1A Auto Video Library
Our how-to videos have helped repair over 100 million vehicles.
Enter Vehicle Year Make Model

Specify your vehicle's year, make and model to guarantee fit.

installation video player icon

How to Replace Wiper Transmission Arms 1988-98 GMC Sierra K1500

Created on: 2017-03-08

How to repair, install, fix, change or replace a broken, bent, damaged, failing or squeaking windshield wiper transmission on 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 GMC Sierra K1500

  1. step 1 :Removing the Wiper Arms
    • Mark your wiper blade position with painter's tape
    • Pry out the wiper arm tab with a flat blade screwdriver
    • Lift the wiper arm off the pivot
    • Repeat these steps for the other arm
  2. step 2 :Removing the Wiper Cowl
    • Peel the weatherstrip off the top of the firewall
    • Remove the three Phillips screws from each side of the cowl
    • Remove the two corner panels
    • Remove the fourth Phillips screw from each side of the cowl
    • Remove the four Phillips screws from the front of the cowl
    • Lift up the cowl
    • Disconnect the windshield washer hose
    • Remove the cowl from the vehicle
  3. step 3 :Removing the Wiper Transmission
    • Loosen the 10mm nuts on the wiper linkage
    • Pull the wiper linkage arms off the wiper motor stud
    • Remove the three 11mm bolts from the wiper transmission
    • Slide the transmission out of the truck
  4. step 4 :Installing the Wiper Transmission
    • Slide the transmission into place
    • Line up the transmission
    • Install the three 11mm bolts for the wiper transmission
    • Slide the wiper linkage arms onto the wiper motor stud
    • Tighten the 10mm nuts on the wiper linkage
  5. step 5 :Installing the Cowl
    • Connect the washer hose
    • Put the cowl into place
    • Install the four Phillips screws in the front of the cowl
    • Insert the first two screws on each side of the cowl
    • Put the corner panels into place
    • Install the remaining two screws on each side of the cowl
    • Push the weatherstrip into place
  6. step 6 :Installing the Wiper Arms
    • Slide the wiper arms onto the pivots
    • Lay the wiper blades down gently
    • Remove the painter's tape

Tools needed

  • Socket Extensions

    Flat Blade Screwdriver

    Phillips Head Screwdriver

    Painter's Tape

    10mm Socket

    Ratchet

    11mm Socket

Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. We've been selling auto parts for over 30 years. We're dedicated to delivering quality auto parts, expert customer service, fast and free shipping, all backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Visit us at 1AAuto.com, your trusted source for quality auto parts.

In this video, we're going to be working with our 1996 GMC Sierra K1500. We're going to show you how to remove and replace your vehicle's wiper transmission. This is actually two individual pieces in this vehicle, one for the passenger side and one for the driver's. We're going be to replacing the passenger side, but the process will be the same for the driver's. If you like this video, please click "subscribe." We have a ton more information on this truck as well as many other makes and models, and if you need these parts for your vehicle, you can follow the link down in the description over to 1AAuto.com. Here are the items you'll need for this repair.

Use some small pieces of painters tape to make a straight line with your wiper blade. This will help us position the arms back on without needing to do trial and error. Using the flat blade screwdriver, pry out on the tab on the top edge of the wiper arm at the pivot. Remove the wiper arm from the pivot. Do the same thing on the opposite side.

Remove the weather strip from the top of the firewall. Remove the three Phillips-head screws securing the cowl to the truck on both sides. There's one down on this opening. There are three, both in the same positions on either side of the vehicle. Once you get the first three screws removed, lift up and remove this corner panel that goes around the hinge. There's a fourth Phillips-head screw under there you'll also need to remove. Remove the three screws from each corner of your cowl.

Once that's done, you can remove all four of the Phillips-head screws along the front of the cowl. Pull back and lift up to remove the cowl. You'll need to disconnect the washer hose over here on the driver's side. Remove the cowl from the vehicle.

Loosen the 10 millimeter nuts on the wiper linkage. There's no need to remove these entirely. If you're doing the driver’s side arm, you can stop here and move on to removing the other portion on the other end of the arm. However, for the passenger side, you'll need to loosen this.

Remove the three 11 millimeter bolts securing the pivot end of the wiper transmission to the truck. Lower the pivot into the cowl. Slide it up and out of the next opening.

Send the arm back into the truck. Line up the pivot and the three holes and reinstall your three 11 millimeter screws.

Snap the arms back on to the wiper, tighten them back down with your 10 millimeter socket and ratchet. Make sure they're in the same place they were removed from.

Reconnect your windshield washer hose, and lay the cowl back into place. Reinstall the four screws in the center section of the cowl. Reinstall the two short screws on the end. Once the rear one's in, you can reinstall the plastic cover. It simply slides in and drops down. Reinstall the longer screw on the outer edge here. Repeat these steps on the opposite side. Reinstall the weather strip onto the top edge of the cowl.

Now, I know we had mentioned using the painters tape to align these earlier, but it turns out these wipers are keyed, which means they'll only go on one way. Simply pull out the tab and slide them back on. Lock the tab back into place. Lay the wiper down. Remove the tape.

Thanks for watching. Visit us at 1AAuto.com for quality auto parts, fast and free shipping, and the best customer service in the industry.

1997 - 2002  GMC  C7500 Topkick
1988 - 1999  GMC  K1500 Truck
1992 - 1999  GMC  Suburban K1500
1988 - 2000  GMC  K2500 Truck
1992 - 1999  GMC  Suburban K2500
1988 - 2000  GMC  K3500 Truck
1992 - 1999  GMC  Yukon
2000 - 2000  GMC  Yukon
1992 - 1999  Chevrolet  Suburban C1500
1988 - 2000  Chevrolet  C2500 Truck
1992 - 1999  Chevrolet  Suburban C2500
1988 - 2000  Chevrolet  C3500 Truck
1999 - 2000  Cadillac  Escalade
1992 - 1994  Chevrolet  Blazer
1988 - 1999  Chevrolet  C1500 Truck
1992 - 1999  Chevrolet  Suburban K2500
1988 - 2000  Chevrolet  K3500 Truck
1995 - 1999  Chevrolet  Tahoe
1990 - 1996  Chevrolet  C60 Kodiak
1997 - 2002  Chevrolet  C6500 Kodiak
1990 - 1996  Chevrolet  C70 Kodiak
1997 - 2002  Chevrolet  C7500 Kodiak
1988 - 1999  Chevrolet  K1500 Truck
1992 - 1999  Chevrolet  Suburban K1500
1988 - 2000  Chevrolet  K2500 Truck
1997 - 2002  GMC  C6500 Topkick
1990 - 1996  GMC  C7000 Topkick
2000 - 2000  Chevrolet  Tahoe
1988 - 1999  GMC  C1500 Truck
1992 - 1999  GMC  Suburban C1500
1988 - 2000  GMC  C2500 Truck
1992 - 1999  GMC  Suburban C2500
1988 - 2000  GMC  C3500 Truck
1990 - 1996  GMC  C6000 Topkick
Share on:
Go To Top

Same Day Shipping

Need your part faster? Choose expedited shipping at checkout.

Guaranteed To Fit

Highest quality, direct fit replacement auto parts enforced to the strictest product standards.

USA Customer Support

Exceeding customers' expectations, our team of passionate auto enthusiasts are here to help.

Instructional Video Library

Thousands of how-to auto repair videos to guide you step-by-step through your repair.