question on wiper arms and blades when using a cowl hood....

rogus

Master Mechanic
Mar 14, 2020
415
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I have had a problem finding wiper blades that actually touch the windshield across the blades whole length and don't hit the cowl hood (see pic). Anyone with a similar cowl hood do you have any suggestions on what brand wiper blade or wiper arm won't interfere with the hood and and still wipe the window all the way across the length of the blade? I have only found that the "classic style" Trico blade (see pic) will not interfere with the cowl but they seem to arch up in the middle making only the ends of the blades actually make contact. Newer style blades will contact the window fully but their height where the wipers attach to the wiper arms are too tall and get stuck on the edge of the cowl.
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I don't see why a cowl hood would be any different at the rear to allow the wipers to hit it. If anything, wouldn't it be higher? Maybe the springs on the arms are weak or the arms need to be lubricated. Is the hood sitting too low in the rear in relation to the top of the fenders? I do know that the new blades sit higher than the originals, but the type of hood should not make any difference. On my 73 Buick, I ended up using the original arms and just got refills instead of the entire blade. O'reillys actually stocked them, but you would still need to have the original blades.
 
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I have a cowl hood and there is sufficient space between it and the arm n blade assy just like the factory hood had. You have something obviosly wrong if they interfere.
 
I don't see why a cowl hood would be any different at the rear to allow the wipers to hit it. If anything, wouldn't it be higher? Maybe the springs on the arms are weak or the arms need to be lubricated. Is the hood sitting too low in the rear in relation to the top of the fenders? I do know that the new blades sit higher than the originals, but the type of hood should not make any difference. On my 73 Buick, I ended up using the original arms and just got refills instead of the entire blade. O'reillys actually stocked them, but you would still need to have the original blades.
The hood does sit level to the fenders. The problem is where the cowl extends over the bottom of the windshield (see pic). The top of the wiper hits the corner of the cowl when the wipers try to park.
 

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I have a cowl hood and there is sufficient space between it and the arm n blade assy just like the factory hood had. You have something obviosly wrong if they interfere.
The hood does sit level to the fenders. The problem is where the cowl extends over the bottom of the windshield (see pic). The top of the wiper hits the corner of the cowl when the wipers try to park.
 

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  • 20241103_103825.jpg
    20241103_103825.jpg
    928.2 KB · Views: 8
I have a cowl hood and there is sufficient space between it and the arm n blade assy just like the factory hood had. You have something obviosly wrong if they interfere.
The closest my pax blade gets really close at its end closest to the pilar. But there is enough room for it to not hit the corner of the hood. The curveture of the glass doesn't allow it to sit flat on the glass.
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Maybe try a shorter blade on the right side. IIRC, GM did sell a curved wiper blade for the 1995-2002 Blazer. I don't know if they still do. You may be able to find a set of OEM wiper arms. They are quite a bit thinner than the new replacements. I had to do that on my 73 buick.
 
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Just wondering if you have a steel or fiberglass hood. When I had the Harwood cowl hood on the '81 the rear edge had to be trimmed to allow the arms to seat & sweep.
This is what I have been wondering about mine as well. It's metal.
 

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