Hi everyone!

 

This is my second post regarding some advice on here and I'm hoping someone can help! 

 

I was recently driving back home from Middlesbrough and it was raining bad... Just before I got on to the motorway my driver's side wiper stopped working! Thankfully I have full cover with RAC. They came out within an hour and confirmed that the ball joint is worn and came off on the wiper linkage. He put a clip on and off I went back to Leeds.

 

I went to my local garage to ask if they are able to get the part and fit it for me but they said that they aren't able to get the part. 

 

I found the following part online: Wiper Linkage Skoda Fabia - Wipex

 

I was wondering if anyone has used this product before and if it is simple enough to fit myself? OR does anyone by any chance fit these for a fairly low cost (cheaper than garage prices) providing that I buy the part? I'm based in Leeds (Moortown) if anyone is from that area or close to it. I think purchasing this part would be much cheaper and they claim it is better than using the original wiper linkages?

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

Cheers,
Lewis.

You can buy the "same" bits as genuine parts, so not sure why garage said they cannot get the. Any Skoda dealer can order these (subject to factory stock offcourse)

 

The parts are

5J0955326B

5J0955325

 

The parts you link seem pretty good, I think probably worth a shot for the price, they "seem" to be aware of the common issue and have developed the parts to rectify this. Its obviously the plastic "ball / socket" that wears out on the original linkage

 

Fitting them is not difficult, its pretty easy to get the wiper linkage / assy out.

Edited 18 October, 20196 yr by UrbanPanzer

The right hand side link only costs around £4!!!! You will pay a massive amount for parts you won't need.

Did the RAC guy just pop it back on or did he add a little silver clip? There are clips, in stainless steel, intended for temporary use to get you home, etc but they are only a few quid on eBay, around £8 from Halfords and they do the job and outlast a new part anyway! I had a new arm, that worn, got a new one but fitted a clip in the interim. That interim is now around 3 years and still working fine. 

 

What happens, is the plastic part of  the ball joint, where the actually metal ball goes in, wears out just a fraction and due to gravity, the ball pops out making the wiper to the right hand side fail... You can pop it back on but it WILL fall off again. It may be weeks days or straight away but it will do it. I would have thought the whole system would work better if turned on its head, so the ball cannot just fall out. It would be easier to stay put, even when worn.

The original Skoda assembly is still a wipex product so I am sure that unless they claim the replacement is tougher and actually guarantee it NOT to fall apart, I think it is the exact same part, with other bits you won't need.

Get a genuine part or stick with the clip!

 

I looked at the photo you loaded and despite the suggestion the part is better, I think its just the same. You only need the one arm and the price is extortionate.

 

Apologies about the late reply, Been quite busy with work and University!

 

 

On 18/10/2019 at 05:18, UrbanPanzer said:

You can buy the "same" bits as genuine parts, so not sure why garage said they cannot get the. Any Skoda dealer can order these (subject to factory stock offcourse)

 

The parts are

5J0955326B

5J0955325

 

The parts you link seem pretty good, I think probably worth a shot for the price, they "seem" to be aware of the common issue and have developed the parts to rectify this. Its obviously the plastic "ball / socket" that wears out on the original linkage

 

Fitting them is not difficult, its pretty easy to get the wiper linkage / assy out.

 

Thank you for replying. Yeah, I also wasn't sure why they couldn't order the parts. I asked another Dealer today and they said to get all 3 parts (?) and that it would cost £140 including fitting & VAT.

 

On 18/10/2019 at 10:33, mrgf said:

The right hand side link only costs around £4!!!! You will pay a massive amount for parts you won't need.

Did the RAC guy just pop it back on or did he add a little silver clip? There are clips, in stainless steel, intended for temporary use to get you home, etc but they are only a few quid on eBay, around £8 from Halfords and they do the job and outlast a new part anyway! I had a new arm, that worn, got a new one but fitted a clip in the interim. That interim is now around 3 years and still working fine. 

 

What happens, is the plastic part of  the ball joint, where the actually metal ball goes in, wears out just a fraction and due to gravity, the ball pops out making the wiper to the right hand side fail... You can pop it back on but it WILL fall off again. It may be weeks days or straight away but it will do it. I would have thought the whole system would work better if turned on its head, so the ball cannot just fall out. It would be easier to stay put, even when worn.

The original Skoda assembly is still a wipex product so I am sure that unless they claim the replacement is tougher and actually guarantee it NOT to fall apart, I think it is the exact same part, with other bits you won't need.

Get a genuine part or stick with the clip!

 

I looked at the photo you loaded and despite the suggestion the part is better, I think its just the same. You only need the one arm and the price is extortionate.

 

 

The RAC guy put on a big metal clip. He had to bend some metal bar thing so it would fit but it seemed pretty big compared to the smaller clips that I have seen available online.

 

I didn't know the original Skoda assembly is a wipex product, that's interesting to know! 

 

The clip he put on is doing the job at the moment, It's been fine since... But I'm worried about it happening again!! Is it really easy enough to just get the parts myself and fit it myself? Does anyone have any important information about going about this? Tia

 

Thanks,
Lewis.

8 hours ago, Lewis2212 said:

Is it really easy enough to just get the parts myself and fit it myself? Does anyone have any important information about going about this? Tia

 

Thanks,
Lewis.

Piece of cake, something like a 13mm socket to remove the 2 wiper nuts then remove the wiper, pulling the blade off the windscreen will help it come off easier. 10mm socket to remove the 2 nuts holding the tray on below the window then you’re done. Remove the old one off, new one on.

 

just make sure you’ve got something to force the new linkage on with, I used a adjustable pipe grip to the pop the new one on.

Edited 22 October, 20196 yr by LGM

13 hours ago, LGM said:

Piece of cake, something like a 13mm socket to remove the 2 wiper nuts then remove the wiper, pulling the blade off the windscreen will help it come off easier. 10mm socket to remove the 2 nuts holding the tray on below the window then you’re done. Remove the old one off, new one on.

 

just make sure you’ve got something to force the new linkage on with, I used a adjustable pipe grip to the pop the new one on.

 

I'll see if I can get hold of the part and may attempt to do it myself. I'll let you know if successful or not if I decide to do this!

 

If anyone else has any other useful information then feel free to say so. I'm slowly learning new things so anything and everything is useful for me.

 

Cheers

...You should be able to gently lever off the old part as it'll be worn. The new bit will be a bit tighter so a careful squeeze with something like vice-grips or a plumbers water pliers, etc should to the job. If you have difficulty locating the genuine single link, let me know. I can sell you my (New) one I never used if it comes to it. It should be a cheap postal item so I could let you have it for around £7 quid.

Might still be better value then a dealer, if you have to travel a long way!

Edited 23 October, 20196 yr by mrgf

On 23/10/2019 at 17:21, mrgf said:

...You should be able to gently lever off the old part as it'll be worn. The new bit will be a bit tighter so a careful squeeze with something like vice-grips or a plumbers water pliers, etc should to the job. If you have difficulty locating the genuine single link, let me know. I can sell you my (New) one I never used if it comes to it. It should be a cheap postal item so I could let you have it for around £7 quid.

Might still be better value then a dealer, if you have to travel a long way!

 

Do you by any chance still have the part available?

 

Also, do you know how to fit it? Depending on where you are based, I would be willing to buy the part off you and pay you some labour for fitting it if you know how to. And I would help too / learn from you during the process.

 

Probably end up much cheaper than either getting somewhere else to do it for me or than buying the part elsewhere.

 

I haven't got it sorted yet as the wiper is still working perfectly fine but for all I know it could stop working tomorrow. Let me know! Cheers  

 

EDIT

 

Just noticed you're based in East London. I'm in Leeds so would probably end up cheaper to get the part off you and find someone over here to fit it for me. I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

Edited 22 November, 20196 yr by Lewis2212

2 hours ago, Lewis2212 said:

 

Do you by any chance still have the part available?

 

Also, do you know how to fit it? Depending on where you are based, I would be willing to buy the part off you and pay you some labour for fitting it if you know how to. And I would help too / learn from you during the process.

 

Probably end up much cheaper than either getting somewhere else to do it for me or than buying the part elsewhere.

 

I haven't got it sorted yet as the wiper is still working perfectly fine but for all I know it could stop working tomorrow. Let me know! Cheers  

 

EDIT

 

Just noticed you're based in East London. I'm in Leeds so would probably end up cheaper to get the part off you and find someone over here to fit it for me. I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

I’m in Oldham if that’s any closer 👍 

13 hours ago, LGM said:

I’m in Oldham if that’s any closer 👍 

 

Definitely closer than London! If I can get hold of the part then I may get in contact with you. Can't keep doing long distance driving with the worry of the linkage coming off again.

ill dpa little look for the bit and if still wanted post it.