Windshield wipers are different sizes???

[Stang2Vibe]

What the heck is up with this? We are getting an icy/snowy winter storm moving in my area tonight through tomorrow. A few weeks ago, I bought winter replacement blades for my Vibe, as my original ones were getting worn out and needed replaced. So tonight after I got home from work and put the car in the garage, I thought about the wipers and decided to change them. The driver's side one I changed with no problem, but when I installed the passenger side one, it was too long and rested on the A-pillar when I set it down. I took it back off and compared the original wiper blades and found that the passenger side one is about 3 inches shorter than the other one! Why?!? Now I have to buy 2 different wiper blades every time I want to replace the wipers? Anyone else run into this problem?I looked up my part number in the catalog in the Advance Auto store when I bought the wipers and it didn't indicate that I needed different sizes. I also had an employee look up the numbers in the computer because I was asking about a replacement wiper for the rear window (which they don't offer---dealer only as far as I can tell). They checked the wipers I picked up to make sure they were the right ones fro the windshield and there was no problem. Until I go to put them on and found that some rocket scientist genius engineer at GM/Toyota screwed me over. Now this means that I have to buy different sizes all the time. This sucks.

[Nervous_Dog]

My Sunfire was the same way. So is our 1998 Mercury Villager. I guess it's just something I've come to accept. I never buy just the rubber wipers anymore, I usually get the whole wiper and holder. Since there is only 1 in a package, buying different sizes isn't a problem. That's weird the catalog in the auto parts store didn't list different sizes though. Complain just to see if they'll give you a correct one, it might work.

[pmh013]

I don't know for sure that the wipers on the Vibe are 2 different sizes, but I wouldn't be surprised. This happens on a lot of cars. My fiance's Jetta has 2 different sizes; but this was only the case for 2 years, other years they are both the same size.Aren't wiper blades sold individually? The ones I've bought are, so it's not like you're buying twice as much stuff as you need.

[drunkenmaxx]

i think that is pretty much normal these days

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by pmh013 »I don't know for sure that the wipers on the Vibe are 2 different sizes, but I wouldn't be surprised.Yep, they are.One 18" and one 21" blade.However, I use a 22" on the one side since I've had trouble finding 21's and it works fine.

[Sub-Vibe-R]

My gf Ford Escort 95 has 2 different size of wiper. It is very common today, as with 2 different size of wiper you can cover bigger area on the windshield.

[Stang2Vibe]

Hmm.... well I never actually heard of this. Mine have always been the same size. This is the 5th car I've owned and the first one with goofy sizes.I bought the ones where you replace the whole wiper part, not just the refills. I don't like the refill type. I bought the winter wipers because they are made from a softer rubber and the frame of the wiper is covered with a rubber sleeve. Ice and snow can't get in there and keep the blade from flexing properly as it goes across the windshield leaving big streaks everywhere like the unsleeved ones do. I've been using the winter wipers on my cars for several years now. The only downside to them that I've found is that they get picked up off the window more at highway speeds and are less effective then. The air rushing over the car can't pass through them and they get lifted off the glass if you're driving fast enough. You're supposed to change your wipers every 6 months, so I use the winter ones for the colder half of the year and then switch over to the regular ones for the warmer months.

[kaybeejay]

My Nissan Xterra is like that too. I think by providing a larger driver wiper and a smaller passenger wiper, you actually get better arcs and better geometry/coverage compared to having them both the same size.It's a minor annoyance - just live with it and enjoy the improved coverage.

[Merzbow]

Well, just look at it this way...smaller the blades the cheaper it is...maybe, since one is smeller it wont cost as much.