Windscreen Wiper WTF!

[Lucky]

Right, so it seems Mazda decided to use a non-existent wiper blade for 1st gens then? Mine are absolutely rubbish, and with this lovely English drought where it rains for 40 days and nights, it's become pressing to find some new ones. Except... they don't seem to exist

Rather than use a hook and latch like every car made since the Middle Ages, they're on a little pin that goes through the body of the wiper. Mine have clearly been bodged to fit almost-right blades at some point, but I can't find anywhere that even does those. Ones a Champion and one's a Lucas ( ) so it shows how long ago that was changed. What do you guys do, anyone know of a car with the same length arms so I could just swap the whole lot for something more modern. Like, even twentieth century would do

[MelloYello]

I have just been replacing the rubber blade. Fidgity but like you say, i could not find replacements.

[Steve-A]

I had this problem when looking for wipers too Nik.

Ended up going to my local motor factors, where they had some cheapy universal fit generic wiper blades that did in fact come with the pin mount system as well as the normal U hook thing. So maybe worth popping along to a local independent motor factors?

[codge]

Yeh, The pin thing is a problem.

What I've done the last 2 changes is get some PIAA silicone rubber blades from specialists. They are supposed to be an RX7 fit but the pin fitting ain't in the kit.
So both times I've transferred the rubber to my old blades.
But get this, the PIAA blades, if fitted using the silicone-laden screen wipe supplied will last for about 8 years.....with no juddering or murky vision throughout all that time.
They do everything it says on the tin, except have a pin fitment in the kit!

[Marc S]

I use halfords wiper blades, and put the pin through the hole in the new blade... simples

[Lucky]

Hurray for the 1st Gen community. KiwiDave put me onto the correct code for Halfrauds ones, and they list 1st gen RX-7s on the packaging once you know which one you're looking for... just not in the little guide book things on the shelves So that's extraordinarily helpful then

There was only one of the correct sort of wiper in the entire south of Sussex, tried three stores before I lost the will to live and decided the passenger doesn't need to see where they're going anyway

Anyway, for future reference, W14 ones fit and even come with a new little pin and clip malarkey. Hurrah! Only downside, is they're 17" long. My old ones were 18" and there's room on the screen for another inch on top of that. Hey ho. Try telling the missus two inches doesn't make a difference, if you think I'm being picky

[Casey]

Topic revival!

I don't know what everyone else has been doing about sourcing wiper blades but I just bought 2 blades from "GSF" (they have branches all over the UK):

P/N SMEDMW18 (GSF939NA0050) 18" Universal Single

Price £3.30 each (inc VAT)

I can confirm that the rubber from this blade can be removed from the blade and inserted into the RX-7 blade. It is the same construction, with a pair of s/steel metal stiffeners and the locking arrangement is the same.

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[KiwiDave]

Holy 10th anniversary thread revival Casey!!!

Here's a great tip wot I also borrowed from Mister Nik. Mk1 Mx-5 wiper arms (2x passengers side). I run them on mine. Works a treat and you have the hook ends rather than messing about with screw on stuff. No more removing the rubbers from the arm now!

See here - you'll need to scroll down a bit .... viewtopic.php?f=4&t=337&start=490#p24184

[gt_james]

Never found it a problem finding blades for mine, I bought Bosch pin type ones from euros last year for one of mine. Easy fit.

I'll try and find some MX5 arms for my track car which came with no wiper stuff. So far I found a ropey old wiper mech and motor, all the magnets had come off the motor, so a bit of glue and the wiper linkage is in, but missing the arms and one of the angled bung things.

[Casey]

I bought Bosch pin type ones from euros last year for one of mine. Easy fit.

Can you post a link or part number James? I had a look at Euro Car Parts (and loads of other places!) and couldn't find anything with a pin fixing, only a hole.