I replaced my buddy's motor and I got the wipers working again....almost. The driver side wiper arm has a strut on the arm and it is binding on the metal windshield trim when its trying to go back to the base position. Its got a few scratches on it. The passenger side works without any problems. If I push down the metal trim it works without any binding....I got a sneakin suspicion though. See, the wiper blades have been replaced with more aftermarket junk and I think the wiper arms are sitting too close to the windshield hence, the binding up.

Can anyone measure the mounting pivot of the arm to the tip of the wiper blade where it contacts the glass...I think if I get the right wiper arms then it can sit an extra 1/8" away from the windshield and the wiper can operate normally. I think

Even the correct arms will do that if they're wore out..Once the components reach a certain wear point the SS trim takes the hit.. I've found most the aftermarket blades actually sits higher mabe you could buy some time changing them out if it fits down in there at park...

Does the whole arm have to be replaced at that point?

Mine was doing the same thing, Jules had me check the crank arm on the motor, he sent me a new one and that fixed it. Also that trim can be man handled to sit more flush with the windshield.

Good point if the crank arm is shot you get the same result...

On the arm itself and the cheap way out I would say yes replace it...Especially when there's parts out there like this... LINK
...But and it's a big but...How many sellers know or are willing to tell you if what they're selling is'nt the in same condition you're trying to avoid ??? It's a roll of the dice for sure...You almost need them in your hand to make the call...

I know on the cheap some have tried to re-peen the pins to make it tight again...How long that would hold is anyones guess...

I'm sure there's got to be someone out there that could restore these{or any}arms but how cost effective would that be for anything other than an upper grade car...