I bought the Motormite arms from Parts Plus. The Spline in the arm was too big for both wipers. I also have a 1989 GMC Sierra. These wiper arms fit right on nicely, but the spline on the truck has a large key which fits into a slot in the arm. These wiper arms were not designed to rely totally on the small splines. I wouldn't recommend using them, especially if they dont fit like mine.
From the other thread you started
quote
So...I have a problem with the drivers side wiper arm. It keeps sliding on the knurled knob. I replaced the arm with one from another car...worked for a bit and then again broke lose, it slides on the knob and eventually works its way all the way off. I then went out and bought a new wiper arm according to the ones listed in another topic. Same thing.
First off, is the knob on the linkage supposed to be just metal showing, or was there at some point a coating on the knob. In addition, anyone know where I can get a wiper linkage? they seem to be quite rare.
Any other remedies besides a new linkage? Can some get and install just the knurled part?
Thanks.
There should be no possible way for the wiper arm to work it's way off if it is installed correctly (pushed down all the way), the arm has the locking retainer in place, and the knurled knob isn't damaged. Since it's only happening on one side, it sounds like the knob is damaged. I've never seen a Fiero wiper transmission out of the car, so I'm not sure how difficult it is to replace.
-The plastic on the arm where the pin is gets brittle and breaks, or the pin comes out -Stock replacements are only available at junkyards or from individuals -Many pin-type wipers are a PITA to replace -Wider selection of hook-type wipers
I have a fleet of vehicles I maintain at work, so I change a lot of wiper blade. I absolutly hate the loop back design arms. Many of the blades are really tough to get off and on. They tend to fall off a lot too. The pin style I can do in a second or two and they always lock on properly.
I have yet to see a pin style arm break the pin off, I do realize it is a posability, just never seen it (I do this for a living, see a lot of them). I did melt one once in the over at about 700 degrees, it could not handle that.
The pic posted on the first page shows the wiper arms with a large raised up tumor on them above the blade. It seems that would drive you crazy looking at them. Also the wiper arm on the drivers sits at the wrong angle. It looks sort of like you have a passanger arm on the drivers side. The blade sittlng wrong would really bug me too.
I installed literally hundreds if not thousands of wiper blades when I used to work at an auto parts store, the hook-type system is by far the best system out there. The pin system I would say is better than the new GM system, which they seemed to change simply for the sake of change. I've broken a couple of the pin types on my Fiero, had customers break the pin-types (which was usually why they would come in for a new arm, occasionally because the spring had failed), and had problems with getting the pin-type wipers to go on and stay on the arms, with the brands we sold and the ones customers would bring in that they had bought from competitors. This was also in a cold-weather climate where people used wiper blades all the time.
quote
The pic posted on the first page shows the wiper arms with a large raised up tumor on them above the blade
I've only noticed this on Bosch Icon blades, which I bought because I liked they way they perfromed on other cars. They also look a lot better than the horrible style the Fiero originally came with
Hate to bring this out of archives after 4 years but, I just got new arms, the 79 and 80. Tried them both on either side and both are too big. I know other folks have had the same issue. What was the solution?
If you buy Anco wiper blades you can take them apart when they are old and save the metal support strips in them. They are stainless steel and can be used as filler rods for welding stainless!
Ok, I just pulled the trigger and ordered the left and right wiper arm. The Motormite brand is no longer available, and it now under Dorman which I think someone may have mentioned above.
For reference here are the part numbers and the current pricing, which has gone up slightly:
[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 02-14-2014).]
Changing blades on hook/loop type arms... Many "universal" blade shell, Remove: Rotate blade shells 90° from arm and push shell toward pivot end of arm. Install: Rotate blade shells 90° from arm, hook shell bracket and pull shell away from pivot end of arm.
Note: Length is a bit "off." Length of arm is 24.50" but because of hook mounting, a little less when you measure to pivot of shell.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
I read the first page of posts and all were positive on how well this works for the most part. Well, I am NOT a happy camper right now! I did read this on page one before I bought everything:
quote
Originally posted by Darkflood: I tried them on an '86, and they did not work AT ALL. Arm mount was too big for spindle. Maybe I have worn spindles, but after over $50 in parts to replace and they don't work, a little PO'd.
This gave me second thoughts about trying this. Then the next few posts say that they work for everyone else, & that the wiper arms are the same for every year of Fiero. So i figure'd I would give it a go. I purchased the Dorman 42579 & 42580 wiper arms as mentioned above. I took them to Auto Zone, and put on a 20" blade for the drivers side, and an 18" blade for the passenger side. All in, it's around $70 in arms and blades. When I got home to fit them to the car, the holes for the spindle are way too big. When putting them on, in the propped up position, then locking the clip, and lowering them, they spin very freely on the spindles, no resistance what so ever. They are completely seated, and all the way down, as I am able to slide over the locking slider thingy. The same thing for driver and passenger side arms. I did try switching the driver and passenger arms, and the same thing.
When I put the original arms back on, even with them slid down just a 1/4 of an inch, far from all the way on, they grab TIGHTLY. The new arms are wobbly, and do not fit at all.
Here is a video to show clearly just how easily they spin.
Re-reading EVERY post, I see that MANY people are having problems with this supposed "mod". One person mentioned that these wiper arms are meant to work with a key that is on the spindle of the Chevy truck for which these wiper arms are intended. Looking at the arm, inside the hole where the spindle goes, I can see where a keyway is meant to keep the arm from spinning on the spindle.
Thought, this was meant to be an upgrade by the original poster, instead I have just wasted $70, along with what seems to be quite a few others in this thread.
All this being said:
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND USING THESE WIPER ARMS. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED FOR THE FIEROS WIPER ARM SPLINE.
Dont just take my word for it, here is a summary of all the problems from this thread:
quote
Originally posted by Darkflood: I tried them on an '86, and they did not work AT ALL. Arm mount was too big for spindle.
quote
Originally posted by pop: Both arms are exactly the same, length and bends. However one of them does NOT fit tight on the spline
quote
Originally posted by peterh: I bought the passenger's side arm and the hole is too big for my splines also.
quote
Originally posted by FieroFish: I bought the Motormite arms from Parts Plus. The Spline in the arm was too big for both wipers.
quote
Originally posted by NEVERDONE: I just got new arms, the 79 and 80. Tried them both on either side and both are too big.
quote
Originally posted by fierofool: One of our guys just bought a set and he also had problems with the passenger side being wrong size.
[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 02-25-2014).]
I bought the passenger's side arm and the hole is too big for my splines also. For now I put the old arm on with some blue locktite, will see if it works. Not sure if the parts store can return the one I bought.
One of our guys just bought a set and he also had problems with the passenger side being wrong size. Had to shim it with Reynolds Wrap.
BOTTOM LINE: THESE WIPER BLADES DO NOT WORK ON THE FIERO
Here's why:
The Fiero wiper blade is on the right. As you can see, the splines in the Fiero wiper blade's socket are MUCH deeper than those in the truck wiper blade's socket. Even though they look close... even though the both measure 0.620" ID, the new ones don't work because the splines do NOT engage.
[This message has been edited by Will (edited 03-29-2014).]
My drivers side wiper arm is all stripped on the inside where it clicks on to the post that spins. The wiper arm is such soft metal the inside spline just stripped. So I drilled a hole straight through it and put a small nut and bolt to keep it working. Not too pretty but at least it moves now. It was working ok, but the heavy wet snow this morning stripped it for good and it wouldn't move, man that was a fun drive to work, stopping every few minutes to clean the drivers side windshield. I figured I could find a new wiper arm, but I just did a quick fix. Also I have the pin type and the damn plastic connectors that come with the new wiper blade assemblies are such crap, it just keeps unhooking from the pin.
------------------ ===Always trying to find time to work on cars=== Louis Duet Baldwin, Long Island, NY Where driving hard is SOP. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Blue" <= '85 Fiero GT Stock V6---Stock everything. Trying to keep it 'mostly' that way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Boo" <= '81 Delorean DMC-12 The "DuetLorean" VIN #5835 Stock PRV engine Robertson Equipped Neiland/Delman Engineered Carbed and loving it! (Peugot 604 manifold) ---"Sorry purists"
[This message has been edited by Lou and Blue (edited 03-31-2014).]
Look closely at the photo Will posted of the splines in the wiper arm, then look at the one RWDPLZ posted. They look very different. RWDPLZ's wiper arms have splines similar to the Fiero arms. But the one Will posted has hardly any spline at all. I'm willing to bet that's involved in all the troubles people are having. The big question is: how / why are some people getting wiper arms with good splines, whereas some are getting ones with weak splines?
I'd like to know the answer to that question myself, since I'm interested in the hook-style wiper arms.
Unlike the Fiero arms, these don't simply push on. The arms have a sliding lock that must be unlocked while the arm is in the 'UP' position.
You also posted on my video I posted to Youtube above:
quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ:You have to open the locking tab, THEN slide the arm onto the shaft, and close the tab. The arm won't install onto the shaft with the tab closed.
A few things:
First, I find interesting that you think the 20 or so people in this thread, that say these do not work, do not know how to use a locking tab on a wiper! I personally give these people far more credit that you are to insist that these work. With the locking clasp closed, the wiper will not seat in any way on the shaft.... and is quite obvious.
Secondly, If you had actually watched the video you commented on, you can plainly see that the locking tab is open when I put the wiper arm on. Then I clearly say in the video "When I push it all the way down and LOCK IT IN PLACE, IT STILL MOVES FREELY"
Next, the diameter of the shaft is approximately 1mm smaller in radius than the interior hole in the superposed replacement arms. I see someone above also measured and mentioned this.
Lastly, that type of locking tab has nothing to do with how tight the wiper fits on the shaft in any way. This clip simply prevents it from falling off.
[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 04-21-2014).]
Secondly, If you had actually watched the video you commented on, you can plainly see that the locking tab is open when I put the wiper arm on. Then I clearly say in the video "When I push it all the way down and LOCK IT IN PLACE, IT STILL MOVES FREELY"
If you actually watch the video you posted, you can clearly see the arm is not in the 'UP' position when you try to put it on the splined shaft. The arm is always straight (the 'DOWN' position, the way it rests on the windshield). This means the tab cannot be open.
First, I find interesting that you think the 20 or so people in this thread... do not know how to use a locking tab on a wiper!
2 people had trouble, and then figured out they were putting them on wrong. There appear to be only 6 people who had trouble:
quote
Originally posted by peterh: I bought the passenger's side arm and the hole is too big for my splines also. For now I put the old arm on with some blue locktite, will see if it works. Not sure if the parts store can return the one I bought.
quote
Originally posted by FieroFish: I bought the Motormite arms from Parts Plus. The Spline in the arm was too big for both wipers. I also have a 1989 GMC Sierra. These wiper arms fit right on nicely, but the spline on the truck has a large key which fits into a slot in the arm. These wiper arms were not designed to rely totally on the small splines. I wouldn't recommend using them, especially if they dont fit like mine.
quote
Originally posted by NEVERDONE: Hate to bring this out of archives after 4 years but, I just got new arms, the 79 and 80. Tried them both on either side and both are too big. I know other folks have had the same issue. What was the solution?
quote
Originally posted by JohnWPB: I read the first page of posts and all were positive on how well this works for the most part. Well, I am NOT a happy camper right now! I did read this on page one before I bought everything:
quote
Originally posted by fierofool: One of our guys just bought a set and he also had problems with the passenger side being wrong size. Had to shim it with Reynolds Wrap.
quote
Originally posted by Will: BOTTOM LINE: THESE WIPER BLADES DO NOT WORK ON THE FIERO Here's why:
I have no problem at all believing a few people had trouble with this. Look at the kinds of question people post in tech all the time, many are simpler to figure out than this.
Unlike the Fiero arms, these don't simply push on. The arms have a sliding lock that must be unlocked while the arm is in the 'UP' position.
The problem people seem to be having is, they're trying to push the arms on without opening the locking tab.
Come off it, Jackass.
quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ:
Go back and look at the photos I posted.
quote
Originally posted by Blacktree:
Look closely at the photo Will posted of the splines in the wiper arm, then look at the one RWDPLZ posted. They look very different. RWDPLZ's wiper arms have splines similar to the Fiero arms. But the one Will posted has hardly any spline at all.
Exactly.
I asked for exactly the part numbers listed on the first post and got what I showed in my photo above.
OP apparently can't grasp that some people are getting slightly different parts with the same part number.
[This message has been edited by Will (edited 04-21-2014).]
I asked for exactly the part numbers listed on the first post and got what I showed in my photo above.
OP apparently can't grasp that some people are getting slightly different parts with the same part number.
What's more likely, they're selling a bunch of defective wiper arms, or some people can't figure out how to put them on? If they sold you a defective arm, I'm sure they'd take it back and give you a good one.
Agreed, there's no need to get hostile. Let's get this figured out.
Just out of curiosity, how many of the people who bought the Dorman / Motormite arms got splines that look like Will's picture, and how many look like RWDPLZ's picture? And how many of you guys grabbed wiper arms off vehicles in a salvage yard?
There's a trend nowadays for aftermarket replacement parts to be worse than the OEM ones they replace. If the guys with good splines in their wiper arms are using OEM ones pulled from salvage yards, that would explain a lot.
What's more likely, they're selling a bunch of defective wiper arms, or some people can't figure out how to put them on?
Neither... different manufacturers have different designs and put the same part number on them. I don't think anyone in this thread has received "defective" parts.
It's pretty insulting to go straight to "everyone is an idiot" as your explanation. It's especially annoying to post that *after* I posted the photos of why the parts I bought didn't work.
[This message has been edited by Will (edited 04-24-2014).]
I bought a pair from Rock auto and they are TOO BIG! This sucks as it is a nice update for the car. Anyone out there got a REAL upgrade?
Tell me about it. I told that to RWDPLZ, the person that says they will work, as have many others have told him, they do NOT fit. I asked that he at least put a disclaimer in the first post saying that they may not work, to save others the time, money and effort. He never did.
Here was the response to people saying they do not fit:
quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ: What's more likely, they're selling a bunch of defective wiper arms, or some people can't figure out how to put them on?
Instead of admitting they may not fit, the logical thing to do I guess is to blame all the parts stores, and the people on the forum, who he thinks are too stupid to put wiper arms on their car correctly. Seriously? LOL!
Here is a running total of "people that can't figure out how to put them on"
quote
Originally posted by Will: As you can see, the splines in the Fiero wiper blade's socket are MUCH deeper than those in the truck wiper blade's socket. Even though they look close... even though the both measure 0.620" ID, the new ones don't work because the splines do NOT engage.
quote
Originally posted by Lou and Blue: My drivers side wiper arm is all stripped on the inside where it clicks on to the post that spins. The wiper arm is such soft metal the inside spline just stripped.
quote
Originally posted by JohnWPB: The spline on the Fiero is small, and the opening in the Dorman arms is just too big. The wiper arms just spins freely when put on.
quote
Originally posted by Darkflood: I tried them on an '86, and they did not work AT ALL. Arm mount was too big for spindle.
quote
Originally posted by pop: Both arms are exactly the same, length and bends. However one of them does NOT fit tight on the spline
quote
Originally posted by masospaghetti: Shape of the arms looks about right, but the splines are big enough that it spins freely on the shaft.
quote
Originally posted by peterh: I bought the passenger's side arm and the hole is too big for my splines also.
quote
Originally posted by FieroFish: I bought the Motormite arms from Parts Plus. The Spline in the arm was too big for both wipers.
quote
Originally posted by fierofool: One of our guys just bought a set and he also had problems with the passenger side being wrong size. Had to shim it with Reynolds Wrap.
quote
Originally posted by NEVERDONE: I just got new arms, the 79 and 80. Tried them both on either side and both are too big.
quote
Originally posted by fierofool: One of our guys just bought a set and he also had problems with the passenger side being wrong size.
quote
Originally posted by jwct7: I bought a pair from Rock auto and they are TOO BIG! This sucks as it is a nice update for the car. Anyone out there got a REAL upgrade?
Re-reading the entire thread, it seems that Sco77 is the one and only person to say that the wiper arms worked for him.
I will say it again: I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND USING THESE WIPER ARMS. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED FOR THE FIEROS WIPER ARM SPLINE, AND THERE IS A LOW CHANCE THAT THEY WILL WORK ON YOUR FIERO.
[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 02-18-2015).]
------------------ "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
I sure wish he would post that THEY DO NOT WORK ON 99% OF FIEROS in the first post! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I keep seeing this thread get bumped to the top again and again when people: a) trust the first post b) pay for them, and find they do not work c) come here to tell everyone that they did not work.
A growing list of people that have wasted money............
quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ: What's more likely, they're selling a bunch of defective wiper arms, or some people can't figure out how to put them on?
Instead of admitting they may not fit, the logical thing to do I guess is to blame all the parts stores, and the people on the forum, who he thinks are too stupid to put wiper arms on their car correctly. Seriously? LOL!
Here is a running total of "people that can't figure out how to put them on"
quote
Originally posted by Will: As you can see, the splines in the Fiero wiper blade's socket are MUCH deeper than those in the truck wiper blade's socket. Even though they look close... even though the both measure 0.620" ID, the new ones don't work because the splines do NOT engage.
quote
Originally posted by Lou and Blue: My drivers side wiper arm is all stripped on the inside where it clicks on to the post that spins. The wiper arm is such soft metal the inside spline just stripped.
quote
Originally posted by JohnWPB: The spline on the Fiero is small, and the opening in the Dorman arms is just too big. The wiper arms just spins freely when put on.
quote
Originally posted by Darkflood: I tried them on an '86, and they did not work AT ALL. Arm mount was too big for spindle.
quote
Originally posted by pop: Both arms are exactly the same, length and bends. However one of them does NOT fit tight on the spline
quote
Originally posted by masospaghetti: Shape of the arms looks about right, but the splines are big enough that it spins freely on the shaft.
quote
Originally posted by peterh: I bought the passenger's side arm and the hole is too big for my splines also.
quote
Originally posted by FieroFish: I bought the Motormite arms from Parts Plus. The Spline in the arm was too big for both wipers.
quote
Originally posted by fierofool: One of our guys just bought a set and he also had problems with the passenger side being wrong size. Had to shim it with Reynolds Wrap.
quote
Originally posted by NEVERDONE: I just got new arms, the 79 and 80. Tried them both on either side and both are too big.
quote
Originally posted by fierofool: One of our guys just bought a set and he also had problems with the passenger side being wrong size.
quote
Originally posted by jwct7: I bought a pair from Rock auto and they are TOO BIG! This sucks as it is a nice update for the car. Anyone out there got a REAL upgrade?
quote
Originally posted by jwct7: I ordered a set from Rock Auto and they both spin on my splines.......... no good.
It looks like the OP has an 84. Could the wiper shafts be another difference between the 84s and all the others? To the people who it is working for, what year is your car?
with the way g.m. used parts across car platforms, other cars have to use the same arms..
wonder how hard it be to change the base that the arm mounts to, to one from a b body or g body..
I agree that a set screw would be the quickest fix for those that paid for the wiper arms. Hopefully others wishing to do this swap take the time to read through the entire thread before they jump into it, that way they can make in informed decision whether or not to risk it.
Did the mod, worked with electrical tape wrapped around the shaft for a while, but became more of a pain i the ass as time went on about 6months after install i decided to put a set screw in the side of the wiper arm. Got some allen set screws about 1/4 inch long. A drill bit and tap and in 5 mins it has been perfect ever since. Cant even see the set as it doesnt stick out at all and its black. I never liked the pin style, plus my arms were faded from the sun. Not a bad mod if you know what to expect.
I had no idea anyone was having trouble with this mod. I have an 85GT and and 86GT both with the hook style wiper arms and they fit like they were stock. After reading through the thread it does seem those that bought the dorman ones were getting quite a variety of results. Don't know if it's poor quality re-pros or old ones spruced up for sale again that are stripped out already or whatever else but both my sets came off a truck at the junkyard. A sanding and a fresh coat of paint and they were pretty good. I would say just head to the yard and try to find them there as they will also be cheaper. I paid $10 for the wipers arms and a few other assorted smalls.
And another thing, why is RWDPLZ getting such a crazy amount of flak over this over many years. I for one a grateful he posted this because otherwise I would have never known I could do this. If he was selling a product I would understand some negative feedback but all he did was post some information. I for one would never go out and buy a bunch of stuff for some mod because someone posted some information on some forum UNLESS I could check it out on the cheap (like $10) or it was well documented with multiple people claiming that it works. It seems like almost no one got it to work so I just crawled the yards while I was there to do it for cheap.
Anyway, thanks RWDPLZ for posting this as you made my little car a little better.
(If anyone would like some pics I will gladly post them also)
Did the mod, worked with electrical tape wrapped around the shaft for a while, but became more of a pain i the ass as time went on about 6months after install i decided to put a set screw in the side of the wiper arm. Got some allen set screws about 1/4 inch long. A drill bit and tap and in 5 mins it has been perfect ever since. Cant even see the set as it doesnt stick out at all and its black. I never liked the pin style, plus my arms were faded from the sun. Not a bad mod if you know what to expect.
And another thing, why is RWDPLZ getting such a crazy amount of flak over this over many years.
Because even after being shown photos of why the parts people were getting didn't work, he refused to acknowledge that fact and instead tried to tell everyone that they didn't know how to install wiper arms.
If he'd just acknowledged the OOOPS, he wouldn't have taken so much flak. Here's a brilliant idea... if he were such a great guy, he could EDIT his ORIGINAL POST to say "Read whole thread; be careful what you get. There are styles of these parts that don't work. YMMV."
Because even after being shown photos of why the parts people were getting didn't work, he refused to acknowledge that fact and instead tried to tell everyone that they didn't know how to install wiper arms.
If he'd just acknowledged the OOOPS, he wouldn't have taken so much flak. Here's a brilliant idea... if he were such a great guy, he could EDIT his ORIGINAL POST to say "Read whole thread; be careful what you get. There are styles of these parts that don't work. YMMV."
I agree 100% It's great to give people ideas, but if they do not work for many, it's also great to let people know that as well. As I mentioned in earlier posts in this thread, I did PM'd him, and asked him very nicely to at least include in the first post they this may not work for everyone. In return I just got the brush off, and that I do not know how to install a set of wiper arms. And another 3 further posts from him, after even more complaints, that these people also are not smart enough to be able to install wiper arms.
