9/73-E31-260z Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 So pretty much my entire wiper arm assembly is shot: blades are shredded, the motors don't want to work, and the arms themselves are brittle and breaking apart. What are my options for replacing them? Just find some from another S30, or is there something that will bolt in? I'd prefer to do something that won't take a while to install or that entails fabricating anything, as I'd like to get the car road ready as quickly as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzzydicerule Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Junkyard, ebay, and craigslist are your best options, ive never seen any new or NOS available, at least not for the motor and linkage... While your at it, upgrade the motor (honda motors are the most common) for faster, and more reliable wipers. AVOID the parts store crap wiper blade, they use a plastic adapter to the stock style mount and it is not strong by any stretch of the imagination. my buddy (PO of my current car) lost one in the middle of a storm, unfortunately the only other option i know of is a ~70 dollar per pair NOS. They sure do look pretty though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9/73-E31-260z Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) Well l was looking for anything that would bolt in or swap easily. Like I said I need to be able to drive it pretty much as soon as possible. S30s just don't show up in yards around here at all so I don't really have that as an option Edited December 1, 2013 by 9/73-E31-260z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clocker Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Wiper arms from a Miata are a direct bolt on and use the more common and secure j-hook end instead of the side pin. As for the linkage and motor... The linkage is easily refurbed, the motor is a bigger issue. I'm preparing to do something with mine (still not sure of the specifics yet) but almost anything is going to require some fab and probably electrical work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9/73-E31-260z Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 Is that any Miata? Or certain years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Here's a link to classiczcars.com that might work for you. Not really easy though. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/content/201-honda-wiper-motor-upgrade-240z.html Another option is Philbin in Portland, OR. They'll clean up the motor and replace any broken parts for a very reasonable cost. At least they did for me a few years ago. http://www.philbingroup.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clocker Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Is that any Miata? Or certain years? Not sure. mine are from an NA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9/73-E31-260z Posted December 1, 2013 Author Share Posted December 1, 2013 Well that shouldn't be too hard to source... I'm thinking I will swap the arms so I can put new blades on and then tackle the motor... hopefully it doesn't rain for like the next two weeks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlejester Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 You can replace the motor with one from a honda accord or a civic, the years escape me, but I think 90's. You have to redrill the holes/lengthen them on the wiper motor mount bracket, but other than that it's a pretty good fit, atlantic z has the wiring diagram and the years for the motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzzydicerule Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 On the topic of miata parts, i stole a wiper motor off of an NA parts car i have, and the mounting flange looks nearly identical, im going to try to retrofit it on my car, good to know about the wiper arms too OP, Ecology usually has one or two whenever im down there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9/73-E31-260z Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Sweet! I will see what kind of headway I can make with this in the next week, I'd much rather be able to just but regular wipers as opposed to fighting with retrofitting and modifying the stock ones. What size blades should I get btw? I looked up some at O'Reilly for a 260z but the ones they suggested seem too big to me. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clocker Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 I haven't gotten that far yet (our car currently has no windshield), so I'm not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzzydicerule Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 IIRC they are 18" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9/73-E31-260z Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 That's what O'Reilly's thing said too but they seem so much bigger than the stock ones, which if they'll fit is a good thing but I just wanted to see what other people that fits and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 You are going to have a hell of a time with that RB25DET swap... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9/73-E31-260z Posted December 5, 2013 Author Share Posted December 5, 2013 Oh I'm not doing the RB25... I decided against it a couple months ago. I got a lot more fish to fry until I'm ready for any swaps, but I caught one today: 5 speed that was supposedly one of the Nissan refurbished pieces when they resold a few completely redone Zs (in 1998 i belive?) for $125. Not too bad. But I still can't drive in the rain... yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9/73-E31-260z Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 So I took off the front cowl today to take a look around. I took the wiper arms off and I was going to try and see if I could get the motor out but I couldn't quite get the mounting screws, is there any trick to it or just unscrew for days? Also there was no rust in the cowl so that's awesome. Are the Miata wipers also a single motor with the struts moving both? or do they have individual motors? Ive just never really messed with wipers much before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzzydicerule Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 i always had good luck with a 10 mm socket with an extension On the topic of wiper arms, The NA miata arms DO fit, but they look a bit goofy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9/73-E31-260z Posted December 7, 2013 Author Share Posted December 7, 2013 I just couldn't seem to get the angle. But I had to stop short before I could get too far, but at least now I know what it's like under the cowl. Anybody have pictures of swapped wipers? Can't be that bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanceVance Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 On the topic of wiper arms, The NA miata arms DO fit, but they look a bit goofy Care to elaborate? I'm working on a single wiper, arm-on-motor conversion and had been looking for an arm compatible with modern blades. I like the thought of having the small spoiler to compensate for the lack of a recessed rest position as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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