Wiper arms, blades, and motors cover the complete windscreen cleaning system, which changed entirely when the car switched from positive to negative earth in November 1967. The two systems, square-body Lucas DR3A (positive earth) and round-body Lucas 14W (negative earth), use completely different motors, racks, wheel boxes, arms, and blades, and no components are interchangeable between them.
Wiper Motor and Rack Drive
The wiper motor drives a rack that connects to wheel boxes mounted through the scuttle panel. The wheel boxes carry the wiper spindles, to which the wiper arms attach. The wheel box seals (ferrules or thrust washers) prevent water entering the scuttle area around the spindles, these should be renewed if any dampness is found inside the car during rain, as water entering through worn ferrules can corrode the scuttle panel and the wiring beneath.
Wiper Arms, Blades & Motor Fitting
Wiper arms are available in standard black, chrome, and polished finishes for both systems. Two blade fitting styles were used during the 14W system’s production run: spoon fitting and straight fitting. The blade must be matched to the arm, a spoon fitting blade will not lock onto a straight fitting arm, and vice versa. Blade refill rubbers are available for both types, allowing the rubber insert to be renewed without replacing the entire blade assembly.
The refill rubber should be replaced at least annually, as UV exposure and ozone cause the rubber to harden and lose its ability to conform to the windscreen curvature.