05-26-2023, 09:21 AM
Alright, so most Mustangs didn’t come with rear wipers—kinda makes sense since it’s a pony car, not a family hauler. But hey, if you’re like me and just hate those water streaks on your back window, adding a rear wiper is totally doable. Just gotta be ready to get your hands dirty, and maybe swear a little (or a lot) along the way. Here’s the lowdown on how to make it happen.
Step 1: Check if Your Mustang Can Handle It
First off, you gotta figure out if your Mustang’s even up for this. The rear window on most Mustangs is pretty sloped, so space is tight. You’ll need to see if there’s enough room to mount a wiper motor back there. If you’ve got a hatchback (lucky you) or a convertible, you might have a bit more space, but don’t expect it to be easy.
Step 2: Pick the Right Wiper Motor and Blade
Now, you need a motor that won’t take up half your trunk space. Some folks have used motors from smaller hatchbacks—those compact little suckers can usually do the trick. Just make sure it’s strong enough to move the blade without getting stuck halfway across your window.
Rain-X has some decent rear wiper blades. Measure your rear window first to see what size you need. For most Mustangs, something between 12 and 14 inches should work—just don’t go too big, or it’ll look like your Mustang’s got a giant toothbrush on the back.
Step 3: Figure Out the Wiring and Switch
Here’s where things get real. You’ll need to run wires from the motor to a power source, which means digging into your Mustang’s innards a bit. Most people run the wiring through the rear panels, but be ready to pull off some trim pieces to hide those wires. Oh, and don’t forget—you’ll need a switch on your dash to turn this thing on and off. You can either hijack an existing switch or add a new one. Just make sure it’s close enough that you can reach it without looking like you’re doing the Macarena.
Step 4: Mount the Wiper Motor (Carefully!)
Time to drill some holes! (But seriously, measure like three times before you drill anything.) You want that motor mounted as close to the center of your rear window as you can get it, so the wiper blade covers the most area. Use some sturdy brackets to hold the motor in place—you do NOT want this thing rattling around back there.
Step 5: Attach the Wiper Blade
Once the motor’s all snug and secure, slap that wiper blade on. Make sure it’s lined up so it actually wipes the window, not just the air. Adjust the angle if it’s looking wonky—better to catch it now than realize it later when you’re in a downpour.
Step 6: Test It Out
Before you button everything up, give it a test run. Turn it on and see if it wipes the window like it should. If it’s scraping, missing spots, or just flailing around like a fish outta water, you’ll need to tweak it a bit. Once it’s working, you can put your panels back and call it a day.
Step 7: Fine-Tune and Wrap It Up
Do a final check to make sure everything’s working smoothly. If something seems off, now’s the time to fix it—don’t wait until your first rainy day. Once it’s all good, congrats, you’ve just turned your Mustang into one of the few with a rear wiper! Now go show it off (or keep it a secret, whatever floats your boat).
Step 1: Check if Your Mustang Can Handle It
First off, you gotta figure out if your Mustang’s even up for this. The rear window on most Mustangs is pretty sloped, so space is tight. You’ll need to see if there’s enough room to mount a wiper motor back there. If you’ve got a hatchback (lucky you) or a convertible, you might have a bit more space, but don’t expect it to be easy.
Step 2: Pick the Right Wiper Motor and Blade
Now, you need a motor that won’t take up half your trunk space. Some folks have used motors from smaller hatchbacks—those compact little suckers can usually do the trick. Just make sure it’s strong enough to move the blade without getting stuck halfway across your window.
Rain-X has some decent rear wiper blades. Measure your rear window first to see what size you need. For most Mustangs, something between 12 and 14 inches should work—just don’t go too big, or it’ll look like your Mustang’s got a giant toothbrush on the back.
Step 3: Figure Out the Wiring and Switch
Here’s where things get real. You’ll need to run wires from the motor to a power source, which means digging into your Mustang’s innards a bit. Most people run the wiring through the rear panels, but be ready to pull off some trim pieces to hide those wires. Oh, and don’t forget—you’ll need a switch on your dash to turn this thing on and off. You can either hijack an existing switch or add a new one. Just make sure it’s close enough that you can reach it without looking like you’re doing the Macarena.
Step 4: Mount the Wiper Motor (Carefully!)
Time to drill some holes! (But seriously, measure like three times before you drill anything.) You want that motor mounted as close to the center of your rear window as you can get it, so the wiper blade covers the most area. Use some sturdy brackets to hold the motor in place—you do NOT want this thing rattling around back there.
Step 5: Attach the Wiper Blade
Once the motor’s all snug and secure, slap that wiper blade on. Make sure it’s lined up so it actually wipes the window, not just the air. Adjust the angle if it’s looking wonky—better to catch it now than realize it later when you’re in a downpour.
Step 6: Test It Out
Before you button everything up, give it a test run. Turn it on and see if it wipes the window like it should. If it’s scraping, missing spots, or just flailing around like a fish outta water, you’ll need to tweak it a bit. Once it’s working, you can put your panels back and call it a day.
Step 7: Fine-Tune and Wrap It Up
Do a final check to make sure everything’s working smoothly. If something seems off, now’s the time to fix it—don’t wait until your first rainy day. Once it’s all good, congrats, you’ve just turned your Mustang into one of the few with a rear wiper! Now go show it off (or keep it a secret, whatever floats your boat).