Replacement Wiper Blades?

What is everyone using for replacement wiper blades? What do you like? What doesn't work? Please give your wiper blade review:

[Dean]

A couple options options.

Find inserts for the stock blades, especially if it has an airfoil on it!!! that airfoil keeps it on the window at speed!

Cheapest you can find. Walmart and replace every 6 mos.+

Rain-X when they go on 2 for 1 sale. Good for much longer so far. I am pretty happy with the one set I have.

Biggest key is to clean your blades every time you wash your windows as well as flopping the blade in it's at rest position when you do clean them.

[sperry]

Most blade with airfoils on them have the wing mounted on the arm, not the blade. Virtually every car in the last 10 years can use the full replacement wiper rather than an insert without loosing the airfoil.

Plus those rain-x/bosch/etc single piece blades all have airfoils built into them. I've been using the Bosch blades, they're pricey, but they seem to work pretty well.

[cody]

I'm rockin' cheapies from Advance Auto, but plan to upgrade to something better. The solid piece ones don't work for me. I tossed the RainX ones I tried since they wouldn't fully contact the windshield at the ends. Apparently I'm the exception to the rule though. Nobody else has that issue. I almost grabbed some PIAA silicone ones from Perrin since I just ordered camber bolts from them, but they're over $40 for a set. I'm on the lookout for some stock style replacements that are designed for freezing weather.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by cody

I'm rockin' cheapies from Advance Auto, but plan to upgrade to something better. The solid piece ones don't work for me. I tossed the RainX ones I tried since they wouldn't fully contact the windshield at the ends. Apparently I'm the exception to the rule though. Nobody else has that issue. I almost grabbed some PIAA silicone ones from Perrin since I just ordered camber bolts from them, but they're over $40 for a set. I'm on the lookout for some stock style replacements that are designed for freezing weather.

Sometimes to get the single piece blades to contact correctly, you have to adjust the tension on the wiper arm. Usually a slight bend to the arm one way or the other will do it.

My truck's blades made really poor contact until I bent the arms to put more pressure on the blades.

[cody]

Originally Posted by sperry

Sometimes to get the single piece blades to contact correctly, you have to adjust the tension on the wiper arm. Usually a slight bend to the arm one way or the other will do it.

My truck's blades made really poor contact until I bent the arms to put more pressure on the blades.

I did that after you suggested it the last time we had a thread with this topic. I guess I could try again, but I still feel like the wipers barely work with the more flexible OEM syle blades.

[rory_a]

Where would I go about tracking down a set of the wipers with the air foils? I need new arms? There's a STi part out that might have a set, I need a couple little pieces for the interior so I might try to grab the wipers as well.

My wipers don't do a thing at 50+, lower speeds they're great. Time for new blades, but I wanted to get the air foil style as well as decent blades.


I've been using the Rain X blades on every car for years and love them. Not snow proof so might try to get a set of the enclosed ones for the WRX, but the Rain X are the best I've used in non-freezing conditions (better than Bosche IMO).

[khail19]

I've had the PIAA silicone blades for a long time, 6 or 7 years now. I've never owned a wiper that lasts as long and works as well. I've only replaced the inserts in them twice since the original purchase. They are initially expensive but I feel they are more cost effective in the long run over buying cheap blades 2 or 3 times a year.

I am using the Goodyear one piece blades from Costco on my truck and my wife's car and they work pretty well, both sets have lasted about a year now. They are only $8 each for any size and are basically the same design as the Bosch or Rain-X blades that cost ~$20 each.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by cody

I did that after you suggested it the last time we had a thread with this topic. I guess I could try again, but I still feel like the wipers barely work with the more flexible OEM syle blades.

I *almost* went and posted the ms-paint picture from that thread in here.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by sperry

Most blade with airfoils on them have the wing mounted on the arm, not the blade. Virtually every car in the last 10 years can use the full replacement wiper rather than an insert without loosing the airfoil.

Except apparently Subaru Imprezas and Audi A4s. The stock driver side blade on my WRX and STI have the airfoil on the blade as do all the B5 A4s.

And Dealerships are more than happy to sell you inserts for factory blades at twice the price of a new blade form Walmart...

You can also mail order inserts fairly cheaply on-line if you are ordering something else that helps handle the shipping fees.

[cody]

Originally Posted by khail19

I've had the PIAA silicone blades for a long time, 6 or 7 years now. I've never owned a wiper that lasts as long and works as well. I've only replaced the inserts in them twice since the original purchase. They are initially expensive but I feel they are more cost effective in the long run over buying cheap blades 2 or 3 times a year.

I am using the Goodyear one piece blades from Costco on my truck and my wife's car and they work pretty well, both sets have lasted about a year now. They are only $8 each for any size and are basically the same design as the Bosch or Rain-X blades that cost ~$20 each.

Damn, I should have just bought them. Wish I had known. I've always heard PIAA bulbs are overpriced so just figured their wiper blades were too. Where's the best place to get them?

[k-dogg39]

Originally Posted by cody

Damn, I should have just bought them. Wish I had known. I've always heard PIAA bulbs are overpriced so just figured their wiper blades were too. Where's the best place to get them?

Tire rack and Summit have them. I think tirerack is cheaper if you are going out there...

[khail19]

Tirerack is about $7 cheaper for the set, I don't know if it's worth the extra gas/time to drive out there.

I do agree that the PIAA bulbs are overpriced, but the wipers have been awesome.

Edit: Just checked Amazon and they are the same price as Tirerack, with free shipping.

[left footed whooten]

Ive been stoked on the Valeos from tirerack, 2 for 1 sale all the time, no moving parts, built in sort of airfoil. 2.5 yrs, 2 winters on mine, gonna replace them before full winter.

[zpeed]

I always get a cheap insert and replace every year. I should go get a new one tomorrow.

[Dean]

Originally Posted by zpeed

I always get a cheap insert and replace every year. I should go get a new one tomorrow.

Where in Reno/sparks carries just inserts anymore???

The Trico 47-800 looks like the perfect Subaru refill option at least 2002-7. A pair of 8mm square break to fit refills for $7!

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Dean

Except apparently Subaru Imprezas and Audi A4s. The stock driver side blade on my WRX and STI have the airfoil on the blade as do all the B5 A4s.

Um... no they don't?

[Dean]

Originally Posted by sperry

Um... no they don't?

Weird. I thought my WRX was the same as my STI... The Audi driver side is similar.

[Dean]

HaHa!!! Napa in sparks can get the Trico 47-800 (and others) which is a pair of snap to fit refills that should fit any 8mm rectangular claw blade which the STI are. $7.29!!!

These fit from 15" through 26"!!!

Not bad. They are cheaper on the Internet, but shipping kills it.

KSpeed, can you get these any cheaper?

[Kevin M]

Our supplier doesn't carry Trico. And they're $4 products Dean, how much discount do you think we get?

[Dean]

Originally Posted by Kevin M

Our supplier doesn't carry Trico. And they're $4 products Dean, how much discount do you think we get?

Let me rephrase. I would rather give you guys the $7 bucks than Napa. Thought you might also want to have them for people who want refills. Whatever.

[Kevin M]

Originally Posted by Dean

Let me rephrase. I would rather give you guys the $7 bucks than Napa. Thought you might also want to have them for people who want refills. Whatever.

NAPA on Glendale basically wholesales to everybody. There's little or no extra discount for us there, though yes, we can get those blades or any other maintenance item for anybody who asks. But after markup to cover credit card fees etc., we'd actually have to charge you more than they would in most cases. We typically use Kragen/O'Reilly for most non-OE parts, and they're usually a bit cheaper. Our market from wholesale price is larger than the wholesale discount, so we can usually beat a Kragen price.

O'Reilly lists Anco, Rain-X and Bosch for Subarus in wiper blades, no inserts that I can find. The Aerovantage blades would cost $7.97 passenger/$9.11 driver each. They have some standard ones that are a little more than half of that, and they carry some winter blades cheap that I like to use. I personally prefer the cheaper blades because I like to switch between the winters and the el cheapos depending on season.

I meant to post last week that we'll throw in wiper blades and washer fluid for free with a 15k or higher service. Now you all know.

[doubleurx]

+1 on the Valeo blades. Tirerack always has them priced 2 for 1. Cost me $19.95 for both fronts.

[cody]

Originally Posted by khail19

Tirerack is about $7 cheaper for the set, I don't know if it's worth the extra gas/time to drive out there.

I do agree that the PIAA bulbs are overpriced, but the wipers have been awesome.

Edit: Just checked Amazon and they are the same price as Tirerack, with free shipping.

Sweet. Thanks. This is what I got:

Shipping Method: FREE Super Saver Shipping
Shipping Preference: Group my items into as few shipments as possible
Subtotal of Items: $38.23
Shipping & Handling: $10.69
Super Saver Discount: -$10.69
------
Total for this Order: $38.23


Delivery estimate: November 26, 2010 - December 1, 2010 1 "PIAA 95043 Super Silicone Black Wiper Blade - 17""
Misc.; $16.99

Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC



Delivery estimate: November 26, 2010 - December 1, 2010 1 "PIAA 93355 Super Sporza Silicone Wiper Blade with Black Spoiler - 22""
Misc.; $21.24

Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC

So for my driver side, I got the Super Sporza which has a spoiler to reduce lift at high speeds. I've got the same spoiler on the arm as Sperry's pic above, but I'm hoping the 2nd spoiler helps to further keep the blade flush against the windshield. Unfortunately the passenger side is an inch shorter than their shortest Super Sporza blade so I got the normal silicone blade for the PS. Other than the spoiler, they appear to be identicle.



http://www.piaa.com/WiperBlades/sporza.html

[sperry]

Cody, for future reference, you can run wider blades than the factory sizes. I just measured mine, and I've got a 22" driver and 18" passenger blade on the car. IIRC, that's 1" wider on the passenger side than spec.