mdh

Does any one else run larger than recommended wipers? I run a 20" drivers and 17" pass on my 97. I have been doing it for years but I just started to wonder if it might kill my wiper motor.

bob200587

I run 18s on both, I'd like to do what you have. i dobut it makes a difference.

MTL_4runner

I doubt it will have any effect on motor life. The only thing that will kill the motor is if the linkage begins to seize up (like mine did.....but I caught it in time and replaced the linkage first).

midiwall

So, I looked at this this morning and... Does your driver's side actually end up above the top lip of the windshield on the upstroke? I can see how the bottom will be fine, but adding 1 1/2" to the top edge seems that it would continually "hop" onto the roof trim line.

mdh

Naa, the driver side (at least on my truck) has about 1/4 inch clearance from the windshield trim at "full wipe"

HUTCHSTACO

i think i will go with 18in next time, would not have thought of this, i like it

midiwall

Interesting... I wonder if the windshields are different on our trucks, the wiper placement, or that the difference between a 17" and 20" blade isn't 1 1/2" on both ends of the center line?

mdh

That is what I was thinking, different blades different "center point" ...
I think my piaa drivers blade might actually be 21" but the bosch icon blade I just bought is 20" and seems to have a little more clearance.

And a quick measure of my blades reveal that from the crest of the wiper arm hook the blades measure 9.5" (to pass side) and 10.5" to the drivers side.