What are the biggest wipers you have used?

[Marcus Aurelius]

On my recent trip to NW PA, we ran into rain and I realized that the recommended 18" windshield wipers seem too small.

I took a measuring tape to the wipers already on there and added 2" to each end to make them act as 22" wipers and they appear that they will work and that they clear the weather stripping around the windshield and eachother when they retract.

Is the wiper motor able to handle wipers that are 22" or is that pushing it and maybe I should try 20" or so.

-Marc

 

[Blee1099]

I think its just the engineers picking a size. You have to remember that the wiper motor can push snow especially snow encrusted with ice with no problems..

 

[Joe Dirt]

I don't know if it would be a motor issue, but maybe more of a wind issue. The larger wipers may blow around too much on the Ex perhaps, and chatter rather than wipe by not having enough downforce across the range of the wiper? Just thinking out loud...

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

Well, I guess the best thing to do it to just test them out.

-Marc

 

[2000LXS]

I put bigger wipers on one of my older (98) gmc plow trucks and it really slowed them down so I went and got the stock size back on.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

I put the new wiper blades on. I wnet with 22" Bosch Icon's and they are the perfect fit. They are probably the largest wipers that the windshield will allow without hitting the weather stripping. I tried it with the washer fliud and it didn't seem to slow them down too much, if any. I'll post about their operation in rain next time I get caught in the rain. It will be awhile until it's in rain again, it normally stays in the garage and I'd end up taking my other car.

-Marc

 

[Joe Dirt]

LOL! I did the same thing- I put $45 worth of wipers on my old SHO and it never saw rain.

Try the highway in the rain- that would be the issue with the wind... That's actually why I tool my One-piece huggers off and went back to the stock metal blades. They didn't wipe good on teh edges of the blade- too much flapping about.