legacycentral bbs

I, like others, feel a desperate need to own a sedan with a wiper on the rear window.

So, what will it take to do it? JDM windows cost an arm and an ass to ship, and usually break before you get them.

What if we use the wagon wiper assembly, which goes thru the glass, and the wagon wiper switch (I'm not familiar, is it a separate switch, or incorporated into the wiper stalk?) and associated relays... then have a glass shop drill the appropriate hole in the rear glass? Folks with 3rd brakelights in the window will have to move them, but SS owners should be OK. The other issues are wiring, and creating a cover for the motor assembly, but it seems to me to be a fairly simple mod.

Any thoughts?

If we look at it like the one I put on our RS, the wiring will have to be done from the front pass kick panel to the rear. ( three wires or two).

The wagon wiper can't be used as the brackets are way different. I have a spare wiper motor for the RS, and I think the BC one is about the same.

The wiper stalk will have to be out of a wagon, but it will work and be a direct swap. The relays will have to be out of a 93-95 impreza wagon. ( as those are the closest to the real set-up) I have one that is labeled for this exact reason.

If you can get a glass shop to cut the hole and temper it REAL good, then I think I can come up with the rest.

I bet i can use the impreza for the template and make it work.

But it's the glass I am worried about. A hole in glass that did not have one in the first place is subject to more stress than one that was made that way.

That would also be my concern as windows are a stressed component of the chassis. Not saying it couldn't work, just pointing out a concern.

But I definitely agree - rear wipers are real useful and the lack of one is a reason I don't like sedans. Unfortunately, the vehicle I'm building will have acrylic rear windows and a wiper cannot be used, nor would it pass my aerodynamic sensibility.

The rear glass is tempered, there is no practical way to put a hole in it after its made. The only non-practical way I can think of is to mask it and slowly sand blast your way through without building up to mush heat. But I really doubt that you could get it done with breaking it.

But I sure would like to have one too.

Gary

The sandblast method is usually how they cut windshields for chopped-top cars. I'd say this would be the preferred way of doing it, if it would work to cut a small hole, since it would provide the least likelihood to stress crack during or after. Definitely try with a junk yard window first.

or you could just install a super-powered defroster, and evaporate to a sizzle any water that dares make contact with the glass....Just a thought.

Or get Leonardo Fioravanti to make you a rear window! link