I took the hatch strut fittings and the hatch latch off the glass to clean them up and paint them. Once completed I found that they don't fit properly - the strut fittings were loose all along...I didn't notice if the latch was. Anyway, the glass is thinner than that on my parts car and on the '79. The glass on the project car ('85 GS) is .19" thick, and the glass on the parts car ('85 GSL-SE) and the '79 is .24" thick. I can make the fittings fit, but got to thinking about just swapping the glass. The main reasons not to are:

1) The connections for the defroster have been bunged up and look like hell...but I think I can repair them

2) I can't decide if I want a rear wiper.

What do you guys think? Is the rear wiper worth having? Or does it just take away from the looks? Also, has anyone run into this glass thickness problem before?

Thanks,
Rich

 

Never noticed a difference in glass thickness. Best use for the rear wiper that I have seen is it make a good lift handle for the hatch, same can be said for the hood scoop on the TIIs. Choice is your's.

 

Trochoid's right, it makes a really great lift handle. As for wiping the rear glass..... never seen it happen.

 

I use mine regularly when I get in the car early and its dewy, otherwise never need it on the road. Its a little weight but for street use I keep mine.

 

My friend had a rear wiper and louvers on his. Yeah, complete uselessness. Loved the louvers, but, why a freakin' wiper on a louvered car?

 

the rear wiper is the only way I can get mine open.

 

I hate the look of the wiper but I have to have it to see when I back in to a parking spot. So if you don't need it now, you won't need it later. Sounds as if you got a non-Mazda replacement glass.

And for all those people using the wiper to open the hatch, I swapped in 2 new struts and only open my hatch 6 inches using 2 fingers in the proper spot and then it does the rest by itself. It's actually quite enjoyable to see it work properly knowing you guys are using the wiper and broomstick method!

 

I regularly use glass from an '85, an '83, and a '79 in my SA (85 has louvers, 83 has graphics, 79 just has tint. I've never noticed a difference in thickness, but one thing I have noticed is that the later years (83le+, I think) only had defroster lines going about half-way down the glass. I've never had any use for the wipers, but then I live in AZ - I barely have a use for the front wipers! lol.

 

I wouldnt mind having a wiper for in the mornings, but thats about it

 

i have an 85 -se rear window without the motor, but i have a spare or 2 lyin around if anyone wants to buy them