Wiper Blades

[MattDoscher]

So I recently had to replace my wiper blades on my '91 Grand Marquis LS and not having had to do so in a long time I didn't really know what style I had to get. I initially wanted to get this style:

but realized the "elevated" design didn't allow the blades to tuck up underneath the hood when turned off. It was actually the drivers side blade that interferred w/ the hood. I didn't know I had to stick w/ the super basic wiper blade here:

which allows the blades to tuck up underneath the hood when off without any interferrence. My "go-to" parts store Advance Auto was out-of-stock. Napa had some but I didn't care for how they looked. Bought the Trico ones in the second pic from Amazon at just over $8 each. I stuck w/ the 18" ones but the 22" blades fit as well. Didn't realize how hard to find these blades are becoming, at least in my area.

Just thought I would share!

Matt

[sly]

I use beam blades (those expensive ones) on mine. They all tuck fine with those. Added plus is I've not had to change wipers in at least 5 years on either. Had to change the wipers on the 2000 when we got it and installed a set of beams. I think 2 sets are Rain-X (which seem to work best from what I've used) and the other is either Bosch or Michelin. That set will probably get replaced this year or next with some Rain-X beams.

[85crownHPP]

It all depends how bulky the clips are on those things (and your relative clearance)
Ive even put on a few regular-style generic blades that wouldn't tuck, lol... luckily RockAuto always has plenty of 'classic fit' options on closeout. I've even come to like the old school weird-spring/clip-thing type of attachment

[knucklehead0202]

Can't recall if mine were the fancy rain-x ones or bosch, but the driver's side didn't tuck in on my '90 either, until it got settled in a bit. Now it does a shit-poor job of cleaning the windshield because of it, leaving a big shitty streak of un-wiped windscreen. Won't make that mistake again. It probably won't rain here for another 2 years but I plan to look for something with a bit more low-profile clip setup. What a pain in the arse.

[MattDoscher]

I use beam blades

Yeah I saw those and they seemed to have a low enough profile to fit.

leaving a big shitty streak of un-wiped windscreen

Probably right in your line of vision too!

[DerekTheGreat]

...It probably won't rain here for another 2 years but I plan to look for something with a bit more low-profile clip setup. What a pain in the arse.

LoL

I've got the Rain-X frameless ones on my TC, seem to be holding up fine. I consider it good if I get more than a year out of my blades, working on a 1.5 so far..

[gabegt90]

I just get cheap what ever at Walmart keeps cost down the biggest wiper you can put on boxes is 19's

[GM_Guy]

Bosch beams fit. Other beams, have this horendously bulky knot for their one size fits all nonsense. Napa Exact fit (the classic style) also clear without problem.

[VicCrownVic]

I just get cheap what ever at Walmart keeps cost down the biggest wiper you can put on boxes is 19's

I've been running 22s for years on my 89 MGM and now on my 91 MGM. Finding wipers that fit under the hood is always the biggest problem I have.

[MattDoscher]

I also found during my searches that 22" blades fit, I was just using the framed ones which didn't tuck under the hood because they sat up too high. The classic/vintage style and the beam ones are probably the only blades that will tuck under the hood because of their low profile.

[knucklehead0202]

Probably right in your line of vision too!

But of course. The passenger side works great, but I get a giant streak of crap right in front of me. Nothing better

[sly]

But of course. The passenger side works great, but I get a giant streak of crap right in front of me. Nothing better

I had this problem on the aero and whale... had to bend the wiper arm down a little on both of them. The box has no issues with the streaking BS. It does however slap the side molding of the windshield because the wiper linkage is getting sloppy.

[DrHax]

I work at walmart TLE so I got the fancy dance Rain-x latitudes... those fuckers would get caught on my hood fly up scaring the shit out of me and then go down get stuck with an audible THUNK.

I took them back the next day, said fuck it and got bay blades installed. (pocketed the difference and ate lunch for a few more days! ) Nobody knew how to take off the wipers on my car. Apparently they were the original style from the 1980s! I also run 18inch blades since that's what the old ford mechanic who was the only person able to take off the wipers said the car needed. Our stupid books at work are very.. Umm unhelpful? Cars listed under LTD a lot like the auto zone website where Crown Victoria is just a trim package apparently.

So yeah the cheapie bay blades will tuck fine, but anything taller will smash against your hood. Could just be my hood. Once again these cars are old.. people do weird ass things to old cars, and shit can get misaligned.

Huh so that high speed slap is from sloppy linkages.. Thats a thing to keep in mind.

[VicCrownVic]

I just picked up a set of Rain-x Fusion wipers the other day and they fit under the hood on my '91 MGM, ymmv.

Also I see why 18" would be the max that you can properly run. On the passenger side, with my 22" wipers, the wiper rests on hood hinge. I believe with the 18" wipers they would park further down (properly). Other than that I've never noticed any issues running 22s.

[Brown_Muscle]

First time hearing people have problems with them tucking. I've had issues with the beam style not clearing properly in the center, so I just get the old style. Plus it's half the cost.