Odd question here on wiper blades

[rogus]

I have an 81 Elky with a 86 Monte front end. I recently ordered a rh/passenger side wiper arm. This arm is the same size as on the lh/drivers side arm. Is this correct or is that arm supposed to be shorter? bought a set of 16 inch wiper blades but the blade did not work on the rh side. It was about 3 to 4 inches to long to seat properly.

Can anyone give me some info on this? Is the blade supposed to be shorter is the arm supposed shorter on that side?

 

[ELCAM]

Arms.
RH is GM # 20301182 and it is about 15" Long.
LH is GM #20009417 and is about 20" Long.

Blades.
Some sources show both blades as 18" Long, some show the LH as 18" and the RH as 16".

Pretty sure my 79 has 18" on both sides. Since the other is rarely driven I don't know what it has on it.

 

[86LK]

did you order blades or wiper arms? you use both terms above.
where did you order from that got you measurements other than 18"? and did you specify El Camino or Monte Carlo?

Rockauto says both take 18" wiper blades and make no distinction of passenger vs driver

Advance Auto also says the same thing.

 

[69hurstolds]

The over the counter GM replacement blades were 18" for whatever reason to "service 16 inch blades" in 1982 and going forward as the factory started using 18" blades then. So it's very possible to have 18" blades on an 81 if they got replaced. But I believe they came with 16" from the factory. There may be indications of there being a mix in 81, though. Not sure. But apparently if they came with 16" blades, they got swapped over to 18" when it went to a dealer for wiper blade service.

Anco used to sell the correct blade with insert many many moons ago. If you had the anco blades, the inserts were a PITA to replace. It was easier to pop off the original blade and replace with a new blade.

 

[rogus]

did you order blades or wiper arms? you use both terms above.
where did you order from that got you measurements other than 18"? and did you specify El Camino or Monte Carlo?

Rockauto says both take 18" wiper blades and make no distinction of passenger vs driver

Advance Auto also says the same thing.

I ordered both arms and blades. I think I'm going to have to check out dixierestoration for the correct arms.

 

[rogus]

Arms.
RH is GM # 20301182 and it is about 15" Long.
LH is GM #20009417 and is about 20" Long.

Blades.
Some sources show both blades as 18" Long, some show the LH as 18" and the RH as 16".

Pretty sure my 79 has 18" on both sides. Since the other is rarely driven I don't know what it has on it.

Thanks. I knew what I had couldn't be right.

 

[ELCAM]

Poking around on the various vendors websites the only one that seems to have the two different sizes is Mikes Montes. They have the 20301183 which is the black version of the 20301182 which is bright (stainless).

Everyone else seems to want to sell you two arms that are the same length.

RH Black Body Wiper Arm-1486

www.mikesmontes.com

 

[rogus]

Poking around on the various vendors websites the only one that seems to have the two different sizes is Mikes Montes. They have the 20301183 which is the black version of the 20301182 which is bright (stainless).

Everyone else seems to want to sell you two arms that are the same length.

RH Black Body Wiper Arm-1486

www.mikesmontes.com

Thanks! Just ordered it

 

[jlcustomz]

I miss the old wiper blade inserts you put in existing case.
Height of the new blade assemblies is the issue I have rubbing my non stock hood when retracting.

 

[Ribbedroof]

I miss the old wiper blade inserts you put in existing case.

people look at you like you're insane when you ask for refills these days.

My deal is, the OE blades were spec'd to the car, and usually made of stainless...versus the plastic crap commonly sold now. I have found that for some applications, the cheap blades are actually metal