Hello everyone,
After doing much research and testing many different wiper blades with my D1 wiper arm set, I have came to a conclusion. It seems that the D1 arms on our trucks seem to only work with conventional style blades. I have tried using beam style blades only to have them miss large sections on the windshield. I have found that Rain-X Weatherbeater conventional style blades (not beam blades) seem to work the best. I am currently using 20 inch blades on each side and so far have performed very well in rain, snow, and ice. I hope this helps some of you out there!

 

FWIW, D1 arms didn't work at all for me. Went back to D2 and all is well.

 

D1 arms work but you need to use Aero style blades which curve better and you need to lightly bend the passenger arm so it applies more pressure. The aftermarket D1 arms are pure junk! OEM only.

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I used the D1 conversion kit Atlantic British sells. After a few years and dealing with the large swaths of windshield missed when it rains near freezing or snows I went back to the D2 arms and used the Tuff-Rok beam-style blades meant for them. Rain performance is much improved. Still some issues in cold weather, but not like how it was with the D1 conversion arms.

 

I have D1 arms and the trick for me was using "helper springs" that go on the outside of the arms (RoadPro V-9009B "Wiper Huggies"). Little finicky to figure out and install at first and they needed to be bent a little in some spots to clear the windshield cowl without scraping it, but good lord they work so well.

After dealing with large patches of water not getting wiped, every single drop of water in the wiper blade path now is wiped off the windshield. Could probably use any windshield wiper you wanted and have the same success, but I usually buy the "Aeros".

I think the arms use 2 springs on the bottom side stock, but I was too lazy to measure and try to find stronger ones. Can't really buy replacement springs specifically for the arms either. If you know of replacements, I'd like to know. In the mean time I really recommend the Wiper Huggies.

 

I had the D1 wiper kit that AB sells but I didn't like the reduced sweep path so I went back to the D2 arms. Planning to order some Tuff Rok blades at some point but my current blades are still good so I haven't done it yet.

 

We are an odd lot... We spend 5k for a vehicle that cost $40k new and yet we contort ourselves and risk safety to save $20 on wiper blades. LOL!

FWIW I went back to D2 arms as well. Not worth the fuss.

 

40.00 for a set of D2 blades if you can find them locally (advance auto is the only place that even tries to carry them), then in TX they last 2 months... D1 arms work if you use 21inch blades, and the flex aero style and you lightly bend the passenger side arm for more pressure. The D2 blades I've ordered online were complete trash. I use RainX in my washer fluid (green bug wash) and heck half the time I don't even need the wipers.

 

I’m going back to the D2 wipers as well. Was thinking of using these blades.

 

I have fine results with the Atlantic British set of 3 for $25 last time I bought them, In the PNW they need replaced yearly. I'm not to worried about the annual cost, compared to say the cost of fuel to keep the thing going.