Our RRS has developed an interesting little challenge - the driver's side wiper blade started making a horrible cracking noise just as it reached the full arc - made worse because of the torrential rain!

On examination the plastic hinge on the blade was falling apart, so I nipped into Halfords and bought a new Bosch blade.

And now I can see why the old blade was broken - it would occasionally hit the A-pillar!

I had a look at the arm to see if I could move it a notch or two on the splines, but although I can remove the retaining nut, the arm is resolutely unbudging on the splines. It's clearly been like this a very long time, and I can't detect any serious play in wiper rack. From experience with my old Volvo, moving the arm even just one spline actually has a very marked effect on the parked position, causing the blade to hit the weather strip along the base of the screen.

* Halfords sold me a 22" Bosch blade, but I got to thinking that this may be the wrong size. I went back and checked on their computer, and the recommendation is for a 22" driver's side blade, and 21" passenger side. But it also listed a 24" blade as an alternative, so I'm not sure I entirely trust their system.

* On other online sites I've found reference to fitting 20", 21", 22" and 24" blades in various passenger / driver side combinations. The Owner's Manual is utterly devoid of any reference to replacement windscreen wipers.

* Now, with the new blade, it's fine on standard speed, but will hit the A-pillar at odd times on fast.

* On various forum posts I've seen comments that would suggest that Bosch blades are more prone to this than other after market makes.

* I'm really reluctant to mess about with the splined joint because clearly, it's been undisturbed for a long time.

* At £120/hr, I'm not really excited about booking the car in with the local RRS specialist.

* I'm tempted to fit a couple of 20" blades and see if that cures it.

Could try something like this to remove wiper arm, cheap enough, both the blades on my 12/13 car are 22" never been a issue, not sure the L320 ever had 24" blades fitted though. Personally I found the Bosch blades noisy and juddering so binned them pretty quickly.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-91251-Wind...B07XTR2M82

Cheers
Col

Thanks.

In the end the solution has been to take the wiper arm off the spline and refit it a notch or two round the post - our local motor shop had a little puller for £8 - and also to fit a 20" blade to the driver's side.

All very easy and a quick fix.

Cheers

Jack