1998 DODGE RAM 1500 Wiper blades

²Superstructure- The superstructure includes
several stamped steel bridges and links with claw
formations that grip the wiper blade element. Also
included in this unit is the latching, molded plastic
pivot block that secures the superstructure to the
wiper arm. All of the metal components of the wiper
blade have a satin black finish applied.
²Element- The wiper element or squeegee is the
resilient rubber member of the wiper blade that con-
tacts the glass.
²Flexor- The flexor is a rigid metal component
running along the length of each side of the wiper
element where it is gripped by the claws of the
superstructure.
All models have two 60.00 centimeter (23.62 inch)
long wiper blades with non-replaceable rubber ele-
ments (squeegees). The wiper blades cannot be
adjusted or repaired. If faulty, worn, or damaged the
entire wiper blade unit must be replaced.
OPERATION
The wiper blades are moved back and forth across
the glass by the wiper arms when the wipers are
being operated. The wiper blade superstructure is
the flexible frame that grips the wiper blade element
and evenly distributes the force of the spring-loaded
wiper arm along the length of the element. The com-
bination of the wiper arm force and the flexibility of
the superstructure makes the element conform to
and maintain proper contact with the glass, even as
the blade is moved over the varied curvature that
may be encountered across the glass surface. The
wiper element flexor provides the claws of the bladesuperstructure with a rigid, yet flexible component
on the element which can be gripped. The rubber ele-
ment is designed to be stiff enough to maintain an
even cleaning edge as it is drawn across the glass,
yet resilient enough to conform to the glass surface
and flip from one cleaning edge to the other each
time the wiper blade changes directions.
REMOVAL
NOTE: The notched end of the wiper element flexor
should always be oriented towards the end of the
wiper blade that is nearest to the wiper pivot.
(1) Lift the wiper arm to raise the wiper blade and
element off of the glass, until the wiper arm hinge is
in its over-center position.
(2) To remove the wiper blade from the wiper arm,
depress the pivot block latch release tab under the
tip of the arm and slide the blade away from the tip
towards the pivot end of the arm far enough to dis-
engage the pivot block from the hook formation on
the end of the arm (Fig. 21).
(3) Extract the hook formation on the tip of the
wiper arm through the opening in the wiper blade
superstructure just ahead of the wiper blade pivot
block/latch unit.
CAUTION: Do not allow the wiper arm to spring
back against the glass without the wiper blade in
place or the glass may be damaged.
(4) Gently lower the tip of the wiper arm onto the
glass.
Fig. 20 Wiper Blade
1 - SUPERSTRUCTURE
2 - ELEMENT
3 - PIVOT BLOCK
4 - RELEASE TAB
5 - PIVOT PIN
6 - CLAWS
7 - FLEXOR
Fig. 21 Wiper Blade Remove/Install
1 - SUPERSTRUCTURE
2 - WIPER ARM
3 - PIVOT BLOCK
4 - RELEASE TAB
5 - HOOK
6 - ELEMENT
DRWIPERS/WASHERS 8R - 19
WIPER BLADE (Continued)

INSTALLATION
(1) Position the wiper high/low relay to the proper
receptacle in the Integrated Power Module (IPM)
(Fig. 24).
(2) Align the wiper high/low relay terminals with
the terminal cavities in the IPM receptacle.
(3) Push firmly and evenly on the top of the wiper
high/low relay until the terminals are fully seated in
the terminal cavities in the IPM receptacle.
(4) Reinstall the cover onto the IPM.
(5) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
WIPER MODULE
DESCRIPTION
The wiper motor bracket is secured with two
screws below the wiper motor through two rubber
insulators to the bottom of the cowl plenum panel
beneath the cowl plenum cover/grille panel (Fig. 25).
Two screws secure the top of the wiper module
bracket to the cowl plenum panel through rubber
insulators located on the outboard end of each pivot
bracket. The ends of the wiper pivot shafts that pro-
trude through dedicated openings in the cowl plenum
cover/grille panel to drive the wiper arms and bladesare the only visible components of the wiper module.
The wiper module consists of the following major
components:
²Bracket- The wiper module bracket consists of
a long tubular steel main member that has a die cast
pivot bracket formation near each end where the two
wiper pivots are secured. A stamped steel clamp
secures the center of the tubular member to the die
cast bracket integral to the wiper motor with two
screws.
²Crank Arm- The wiper motor crank arm is a
stamped steel unit with a slotted hole on the driven
end that is secured to the wiper motor output shaft
with a nut, and has a ball stud secured to the drive
end.
²Linkage- Two stamped steel drive links con-
nect the wiper motor crank arm to the wiper pivot
lever arms. The left side drive link has a plastic sock-
et-type bushing on each end. The right side drive
link has a plastic socket-type bushing on one end,
and a plastic sleeve-type bushing on the other end.
The socket-type bushing on one end of each drive
link is snap-fit over the ball stud on the lever arm of
its respective pivot. The right side drive link sleeve-
type bushing end is then fit over the motor crank
arm ball stud, and the other socket-type bushing of
the left side drive link is snap-fit over the exposed
end of the wiper motor crank arm ball stud.
²Motor- The wiper motor features an integral
die cast bracket to which the wiper module bracket is
secured with a stamped steel clamp and two screws
near the top and which has two rubber insulated
mounting ears at the bottom. This die casting also
serves as the wiper motor transmission housing from
which the wiper motor output shaft exits. A nut
secures the wiper motor crank arm to the motor out-
put shaft. The two-speed permanent magnet wiper
motor features an integral transmission, an internal
park switch, and an internal automatic resetting cir-
cuit breaker.
²Pivots- The two front wiper pivots are secured
within the die cast pivot brackets on the outboard
ends of the wiper module main member. The lever
arms that extend from the center of the pivot shafts
each have a ball stud on their end. The upper end of
each pivot shaft where the wiper arms will be fas-
tened each has a serrated driver with a keyway. The
lower ends of the pivot shafts are installed through
lubricated bushings in the pivot brackets and are
secured with snap rings.
The wiper module cannot be adjusted or repaired.
If any component of the module is faulty or damaged,
the entire wiper module unit must be replaced.
Fig. 25 Wiper Module
1 - PIVOT BRACKET (2)
2 - TUBE
3 - CLAMP
4 - PIVOT SHAFT (2)
5 - INSULATOR (4)
6 - LINKAGE BUSHING (4)
7 - DRIVE LINK (2)
8 - PIVOT CRANK ARM (2)
9 - PIGTAIL WIRE CONNECTOR
10 - MOTOR CRANK ARM
11 - WIPER MOTOR
8R - 22 WIPERS/WASHERSDR
WIPER HIGH/LOW RELAY (Continued)

OPERATION
The wiper module operation is controlled by the
battery current inputs received by the wiper motor
through the wiper on/off and wiper high/low relays.
The wiper motor speed is controlled by current flow
to either the low speed or the high speed set of
brushes. The park switch is a single pole, single
throw, momentary switch within the wiper motor
that is mechanically actuated by the wiper motor
transmission components. The park switch alter-
nately opens and closes the wiper park switch sense
circuit to ground, depending upon the position of the
wipers on the glass. This feature allows the motor to
complete its current wipe cycle after the wiper sys-
tem has been turned Off, and to park the wiper
blades in the lowest portion of the wipe pattern. The
automatic resetting circuit breaker protects the
motor from overloads. The wiper motor crank arm,
the two wiper linkage members, and the two wiper
pivots mechanically convert the rotary output of the
wiper motor to the back and forth wiping motion of
the wiper arms and blades on the glass.
REMOVAL
(1) Remove both wiper arms from the wiper pivots.
(Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/WIPERS/WASHERS/
WIPER ARM - REMOVAL).
(2) Unlatch and open the hood.
(3) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(4) Remove the cowl plenum cover/grille panel
from over the cowl plenum. (Refer to 23 - BODY/EX-
TERIOR/COWL GRILLE - REMOVAL).
(5) Disconnect the left headlamp and dash wire
harness connector for the wiper motor from the
motor pigtail wire connector (Fig. 26).(6) Remove the two screws that secure the wiper
module to the top of the cowl plenum panel at the
pivot brackets.
(7) Remove the two screws that secure the wiper
module to the bottom of the cowl plenum panel.
(8) Remove the wiper module from the cowl ple-
num panel as a unit.
INSTALLATION
(1) Position the wiper module into the cowl ple-
num as a unit (Fig. 26).
(2) Install the two screws that secure the wiper
module to the top of the cowl plenum panel at the
pivot brackets. Tighten the screw on the driver side,
followed by the screw on the passenger side. Tighten
the screws to 7 N´m (60 in. lbs.).
(3) Install and tighten the screws that secure the
wiper module to the bottom of the cowl plenum
panel. Tighten the screw on the passenger side, fol-
lowed by the screw on the driver side. Tighten the
screws to 7 N´m (60 in. lbs.).
(4) Reconnect the left headlamp and dash wire
harness connector for the wiper motor to the motor
pigtail wire connector.
(5) Reinstall the cowl plenum cover/grille panel
over the cowl plenum. (Refer to 23 - BODY/EXTERI-
OR/COWL GRILLE - INSTALLATION).
(6) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
(7) Close and latch the hood.
(8) Reinstall both wiper arms onto the wiper piv-
ots. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/WIPERS/WASHERS/
WIPER ARMS - INSTALLATION).
DRWIPERS/WASHERS 8R - 23
WIPER MODULE (Continued)