****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Anything and Everything about the Body, from paint to undercoating and interior, including in-car entertainment (ICE).

Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators

zagarus
First Gear
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 1:45 am
Location: Kamloops, BC

****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by zagarus »

Here is a very simple DIY on making a wiper arm spoiler for your Legacy (and probably anything else). I got the idea whilst I was looking around a wrecking yard. I took a look at an older gen Honda Accord and compared the wiper to a BC Legacy that was also in the yard. Below are the parts needed and the steps I took to make it. Total build time ~5 min.

Tools Needed:

Rivet Gun
1/8 x 3/8 Rivets (x2)
Wiper spoiler from early Honda Accord
Drill
1/8 drill bit

I didn't take any "during" photos (my bad) but it is very simple to do without any.

step 1) Line up the spoiler on the Legacy wiper arm as shown in the picture below. As you can see I chose to put it right at the end of the thicker part of the arm.

Image

step 2) Mark where you are going to drill on the wiper arm (I did this by drilling through the wiper spoiler hole while holding it where I wanted it). Drill all the way through the wiper arm

step 3) Repeat for the second hole making sure the first one remains lined up. Easiest thing is to put the first rivet in already.

Step 4) Mount your new wiper arm with spoiler to car! Yep it's that easy!

Image

Image

Image

Image

Fits perfectly and doesn't interfere with anything. If you are able to I recommend getting black rivets. Now you will be able to see in the rain without having your wipers skip or chatter!

I will make up another arm one day and take some "assembly" photos.

cheers
subaru_styles
Third Gear
Posts: 698
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 4:36 am
Location: vancouver/pdx

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by subaru_styles »

i was thinking about this the other day when i was replacing my wiper blades. was gonna try to seet if i could fab up one from a newer subaru
1994 SS "JDM-OEM"

1997 2.5gt wagon, ricebowl, 207 swapped

1999 lifted 2.5gt wagon,"tokyo weekender"

1994 gt wagon, next build

1994 turbo wagon
kimokalihi
Fifth Gear
Posts: 8360
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 am
Location: Tenino, WA

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by kimokalihi »

So this helps keep pressure on the windshield while it's doing it's thing? I always wondered what the purpose of them was. Cool idea. Maybe I'll do this when I replace my wiper arms which are super rusty.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
__TT__
First Gear
Posts: 239
Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:23 am
Location: United States

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by __TT__ »

kudos. nice to see a fresh mod. i got all next week to work on the waggy....this is added to the list.
94 tleggy wagon, 22t with 2.5 dohc heads, pp6, tdo4, fmic, 3inch catless bpm turbo back, wrx brakes, MANY interior mods to list
SILINC3R
quasi-mod-o
quasi-mod-o
Posts: 2763
Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 6:11 am
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by SILINC3R »

so kind of relates to wipers. anyone ever thought about putting in the rear wiper and motor. i am guessing it cant be that hard
Tony
90 LS Spec rio red sold
91 SS rio red R.I.P
90 Mazda Miata
2005 GT SWP
92ss satinsvoice wrote:LOL! that block was like F*** THIS! IM OUT!
mike-tracy wrote:Word. I'd love to get my hands on one of those trannies, but I just can't stomach the cost
__TT__
First Gear
Posts: 239
Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:23 am
Location: United States

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by __TT__ »

SILINC3R wrote:so kind of relates to wipers. anyone ever thought about putting in the rear wiper and motor. i am guessing it cant be that hard
my car has a rear wiper :roll:


oh you have a sedan. yeah so o do that i would just go buy a wagon shell and swap your motor and mods and POOF ...rear wiper!!! :-D
94 tleggy wagon, 22t with 2.5 dohc heads, pp6, tdo4, fmic, 3inch catless bpm turbo back, wrx brakes, MANY interior mods to list
evolutionmovement
Knowledgeable
Knowledgeable
Posts: 9809
Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2003 11:20 pm
Location: Beverly, MA

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by evolutionmovement »

Search. You need to drill the glass or order sedan rear window from foreign market.
Midnight in a Perfect World on Amazon or order anywhere. The first book in a quartet chronicling the rise of a man from angry criminal to philanthropist. Midnight... is a distopic noirish novel featuring 'Duchess', a modified 1990 Subaru Legacy wagon.
originalcyn
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1627
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Everett, WA

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by originalcyn »

Two questions, which are probably silly.

1) Is there a benefit to putting a spoiler on the second arm as well?
2) I noticed that certain Impreza RS models have the spoiler too. Would the arm from one of those simply fit?
Kijan

1993 Legacy LS | PBM 227
2004 Forester 2.5XT Premium | JBP 18L
sqc151
quasi-mod-o
quasi-mod-o
Posts: 1199
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:14 am
Location: NY, NJ

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by sqc151 »

i have an RS wiper arm with spolier on my 91ss.
originalcyn
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1627
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Everett, WA

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by originalcyn »

ah sweet. I'll probably go looking for one then. What year is yours from?
Kijan

1993 Legacy LS | PBM 227
2004 Forester 2.5XT Premium | JBP 18L
sqc151
quasi-mod-o
quasi-mod-o
Posts: 1199
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:14 am
Location: NY, NJ

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by sqc151 »

00-01 RS
WagALeg92
In Neutral
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:15 am
Location: Levittown, NY

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by WagALeg92 »

this is INSANE!
1992 Subaru Legacy AWD Wagon
Daily Driver
dkopp
First Gear
Posts: 110
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:18 pm
Location: Frederick, MD (21701)

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by dkopp »

Peaty over on Scooby Mods found a P/N for a Subaru bolt-on spoiler. Might be the same as the RS listed earlier.

P/N 86532AC231

I know the 92 Honda Accord (Gen 4, maybe?) had a driver's side spoiler. I always eyeballed it on my GF's car and thought about ways to put it on my Legacy.

I haven't decided which route I'll go, but I would love to eliminate the wiper chatter.
originalcyn
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1627
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Everett, WA

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by originalcyn »

I ordered a set of 00 rs wiper arms from http://www.subarugenuineparts.com (which is Chaplins Subaru in Washington), since my arms were getting pretty messed up and needed to be repainted anyway. Hopefully they're the right set...

W/RS Left
Make: Subaru
Model: Impreza
Section: WINDSHIELD
Category: Wiper & washer components
Sub-Category: Wiper arm

86532FA180
1 $29.24 $29.24

W/RS Right
Make: Subaru
Model: Impreza
Section: WINDSHIELD
Category: Wiper & washer components
Sub-Category: Wiper arm

86532FA150
1 $29.24 $29.24

Any how, i got an interesting note from them about a delay:


"Quick note to let you know that you have an item out of stock.
Your wiper arms are on order from Subaru.

ETA to our warehouse:

7-10 Business days - - excludes weekends

There are only (2) of the RH side arm left in the entire country

It will take Subaru approx one full week to get us this item."
Kijan

1993 Legacy LS | PBM 227
2004 Forester 2.5XT Premium | JBP 18L
SWRT
Third Gear
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:12 pm
Location: Lakeland, FL

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by SWRT »

Always wondered what that was doing on my RS. I noticed the wipers worked a lot
better on it, but I always just assumed it was the springs. Gonna have to find one
for my Legacy now.
originalcyn
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1627
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Everett, WA

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by originalcyn »

Sorry for hijacking this thread too zagarus, your mod is super rad. If i had any talent i would give it a shot.
Kijan

1993 Legacy LS | PBM 227
2004 Forester 2.5XT Premium | JBP 18L
zagarus
First Gear
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 1:45 am
Location: Kamloops, BC

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by zagarus »

no problemo, the more info on wiper arms and spoilers the better! Personally I'd rather have an OEM one over my modified one but it'll do for the time being :)
SWRT
Third Gear
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:12 pm
Location: Lakeland, FL

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by SWRT »

I just picked one up last night :D Gonna give this a try when I get some time. Thanks dude!
Have you noticed any improvement?
mike-tracy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5000
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:52 am
Location: Des Moines, Wa

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by mike-tracy »

SWRT wrote:I just picked one up last night :D Gonna give this a try when I get some time. Thanks dude!
Have you noticed any improvement?
+5hp, yo :-D
1992 Legacy SS 5mt, build in progress
Josh Colombo wrote: Mon Jan 14, 2002 10:23 am Wait....I'm confused now.
zagarus
First Gear
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 1:45 am
Location: Kamloops, BC

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by zagarus »

Well it still wipes properly at 140kph so I'm going to say yes :D
originalcyn
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1627
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Everett, WA

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by originalcyn »

more like +3, the color of the car is what really adds HP
Kijan

1993 Legacy LS | PBM 227
2004 Forester 2.5XT Premium | JBP 18L
SWRT
Third Gear
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2010 9:12 pm
Location: Lakeland, FL

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by SWRT »

^^

Well mine's red so I'm banking on a 5hp gain haha
zagarus
First Gear
Posts: 118
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 1:45 am
Location: Kamloops, BC

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by zagarus »

I'm going to go on a limb here and say gray with rust is good for -2hp. In which case facepalm!
mike-tracy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5000
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:52 am
Location: Des Moines, Wa

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by mike-tracy »

zagarus wrote:I'm going to go on a limb here and say gray with rust is good for -2hp. In which case facepalm!
I wouldn't sell yourself too short, the "wings" are providing more downforce than before, rust or no rust. Maybe you come out even?
1992 Legacy SS 5mt, build in progress
Josh Colombo wrote: Mon Jan 14, 2002 10:23 am Wait....I'm confused now.
originalcyn
Fourth Gear
Posts: 1627
Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:00 am
Location: Everett, WA

Re: ****Wiper Arm Spoiler DIY****

Post by originalcyn »

yeah, but your street cred it through the roof, so isn't that like intimidation +10?
Kijan

1993 Legacy LS | PBM 227
2004 Forester 2.5XT Premium | JBP 18L
Post Reply