JDM Wiper Mod.
I just finished my rear wiper mod and have a few things I learned (that weren't in this thread) in the process and would like to share.
1. It's easier to remove the rear panel if you remove the rear hand hold first.
2. It's easier to "pop" the rear panel off if you start with the corner pieces closest to the rear window and work your way around.
3. The 2 tabs to the left of the hand hold are the ones that break.
4. This mod changes the wiper movement from Clockwise to CCW
5. Since the wiper moves CCW after the mod, you want to place the wiper arm in the desired resting position when finished (before turning wipers on).
6. The vertical resting positioning seen on most of the "after" pics (see Chris_music's pic on p.6 of thread) will result in end of the wiper motion being perfectly horizontal. This is the position I prefer and have seen in most of the pics.
7. The rear view isn't hurt at all with the wiper in modded position and the rear headrests installed.
1. It's easier to remove the rear panel if you remove the rear hand hold first.
2. It's easier to "pop" the rear panel off if you start with the corner pieces closest to the rear window and work your way around.
3. The 2 tabs to the left of the hand hold are the ones that break.
4. This mod changes the wiper movement from Clockwise to CCW
5. Since the wiper moves CCW after the mod, you want to place the wiper arm in the desired resting position when finished (before turning wipers on).
6. The vertical resting positioning seen on most of the "after" pics (see Chris_music's pic on p.6 of thread) will result in end of the wiper motion being perfectly horizontal. This is the position I prefer and have seen in most of the pics.
7. The rear view isn't hurt at all with the wiper in modded position and the rear headrests installed.
One tip I figured out:
If you are having trouble getting the wiper arm off the motor stud, a 7/8 or 22mm crescent wrench can be used to help pull it off. You place one end of the open wrech on top of the stud (or the loosened nut) and the other end slides under the wiper's base. Angle it correctly and you can use the leverage from the stud to pull the wiper arm up off the post.
I can take a picture if that makes absolutely no sense...
If you are having trouble getting the wiper arm off the motor stud, a 7/8 or 22mm crescent wrench can be used to help pull it off. You place one end of the open wrech on top of the stud (or the loosened nut) and the other end slides under the wiper's base. Angle it correctly and you can use the leverage from the stud to pull the wiper arm up off the post.
I can take a picture if that makes absolutely no sense...
Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,417
From: Capital Distric New York
Virrdog - I've been tinkering with cars since mid-century and I've also struggled with pulling things off splined connections as well, so I would be most interested in seeing a pic of your technique.
K_C_
K_C_
Finally had a chance to grab picture of what I was talking about when getting a stuck wiper off the post. And it's a good thing, I wanted to throw some anti-seize on the old rusty bolt & stud.
This is with the nut off. You use the stud itself as a leverage point to pull UP on the body of the wiper. So you rotate the wrench upwards so that the top stays put and movement comes up under the wiper arm:
This is an alternative depending on how the wrench wants to grip (or not grip) the stud and wiper arm, run the nut up to the top of the stud to make the gap smaller and/or give a larger area to press on:
Hope this makes sense.
...please ignore the hideously dirty paint. Not going to name names, but between my wife and I, someone just drives the car and tends not to wash it... but it's not me.
This is with the nut off. You use the stud itself as a leverage point to pull UP on the body of the wiper. So you rotate the wrench upwards so that the top stays put and movement comes up under the wiper arm:
This is an alternative depending on how the wrench wants to grip (or not grip) the stud and wiper arm, run the nut up to the top of the stud to make the gap smaller and/or give a larger area to press on:
Hope this makes sense.
...please ignore the hideously dirty paint. Not going to name names, but between my wife and I, someone just drives the car and tends not to wash it... but it's not me.
Last edited by Virrdog; May 17, 2012 at 03:57 PM.
And here are a couple of pics...
Again, thanks for the How-To.
Steve.
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 462
From: Columbus OH
Glad I re-check the thread. Always thought this was a good idea. perfect day for it. It's beautiful here today. Doesn't even feel hot anymore right after I eat.
Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 24
From: WI
I did this yesterday. Didn't have many problems. the wiper practically jumped off at me when I took the nut off.
here are some concerns that I encountered. I'm going to put solutions here for people that might not know how to do these things, since some werent addressed.
1. Took me a few minutes to figure out how to take the handle out of the interior panel.
Solution: Use 2 flat heads to pry the 2 tabs downward and it will slide out. You must take this out to get the panel off from what I could tell.
2. I had trouble getting the connector for the wiper motor disconnected.
Solution: I didnt disconnect it... Instead I folded my rear seats down, closed the hatch and just sat inside for the duration of the mod.
3. The 4 screws holding down the backing plate for the motor were really tight on mine, I almost stripped them.
Solution: Put on your big boy panties and quit being a pussy, put some serious pressure on them. Also make damn sure you're using a phillips that is a good fit, something too big or too small will strip those screws out quick, then this quick mod will become a huge pain.
I mention these because I'm a mechanic by trade and have built numerous cars from the ground up in the past and present, and these few things still held me up. So I wanted to mention them for the people who are maybe not so mechanically inclined and might run into the same complications.
Other than that it went swimmingly. I really like it.
here are some concerns that I encountered. I'm going to put solutions here for people that might not know how to do these things, since some werent addressed.
1. Took me a few minutes to figure out how to take the handle out of the interior panel.
Solution: Use 2 flat heads to pry the 2 tabs downward and it will slide out. You must take this out to get the panel off from what I could tell.
2. I had trouble getting the connector for the wiper motor disconnected.
Solution: I didnt disconnect it... Instead I folded my rear seats down, closed the hatch and just sat inside for the duration of the mod.
3. The 4 screws holding down the backing plate for the motor were really tight on mine, I almost stripped them.
Solution: Put on your big boy panties and quit being a pussy, put some serious pressure on them. Also make damn sure you're using a phillips that is a good fit, something too big or too small will strip those screws out quick, then this quick mod will become a huge pain.
I mention these because I'm a mechanic by trade and have built numerous cars from the ground up in the past and present, and these few things still held me up. So I wanted to mention them for the people who are maybe not so mechanically inclined and might run into the same complications.
Other than that it went swimmingly. I really like it.