How long do your wipers usually last? I replaced mine in December and I need to replace them already. The rubber blade is already splitting from the base and we are in a drought. The ones that I had before didn't last a year. I have never had a vehicle in which the wipers lasted so little. Are the after market ones that Atlantic British sell any better?

 

I'm running a set of regular Trico blades that I got from Advanced Auto last August. They're still good, but I'm going to try swapping in some D1 wiper arms so I'm not paying $20/blade...

 

I bought the D1 arm conversion kit from roversnorth, the cheap proline kit. It came with blades. They sucked from day 1. I still haven't bought good blades to replace them with.

 

D1 arms with good blades and you'll never look back. Plan on the newer Bosh or Mitchelen blades for the best results.

 

Mike, Spike, et al...,

Two quick questions:
- Are all the D1 wiper arms the same size from year to year? (i.e.- Is a driver side (DS) wiper arm going to take the same size blade as a DS wiper arm from a 1997?) I'd assume they are, but wondered if anyone knows for sure.

- Off the top of your head, do you remember the size of the D1 blades? I hear they're smaller then the D2 blades.

 

How about the rear arm? Mine doesn't work all that well.

 

You can do the same on the rear (That's what she said). I did the DI conversion up front with some junk yard DI arms and they are lightyears better than the DII arms. One of these days I'll get around to doing the back wiper as well.

I put 19" blades on after my conversion, but they are too small.

 

I did the DI swap last year. Kept it simple and just ordered the arms and blades from the local stealership. Swap was back in October and the factory blades are still doing great.

 

Use only 21" blades on the D1 arms. Yes you can replace the rear arm, but you will loose your washer so just clean your blade or replace it with another Rover refill.

 

[quote=Disco Mike;252341...so just clean your blade ...[/quote]


Very true. Every time I get gas in any vehicle I own, I clean the windshield (and back glass on the Landy). After the glass is cleaned with the station squeegee, i run the sponge over the rubber of the blades to clean off anything stuck to it. On the rear blade, I grab a paper towell, moisten it with water from the glass, and wipe it off. This can all be done long befoe the pump shuts off.

In my experience, keeping the glass and rubber clean, makes the blades efficient for at least a year.

*at least, and I am **** about wipers. The first time they start steaking, and aren't dirty, I get new ones.