Wiper blade conundrum

[kieran78]

After spending a small fortune through trial & error finding a set of wiper arms to fit the splined tapered, mystery donor, wiper stubs; I am now faced with a need for offset or unequal wiper blades on a 7mm bayonet fixing. Is there such a beast with 3" clearance at the end furthest from the arm (I call it outboard) yet with a decent 6 or 7" inboard (towards arm)?

Thanks!

[Mike]

Have you considered shortening the arms?
(I’m sure that’s what I did)

[kieran78]

Have you considered shortening the arms?
(I’m sure that’s what I did)

How easy is that? The spring seems to be under a huge tension.

[Mike]

I used standard Sierra wheel boxes and arms: but had to shorten the arms to the length I wanted. I actually cut a section out of the straight section and welded the two parts back together in order to maintain the angle on the arm end.

[dave_kitson]

The Cabrio uses the Sierra wiper mechanism, with the 'pantograph' suitable shortened. As such, the Sierra arms fit the splined tapers. Unfortunately they are too long, as are any other arms from cars with the same fitting. I know, I collected loads from scrap yards trying to find something better. I was also trying to find different cranks to improve the screen coverage, can't remember what I used in the end, but the drivers side is straight and the passenger side is cranked. The unused arms are still in the garage - free to good home!

Whatever, you need to shorten the arms. I did it by drilling out the rivet which held the flat section in the sprung section, cut off some of the flat section, redrilled, and reassembled with a small bolt. Small blades were available in Halfords - 11" I think.
Dave

[kieran78]

Thanks Dave. I think I must have exhausted the NOS trico stock on ebay!
I'll add wiper arms to the winter job list