Poor wiper contact with windshield (Volvo content)

Ever since I got it, the wipers on my Volvo V50 don't make good contact in the center ~4" of each blade, directly below where it mounts to the arm. The wipers are newish (~6 months) Michelin beam-types. I've made sure the pivot at the base of each arm is moving freely. The only thing I can think of is that the springs are worn out (18 years and 211k miles), but those aren't exactly off-the-shelf items. Any simple fixes here, or am I doomed to either buying sure-to-be-expensive new arms from Volvo or living with the situation?

I have the same issue with my SAAB93. Solved it by going back to the cheep metal framed wipers. 

Sometimes there is a second position for the spring.  If not, one can carefully bend the spring a bit tighter by putting a kink in the straight section between the coils and the hook.

iPD shows nothing, Rock Auto shows nothing, but FCP Euro shows just under $70 each for Volvo arms.

I use Bosch beams on the S60 and the S40 before it.  The Michelins may have too much internal spring tension, maybe.  They cost about $40-50 each though.

Could it be as simple as corrosion crud building up betweeen the coils of the spring and in effect making the spring a bit longer?

I run nothing but cheap wiper blades for this reason, like 2.99 nes from rural king...

Personally if the wiper arm, blade to motor nub, is metal I'd bend the arm for more downward contact. I can't say I've seen it but ME theoretical says the ends are keeping the center up. 

The cheaper metal  wiper arms with the segmented sections are the solution in this case.

I've had luck bending the metal arms a bit to force a bit more force from the spring. It's at least a free/easy thing to try. 

Thanks, folks. I'll try tweaking the arms and/or springs a bit before the snow arrives on Tuesday. Stay tuned.

Tom Suddard said:

I've had luck bending the metal arms a bit to force a bit more force from the spring. It's at least a free/easy thing to try. 

Second this approach.  I put a slight bend in the arm right here - has worked every time.