Wiper blades

[paddy]

I need to replace my wiper blades but first want to check what the correct length is. The blade on the driver's side is 10" but 11" on the passenger side. Is that right?

Thanks in advance.

Paddy

[gjz30075]

I just replaced mine and paid an exhorbitant amount of money for just two arms, but they were the closest in size I could find. Mine are both 13". They came from a import car dealer and made for an MGB and their references cross referenced it to an Elan, 1972.

The arms were polished stainless and configured in a different way than the Trico's I have on the car now, but the blades were narrow enough to fit my arms and I still had to cobble them to make them work. I'll get the part number if you want.

Greg Z
'72 Sprint

[oldelanman]

Hi Paddy,
I see you have an S1 and I don't know if the size changed over the years but for what it's worth I've just measured my S4. The driver's side is 14" the passenger side 15" and both arms are 11" long. Can't say for sure if that's original but I don't recall ever changing them in the 30 odd years I've had the car....then again there are a lot of other things I don't remember ! It does seem odd that the blades are different lengths though. Another variable which has come up on here in the past is which side the blades park ...mine park on the LHS but it does vary and not just with LH and RH drive.

Regards,

[oldelanman]

Hi again Paddy,
Just came across this thread which I think answers your question.....
http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/elan-f14/wiper-blade-length-t15621.html

Regards,

[mac5777]

For my Elan coupe, blades measure 12 inches and the chrome metal arms are stock at 12 ". I have thought of getting larger blades but would have to replace the wiper arms.

Sarto

[Galwaylotus]

Just bought a new set from Miles Wilkins - 11". That's what was on the car when I bought it, too.

[paddy]

Thanks for the replies. So the consensus is that 12" is right, but then you're picking an argument with Miles Wilkins which may not be a good idea.

I do have the 5mm arms.

The existing driver's side one already (when parked) pokes out from the edge of the screen (it can't go around the corner) and adding a whole extra inch to it would make it quite a bit worse IMO. So I might go for 11" but we'll see.

It sounds like the "prized" speedblades are not original (for me anyway) so not worth shelling out for them...

Paddy