.

Fits: All 1980-91 Vanagon

Kit includes parts for ONE wiper arm*:
• (1) Wiper arm cap
• (1) Wiper shaft-to-body cap
• (1) M6 Wavy washer
• (1) M7 Flat washer
• (1) M6 Lock nut

*Please purchase one kit per wiper arm. 1, 2, or 3 kits per Vanagon.

Note: If your wiper arms are so worn that this kit does not do the trick, it's time for a new wiper arm with which all the contents of this kit can still be used.

Easy installation instructions: Working from the outermost wiper cap toward the body of the Vanagon (right to left in the product photo), the items in this kit install in this order: wiper cap, nut, wavy washer, flat washer, wiper arm (not included), wiper body-to-shaft cap.

So what's the scoop?

The original Vanagon wiper arm hardware is just a thin wavy washer and nut, both 6mm size. This worked fine when everything was new. What happens over time is that the wiper arm comes loose, allowing the aluminum wiper arm hub to spin on the serrated steel shaft. This relatively hard, conically shaped, serrated shaft then essentially machines the conical mounting surface in the aluminum wiper arm to a larger conical dimension. What happens then is the original nut and washer bottom out at the top edge of the shaft before the arm can fully engage the wiper shaft serrations. You turn on your wipers, can hear the motor run, but the wipers don't move.

If the conical mounting surface in your wiper arm is not too big, this kit fixes the problem by adding a slightly larger, 7mm flat washer between the new nut and wavy washer supplied in the kit. The larger ID if the 7mm washer slips over the shoulder on the shaft and drives the wiper arm further into the serrated section of the shaft. Refer to the video tab for a complete explanation of this and the entire front and rear wiper systems.

Refer to the video tab for a critical installation tip you will definitely want to see!