Real flat wiper blades (and arms)

[ger]

A long time ago I fancied getting some flat blades for the car. I had a look at the retrofit ones and didn't like the big lump where they attach to the older style arm.

I decided that I'd find or adapt arms to fit the car and got searching. I've measured numerous cars in the meantime (with some strange looks from passers by) but only found an off the shelf arm suitable for the passenger side, a 207 driver's side arm (part no. 6429.AP); it's about 5mm longer but really not worth it to make it shorter. I have a spare, brand new, one of these if someone's interested in doing this, pm me.
For the driver's side I found a 'GM' arm at a breakers and shortened it down by 3.75" and twisted it so that the pin is at the correct angle to the windscreen. This arm has a long first section (the part that's bolted to the car), this is necessary to allow everything to clear the bonnet. I'm not certain what this came off, but it was about 23" long, from mounting bolt to mounting pin, I have a feeling it is a new Vauxhaul Astra's driver's side arm.
I then painted both so that they were fresh and matched.

So I have now finally finished them and I have the proper flat blades without the big lumpy adaptor that the retrofit ones have (only took a few hours after I got around to start on them properly).

I have flat blades, 26" and 20" (apparently the Volvo S40 Mk2 uses the same sizes). I bought them from an Unipart shop, GWB926F and GWB920F.

Both wiper arms are Bosch manufactured, so they complement each other nicely.

I never managed to inspect a Volvo, it could well be that the arms off the S40 Mk2 would be a direct fitment, maybe one of you could have a look and measure them.

Here are some pictures:

Arms and blades fitted:


Nice gap between the two blades:


Long first section of the driver's arm, (very similar to original):


Picture chowing clearance between the 207 arm and the bonnet, I think there's a bit more than what's shown, camera was a bit low:


I hope this helps anyone else who's interested in doing this nice little update to the car.

[mjb]

Nice! I've got 26"/22" Valeo retro-fit flats on mine - actually I only just got round to putting my passenger side one on about an hour ago after having it sitting around since I got the coupe I saw it, saw the mole grips and went "sod it, lets bend the arm". I couldn't have it on before because the arm spring hasn't got enough oomph to push the middle of it onto the screen... Pre-bending of course Now I've got a slight overlap, but it doesn't seem to do harm. Love your proper flat ones though!

Think it's worth mentioning here for everyone else that 26"/20" is what the coupe takes. The saloon+estate take 24"/22" due to the smaller windscreen

[DaiRees]

Was just wondering if the arms on the saloon / estate are the same length as they are on the coupe? Mine are measuring at about 495mm (19.5") drivers side, 590mm (23.25") passenger side from the centre of the bolt to the centre of the attachnemt point. Sounds like the drivers one is about the same but would appreciate if someone could check the coupe's passenger side...

Thninking about it, as long as the outer radius of the sweep remains about the same and the blades don't clash in the middle you can get away with a bit of variation.

Gonna have to try this me thinks....

[mjb]

Was just wondering if the arms on the saloon / estate are the same length as they are on the coupe?

Nope. IIRC the coupe uses 26/20 (check that!) and the saloon/estate 22/24

Thninking about it, as long as the outer radius of the sweep remains about the same and the blades don't clash in the middle you can get away with a bit of variation.

I think I've got 26/22" on my coupe. They clash at the bottom of travel, but they clear the rain sensor a lot better than the standard sizes

[DaiRees]

Nope. IIRC the coupe uses 26/20 (check that!) and the saloon/estate 22/24

Not the blades Matt, the arms. Blades will be easy enough to get but finding compatible arms could be a challenge...

[mjb]

The arm length is going to be roughly proportional to the blade size though - half the length of the blade, plus the distance from the spline to the bottom of the windscreen...