[Blackbart]

Big thanks for the info and pics. The pics were the key and you're right once you do it it's easy.
New Anco at WalMart went on in seconds and the problem is solved!!

 

[bobg1951chevy]

Very nice writeup as usual, Except for one thing, up here in the north (upstate NY) with all the salt, I was unable to get the blade out even after taking the whole arm off and trying to pull, twist, lubricate, etc..Apparently the metal will pit and swell from the salt. Even had the owner of a glass place that replaces windshields and wipers all the time help me, and it took almost 45 minutes to get apart, and change the blade. Now I pull the arm off before each winter, and lubricate the blade so it will come out. Helps, still tough to get apart, but I think I'm due for a new arm. GM could have make the arm flip all the up like the front ones to get to it easier, but why would they think of doing that....... :banghead:

Actuall GM did think of making the arm flip like the front BUT .... due to the negative air pocket created at the rear window area, while moving, the wiper blade would be sucked off the rear glass, if designed like the front wiper arms. Looks like the GM engineers were thinking, huh?

 

[patverse]

Actuall GM did think of making the arm flip like the front BUT .... due to the negative air pocket created at the rear window area, while moving, the wiper blade would be sucked off the rear glass, if designed like the front wiper arms. Looks like the GM engineers were thinking, huh?

I don't agree, IF they were thinking, all they would've needed was a stronger spring to keep it in contact with the rear windshield. A simple task like changing a wiper blade (front or rear) should be just that: Simple, lift up the arm, pull or snap of the blade and change it! One thing that GM engineers do NOT think of ever, is ease of maintenance for the average person on any component. Another example: look what you need to do just to check/replace the air filter. Used to be a simple wingnut, and you had it off. Now after aquiring the proper tools and extensions, and scraping up your knuckles, you can finally get it open. Won't even go into the discussion of trying to change a headlight. I really believe, they purposely design stuff, with the intention that you have to bring it back to dealer to get even simple items serviced, so the dealers can charge their ripoff prices for parts and labor. IMHO, that's what I think at least......

 

[bobg1951chevy]

I don't agree, IF they were thinking, all they would've needed was a stronger spring to keep it in contact with the rear windshield. A simple task like changing a wiper blade (front or rear) should be just that: Simple, lift up the arm, pull or snap of the blade and change it! One thing that GM engineers do NOT think of ever, is ease of maintenance for the average person on any component. Another example: look what you need to do just to check/replace the air filter. Used to be a simple wingnut, and you had it off. Now after aquiring the proper tools and extensions, and scraping up your knuckles, you can finally get it open. Won't even go into the discussion of trying to change a headlight. I really believe, they purposely design stuff, with the intention that you have to bring it back to dealer to get even simple items serviced, so the dealers can charge their ripoff prices for parts and labor. IMHO, that's what I think at least......

Certainly, you have the right to your opinions. With your theory, the "stronger" wiper arm spring would create more "drag" on the glass, and on the wiper motor, causing more resistance, causing the need for a stronger motor ..... etc., dominoe effect.

Being retired from Chevrolet, I still have the opportunity to attend Chevrolet meetings, the item concerning the rear wiper was one of many discussed at a meeting in Spring Hill plant, Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009, the day mine was assembled.

Regarding "ripoff" prices for parts and labor, it amuses me how anyone and everyone has the right to earn piles of money ..... except for the guys and gals who have to fix these vehicles for the money Lords. :happy:

 

[greentraverse]

I'm with Patverse. The spring is holding the wiper to the window now. I don't believe that suction would pull it off it it was made to come off all the way. Even it were, there are other ways to skin the cat, like making a latch you would un-do to let the arm come up farther. It's not rocket science; you just have to want to do it.

 

[bobg1951chevy]

I'm with Patverse. The spring is holding the wiper to the window now. I don't believe that suction would pull it off it it was made to come off all the way. Even it were, there are other ways to skin the cat, like making a latch you would un-do to let the arm come up farther. It's not rocket science; you just have to want to do it.

Green .....back in late 08 and until June of 09, the concern (complaint) BY some customers, regarding the rear arm movement, was brought up at the Spring Hill Plant meeting, in June of 09. At that point and time, the Traverse was only in production for 9 months. Yet, the complaint of the rear arm/blade was already a concern for some.

Engineering stated, to those in attendance, the reason for the arm/blade not having mass movement, as in moving in and out from the glass, was due to their design to keep the blade planted on the glass, due to negative air flow over the back glass, which has the tendancy to "lift" the arm/blade..

I passed that info to the forum here.

I will also state, with Chevy's seemingly unpopular design, that my rear wiper arm/blade has never "lifted" or created a miss on the glass at any speed. Would it "lift" if the arm had more movement? Don't know. Engineering stated it would.

It's not "rocket science" to replace the rear blade, but care is needed, as reported by Roberto. Replacing a blade is where this conversation, concerning the "unpopular arm design" began.

 

[patverse]

One last chime in, there are many vehicles out there now with rear wipers, and some even allow for the blade to be lifted to change it. IMHO I don't buy the "suction theory". If that was true, every other car/truck/suv out there would have the same problem. Anyhow, GM engineers are going to do whatever they do, and don't necessarily pay attention to customer maintenance. In this area of upstate NY, you have to lubricate the pivot point, because the spring is very weak. Otherwise the wiper will not lay flat on the rear windshield. Roberto's description on how to change the rear blade is very well written as usual, but doesn't work for me. Last time I tried to change the blade, couldn't get it out. Had to loosen the nut, take the arm off. Soak it with penetrating oil, still couldn't get the blade to release, due to the muck and corrosion from the salt around here. Finally took it a glass shop, and took them a bit, to finally replace it. Anyhow the point I was trying to make and still trying to make, is very little effort goes into designing items for ease of routine maintenance. Sorry for the rant, but if enough customers feel this way, maybe something will get across to the design people.

 

[greentraverse]

One way to do it: The arm could be locked into a hinged "socket" that had the spring part attached, pulling the socket towards the glass, and thus pulling the arm to the glass. You could pull the arm off the glass an inch or two, then release a latch and pull the arm out of the socket. I'm 100% confident that it can be done, IF YOU WANT TO DO IT.

For as long as I can remember (and I've been driving since the late 1960's) Jap and Euro cars all had front wipers that would come off the glass all the way and stay there, while American cars did not. It's only in the last 10 yrs or so that American cars have had wipers that will fold out all the way.

So I figure in another 10 years, they'll get around to making the rear wipers do it.

 

[2LT AWD]

I just replaced the rubber blade with a new one that was a factory match but the blade housing didn't fit into the shell of the wiper .
So i bent the prongs holding the rubber on the new one , removed the rubber and did the same to the old metal blade , refastened the old metal
prongs onto the new rubber blade that was slipped it into the old wiper arm . I freed up the hinge point of the wiper by spraying some dry
graphite lube and worked the hinge until it started to free up , applied some Cheetah lube onto the hinge pin and worked it in.
Now it just like new with new rubber and the wiper DOES stay on the glass. :eyebrow: :happy:
I used a battery cable puller to remove the arm from the shaft. :cheers:

 

[ls973800]

Even more complaints about the rear wipers over on the Acadia board.

http://www.acadiaforum.net/index.php?topic=11901.0

 

[Rwsjr]

Just wanted to thank you for these instructions as they worked perfectly for me and only in a few seconds. Find the tab, push in (or toward the rear of the vehicle), slide to the right; BINGO! Other instructions I found were confusing and may have caused me to break the wiper as they referred to pivoting the blade.

I ordered Anco 30-11 blades as directed by a website but 30-13 is the correct size. As you know from a successful installation, the blades I picked up are two inches too short. However, they function and fit fine aside from sweeping a smaller section of the glass.

The rubber blade on my OEM blades were beginning to separate and really were not working. Replaced with a winter blade that should hold up better.

Thanks again!

 

[rbarrios]

Youre Welcome!

 

[Mrocster]

:thumb: great instructions RBarrios, I was at my local Canadian Tire and decided to swap out my rear blade and in doing so I followed your post and I had no problems.

Great post with pictures!

 

[Quickerthanu]

Found that Bosch makes there ICON series in a 13" wiper. Anyone know if that would work since it's a flex blade and has the wicker bill?

Just put the ICON's on the front and figured the rear could use some new rubber too.


Thanks all!

 

[njjohn99]

Would someone please re-post the pictures that go with the procedure for changing the rear wiper blade? Like many, I'm stumped as to how to get the darn thing off. My rear wiper with the guard on my 2009 only lifts off a couple inches from the rear window and has no ability to rotate in any way as per the owners manual instructions for replacing the wiper.

 

[rbarrios]

they will be back up on Aug 1....

 

[njjohn99]

Thank you. I look forward to it.

 

[rbarrios]

I sent you a private message njjohn99

 

[SpinningHat]

Just an update here: (Don't like to necropost, sorry)

Anco now lists the rear wiper blade part number as the 91-12 (AreoVantage) or 31-12 (31 Series) or 30-11 (Winter Blade). I just checked for the '09 and the same part numbers are listed. That may explain why the 13" blades were a little wider than OEM. I had my OEM one on until today when the rubber blade fell off the wiper assembly..

 

[rbarrios]

Went to get a replacement yesterday.
The Wal Mart I went to- had NO ANCO blades....
Their catalog didnt even mention them.
just tons of expensive blades for front.


I looked online (wal mart.com) and shows that my usual Wal Mart- has it- I may stop by today.
As my blade has torn.