The wiper arm is the sprung steel or die-cast aluminium lever that clamps onto the wiper spindle and holds the blade at a consistent tension against the windscreen through the full sweep arc. A correctly tensioned arm keeps the blade in contact with the glass under motorway speeds, where aerodynamic lift would otherwise reduce cleaning pressure and leave unswept streaks. The most frequent failure mode is a loss of spring tension over time: the torsion spring inside the arm pivot weakens, allowing the blade to lift away from the glass at speed and leaving a curved band of unwiped water exactly in the driver's line of sight. Corrosion at the spindle spline is another common issue — particularly on older vehicles in salt-treated regions — where the square taper bore strips and the arm no longer locks positively to the spindle, causing a juddering sweep or a blade that returns to a non-parked position. BOSCH and Valeo supply original-equipment and direct-replacement wiper arms across the majority of European models, with arm geometry and spring rate matched to the specific windscreen curvature. The OE reference governs the spindle bore diameter, arm length, and blade attachment type, each of which varies between model generations and must be matched precisely to maintain correct sweep coverage.
Wiper arm geometry varies between the driver's side, passenger side, and rear screen, and even between facelifted variants of the same model. The OE number printed on the existing arm or noted in your vehicle's parts catalogue accounts for the spindle spline profile, arm length, and blade connection type specific to your chassis. Use the make-model-year selector on this page to find OE-matched references. Fitting an arm from an incompatible application risks incorrect blade reach, excessive contact pressure that wears the glass, or a sweep pattern that misses critical areas of the windscreen.
OEM wiper arms are produced to the vehicle manufacturer's exact torsion spring specification and spindle geometry, ensuring the correct contact pressure across the full sweep arc. Aftermarket arms from BOSCH, Valeo, and KAMOKA are manufactured to the same OE references and are a proven like-for-like alternative. Budget arms may use thinner spring steel that fatigues quickly, losing tension within a year or two and leaving the blade skimming rather than wiping. Given the safety implication of poor visibility in rain, this is a component where brand quality matters.
Not routinely, but it is worth inspecting the arm each time the blade is changed. Check that the spring tension feels firm when you lift the arm away from the glass — it should snap back with some resistance. Inspect the spindle bore for corrosion or looseness and look for cracks in the pivot housing. If the arm feels floppy or the blade still smears after fitting a fresh blade, a worn arm is the likely culprit. Arms typically last several blade changes, but corrosion on winter-salted roads can accelerate failure.
A persistent smear or unwiped band of water in the middle of the sweep arc — even after fitting a new blade — points to a weak torsion spring inside the arm pivot allowing the blade to lift under airflow. A chattering or juddering wipe, where the blade stutters rather than gliding, often indicates a stripped spindle bore where the arm is no longer locked firmly. A wiper that parks in the wrong position, or does not return to the base position at all after the motor stops, usually means the arm has slipped on the spline and needs repositioning or replacement.
Showing 100 of 1,875 Window cleaning wiper arm OE numbers. Enter the OE on the main OE search to jump to any reference.
