1. Prepare: Park the car on a level surface, turn off the engine, and disconnect the negative battery terminal. This prevents accidental activation of the wipers. Have a rag or towel handy to protect the paint.
2. Locate the nut: Underneath the wiper arm, you'll find a nut. It's usually a fairly large nut (often 13mm or 15mm). This nut secures the wiper arm to the wiper transmission spindle. Some cars have a flat, plastic cap covering the nut - carefully remove this if necessary.
3. Protect the windshield: Place a rag or towel over the windshield where the wiper arm will be resting to prevent scratching.
4. Loosen the nut: Use the correct size wrench to loosen the nut. It might be quite tight, so be prepared to use some force, possibly with a wrench extender or breaker bar if necessary. Do NOT use excessive force that could damage the transmission spindle.
5. Pry the arm off: Once the nut is loose, you'll likely need to gently pry the wiper arm away from the transmission spindle. Use a flat-head screwdriver or a wiper arm puller tool (available at most auto parts stores). Place the pry tool between the arm and the spindle, and use gentle, even pressure to avoid bending or breaking the arm. Rotate the arm back and forth a bit while prying, it should break loose.
6. Remove the nut and wiper arm: Completely remove the nut and then carefully lift the wiper arm off.
Important Considerations:
* Rust: If the nut is heavily rusted or seized, you may need penetrating oil (like PB Blaster) applied several hours (or even overnight) before attempting to remove it.
* Wiper arm puller: Using a wiper arm puller is highly recommended, as it reduces the risk of damaging the wiper arm or spindle. It distributes the force more evenly.
* Spindle damage: Be extremely careful not to damage the wiper transmission spindle. This is a delicate part that can be easily bent or broken.
* Year variations: While the general process is similar, there might be slight variations depending on the specific trim level of your 1986 Chrysler LeBaron.
If you are uncomfortable performing this task yourself, it's best to take your car to a qualified mechanic. Damaging the wiper motor or spindle during removal can be costly to repair. Remember to reverse these steps when installing new wiper arms.
