L400 windshield wiper adapters..solved!

[jcolvin]

After much on-line research, I finally found a solution to the L400 wiper issue (non-standard screw-on wipers).

These three Bosch wipers include a steel "side saddle" adapter that bolts to the standard L400 wiper arm and allows fitment of any standard "hook" wiper blade. Use the original screws on your wiper arm, not the screws that come with the adapters. The adapter is plenty strong and I can't see it bending or coming loose. It fits the wiper arm perfectly, no hole drilling required.

The three wipers that include the adapter are: Bosch Excel+ 41917, 41919, and 41921 (17'', 19'' and 21'' blades). Of course none of these blades will fit the delica, but you are buying them for the adapter and not the blade. If you have another vehicle that takes a 17, 19 or 21'' blade buy whatever will fit your other vehicle. Cost around $16-18/blade.

Finding stock on these is a challenge. Lordco and Napa don`t carry the excel+ blades any more. The only local place I found that carry them is North Shore Parts in North Van (1425 Main Street, North Vancouver, BC, V7J 1C9 604-980-4500). There are a number of places in Toronto that have them if North Shore runs out, you can use the Bosch Canada website to find bosch dealers. Or you can get Northshore to order more of them.

[thedjjack]

On my old jeep I just welded modern ends onto the old arms. Just another option.

[jfmills73]

Many thanks for doing the research on the wiper blade issue! Others have said they just used Can Tire replacements, but I cant for the life of me see how they could attach these...
(I have an L 400 '95 Super Exceed.)
I bought the Excel + as you said and indeed the 19" pack includes the adaptor. However, the 21" does not. Maybe they changed recently? ( I found them at my local Carquest parts store. Go to carquest.ca for a store locator.)
I got as far as attaching the 'side adaptor' to a 26" Bosch Evolution, but then I cant seem to attach the adaptor back on the wiper arm. The arm end is slightly too large to slide into the adaptor. How did you 'bolt' the adaptor to the arm?
Any advice much appreciated!

[tonydca]

Reviving an older L400 thread, but I changed my front wipers today, and I too bought the 17" Bosch blade for the adapter, and a 26" Bosch blade for the actual blade.

After removing the old windshield wiper mount right down to the bare arm, the adapter from the 17" blade needs to have its centre mount hole drilled out about 2 mm, then it screws on perfectly. Use the side-pin attachment that comes with the 17" blade, and the 26" blade clicks right onto it.

And the real bonus for getting the 17" blade for the adapter, is that the blade itself is a perfect replacement for the one on the rear window (on the L400). It uses a standard 9mm J-hook attachment and clips right in with no need for the adapter that you just used on the front windshield. Score!

[Feds]

I just swapped my JDM blades for a set of winter wipers. I just drilled the rivet out of the original blades and used a double-nutted bolt to hold the new wiper on.

[Artacoma]

Rocky mountain imports has adaptor clips for $6

[jcolvin]

Many thanks for doing the research on the wiper blade issue! Others have said they just used Can Tire replacements, but I cant for the life of me see how they could attach these...
(I have an L 400 '95 Super Exceed.)
I bought the Excel + as you said and indeed the 19" pack includes the adaptor. However, the 21" does not. Maybe they changed recently? ( I found them at my local Carquest parts store. Go to carquest.ca for a store locator.)
I got as far as attaching the 'side adaptor' to a 26" Bosch Evolution, but then I cant seem to attach the adaptor back on the wiper arm. The arm end is slightly too large to slide into the adaptor. How did you 'bolt' the adaptor to the arm?
Any advice much appreciated!

Weird, I don't recall having to finangle anything. If the arm end on your is slightly too large you could just grind it down a tad. I re-used the original screw since the one that comes with the adapter is slightly too large.

[CREGAN]

I finally had a wiper blade separate so I am looking to replace. Anyone have a preferance on the available fixes? Crappy Tire alternative or adapters from Rocky Mountain Imports? Trying to decide which one works the best for the longest. Rate your experience for me.

Craig

[Artacoma]

my Rocky mountain clips are still holding up and you can use any wiper with them

[psilosin]

I just bought standard type wipers from WalMart and removed the rubber wiper strip from the arm and tossed the arm (after middle fingering it of course for it being such a waste). Then just swap the new rubber for the old rubber on the original L400 wiper arms. 2 minutes start to finish. No fuss no muss. No streaks no smears just funtimes like a hippo splashing in a pond.

[VanVonVan]

I found if you buy the cheap can tire brand of 17" wipers it comes with a metal hook attachment that can me "made" to fit. A little work with the dremel to the wiper arm and the hook and they aren't going anywhere. I have been using it on my L400 since fall and after 2 heavy dumps of snow they are going strong. I think I took a few pics if anyone wants me to post them.

Russell

[jaggedfish]

It sounds like Feds did the same as I did. Took off the old wipers and used my dremel to grind out the rivets on the original wipers and reattached the hingle brackets to the arms then just used stainless bolts with nyloc nuts to attach new wipers. This mod keeps the wipers in the center position instead of going to the side post. I have pics of the process somewhere as I planned on posting a how-to... will try to find them.

Cheers!
Ian

[doodah]

I got some nice adapters from Butch at CVI last summer for around $10/pair

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

I just bought standard type wipers from WalMart and removed the rubber wiper strip from the arm and tossed the arm (after middle fingering it of course for it being such a waste). Then just swap the new rubber for the old rubber on the original L400 wiper arms. 2 minutes start to finish. No fuss no muss. No streaks no smears just funtimes like a hippo splashing in a pond.

This is exactly what we have done. Very simple ( See pic below for Costco product ).
Using the rubber with steel shim from new 26" blade assy is the key.

Steven