How To - Gen1 to Gen2 Rear Wiper Switchover

[IndyDurango]

I've posted before about the possibility of changing the rear wipers out on a Gen1 to those used on a Gen2. The consensus was yes, it'd probably work. (see this thread) Well, the answer is now yes for sure. In fact, it'll take you longer to read this review than to install your new Gen2 wiper!

My rear wiper was starting to look a little rough with the painted finish wearing off. I bought a second rear wiper to replace it and I was either going to go with stock black or paint and finish the original to match the D. Well, the longer I thought about it, the more I wanted to try to switch it out for the Gen2 rear wiper. I like the look of the Gen2 rear wiper much better, plus it pulls away from the rear hatch glass nearly three times as far as the Gen1 version I had. IMHO, that makes it a lot better to clean the glass, replace the wiper blade, and usage in general.

I went to the stealer to order the parts, told them what I was doing and, of course, since it's not in their book it can be done, all I got was that blank stare back from across the counter. They looked up the rear arm on the Gen2 '04 D and ordered it for me. Once it came in, I went to pick it up and, when I saw the arm, I knew something was wrong. It was only one part of what was needed to make this switch work. Again, since this isn't in the book as something that works, they printed out the exploded view of the arm and told me I'd probably need all of the other parts too, ten of them total. After review, I ordered six of the ten parts and, during installation, found out I really only needed three of them. I took the other parts back for a refund after the install.

The second order of parts came in, I went and picked them all up and went home to change out the wiper. It's a perfect fit and, if I wasn't taking pictures and stuff, it'd have taken a whole 5 mins to do the replacement (or do I call it upgrade?!) If you like the look, have a few bucks, and a simple socket set, you can truly do this in 5 mins. This is one of the easiest things and most satisfying look I've done on my D.

Parts to order:
5135583AA = Arm wiper (I paid $33, $38.64 list price)
55077453AA = Cover - Wiper (this goes over the nut. I paid $1.95 @ retail)
5135584AD = Rear blade (articulated in three sections and is really the second part of the arm. I paid $10, $13.98 list price)

Parts to reuse from your Gen1:
The nut that secures the existing arm to the shaft.

What to do:
Remove the bolt cover on the rear wiper. I was able to pop it off with my fingers (1st time it has been off since the factory put it there.) Remove the nut with a socket. Once the nut is off, the arm doesn't just fall off. Work it a little and it'll come straight off. I thought I'd need a puller, or would have to pry, but just a few seconds of moving it back and forth and it comes right off. The shaft that goes thru the arm has groves all around it that match up with grooves in the hole on the Gen1 arm. The hole in the arm also tapers from wide to narrow.

Take the two parts of the new wiper and squeeze the end of the blade mounting section while placing it into the end of the arm. It'll simply click into place on the arm. Prior to leaving the dealer, I looked at a Gen2 on the lot and took it's wiper on and off (10 secs) so I knew how it fit together.

The hole on the Gen2 arm is tapered like the Gen1 but doesn't have the grooves to match up on the spindle. Also, the bolt hole is in a section of the arm that's spring loaded. It pivots so it springs out when you pull the installed arm away from the glass. On the Gen1 arm, the entire section pivots. On the Gen2 arm, the pivot section is concealed inside of the arm. Once I placed the arm where I wanted it (the starting/off position), I used a screwdriver to press the pivot section inward towards the hatch and then I placed the nut on the shaft and tightened it down. Otherwise the pivot section would be in the way slightly and there wouldn't have a lot of threads for the nut to latch onto. NOTE: The nut won't go on as far as it was with the Gen1 arm but the new nut that I returned "was" identical. Once tight, I supported the arm and tightened the nut down again because the tightness and pressure on the pivot piece is what holds the arm on keeping it from slipping since there are no groves on the Gen2 arm as mentioned above. I'm sure the old saying is 'tight is tight and too tight is broke', so don't over do it! If I had to do it over, I'd add Lock-tite to the bolt before I tightened it. I'll go back and do that sometime soon.

Once the arm's in place and the nut is on, just pop the cover/cap in place to cover up the hole. The caps between the Gen1 and the Gen2 are dramatically different in size and style. There's a little section that tucks up towards the arm in a slot like place and then the cap pops in place. It can't go on wrong, so this is simple. Once the cap's in place, you're done!

Thing to note:
The Gen2 arm looks like it could be heavier than the Gen1 arm, however this isn't the case. The plastic on the Gen2 arm is much lighter than the metal on the Gen1 so there should have no ill effects to the wiper motor.

Also, the Gen2 arm is a full 3 inches shorter. In this case, size really doesn't matter because the wiper clears a section that covers what you see in the rear view mirror while driving. I believe the engineers simply found out they could cut a few ¢ off the production costs by shortening the blade without effecting drivability.

Rant:
So it was inconvenient to have to go to the stealer three times (twice to get the parts and again to return the extras.) However, since this was all experimental, I accepted that (side bar: the Gen2 chrome 'billet style' fuel door is only listed for Gen2 Ds however, it's also a "bolt on" replacement for all Ds - proven by the one I had and then sold to another DOCer which fit fine on both of our Gen1 D's!) What makes me rant is that, when I returned the extra parts to the counter, I handed them to the guy and he started the return process. Then he said there was no refund on the nut because for some reason they'd billed me $0 for the (outrageous) $2.85 cost. In fact, it was right there on my invoice at $0. I said, "Well then, I'd like the nut back." and the guy was shocked. He said "We can't simply give you the nut back at no price." Huhh Okay?!?! Didn't I just return it? Had I noticed I'd paid $0 for it, I'd have left it in my pocket. It was just that little comment and action that sorta rubbed me the wrong way (having a bad day anyway.)

Anyway, hope this helps someone else accomplish this simply, yet satisfying upgrade (that's what I'm calling it now.) Here's the pictures, broken up over three posts. Enjoy!

IndyDurango
EDIT: removed mod list in favor of mod photo

[IndyDurango]

Here's a second set of photos:

My wife, Mrs. IndyDurango's note, which she says is very important:" Tell them the photos are taken out in the garage and the parts are on an old dirty garage rug, not our house!".

Okay there

IndyD.

[IndyDurango]

Installed Photos. Luckily it was raining (all day) so the wipe photos are shown with real Indiana rain. Enjoy!

Heck, I could have installed these on 100 D's by the time I wrote up this article

IndyD.

[2K R/T]

Westgate for you, dammm Stealership!
I was pricing the same on Monday. About $43 for the whole thing.
Just had to order it for me.

Looks great. Got to wait on DC parts for mine. Should be in sometime this year, DC parts sometimes are the slowest.

And she's proud to state that…shame on her and you for letting the "garage" get so dirty!

Rick

[IndyDurango]

[2K R/T]

Same
Arm, wiper blade, cover, no free nuts…

Rick

[FSTDANGO3]

Nice job Indy
My wiper parts are at the body shop waiting for paint as they'll be painted at the same time as the new bumpers.

Tell the Mrs we love what she's done with the carpeting in the garage of course!
Just Kidding!
Steve
DOC Pres

[IndyDurango]

[2K R/T]

Photos don't do this Justice. Indy stopped by the shop today and it looks great in person. Nice to meet you Rob.

Rick

[IndyDurango]

Thanks Rick! It was nice meeting and chatting, sorry I took you away from work for so long Great collection of Memphis and stuff there in the shop!

I told Rick when I turned the corner and saw his D sitting there, it was like eyecandy Christmas. Not too often I get to see another DOCers ride. It'll take me quite a while (if ever) to get to the outstanding mod level that your D is at.

Let's see a pic of those fender well covers whenever you get them done and installed.

Note on the finish of the install: The wiper does sit at a tiny little bit of a canter outwards from the bottom. Hardly perceptable unless you're looking for it and really only viewable from the drivers profile side. I checked a Gen2 out today and that's how it's there too. I thought I had it on crooked or something. I thought I'd point that out for all you perfectionists who are about to embrace this simple yet cool mod.

I'll get a smile from every Gen1 I see now with the Gen2 wiper, thinking I may of had some little influence with it.

IndyDurango
EDIT: removed mod list in favor of mod photo

[FSTDANGO3]

Ricks D is something else isn't it?
Wiper mod is definitely worth it.
Awesome write up
Steve
DOC Pres

[BadCompany]

Great write up! I'm ordering the parts in a couple days since my wiper seems to be bent and it starting to chip. I was actually gonna ask my mom if I could take the one off her car a few weks ago to see if it fit mine but then I though about it and decided she'd just yell at me and tell me no you'll break my car.

[FSTDANGO3]

They're also available at www.dodgeparts.com for what I think was about $37 total for all the parts.
Steve
DOC Pres

[Kid Durango]

Great…put another idea in head!! LOL Man…mods are gonna be coming quicker now!! I'll probably order all of my parts to do it at work Monday…I'll paint it with the rest of my stuff for paint. Boss is gonna run a shop tab for all of the paint I'll be using now!! LOL

Thanks for the ideas, and yes very good write up!

The Kid D

[BadCompany]

Went to the dealer Thursday and ordered all the parts, came in the next day and got them all installed. Looks great too, much nicer and cleaner than the little metal one. Also, I was kinda shocked about the price! Mine only came to $48 and, when I added up your prices, I got $54 for it. I actually figured it'd be more money from the dealer lol. I'll get some pics if the snow ever stops lol.