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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / February 2005Best Windshield Wipers
Did a search on this topic and can't find any *good* current info (it's all 1992 and previous). I will provide my opinion on this matter. I currently use a pair of wipers blades I bought at Target (somewhere around 1996 or 97). I have been using that same pair of wiper blades ever since (today is Jan 29, 2004 just for your reference). I guess that would give me a life of somewhere around 7 years. I think the type I bought was by Anco. The packaging "guaranteed" they would last me the life of the car (or something to that effect), I'm not really sure, all I can remember is that it was a pretty bold guarantee and I wound up paying $12 which to me was a huge sum of money just to pay for wiper refills (2 pairs), but alas, I took the plunge. I have been very impressed. Only the past 2 years have the wiper blades started to slip. They aren't removing as much water as they used to, as the window still has little teensy streaks left afterwards, but they still work. I should just look for the second pair which is probably in my garage someplace instead of shopping for a new one but it's so exciting looking for new wiper blades! As a side note, people seem to be recommending Bosch wipers (at least the 1992 entries did). They also stated they had to replace them every 2 years or so. I don't consider 2 years to be a good life at all for wiper blades. I need something that will last me at least 7 years like my previous set. Steven > Did a search on this topic and can't find any *good* current info (it's > all 1992 and previous). I will provide my opinion on this matter. I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I bought was by Anco. The packaging "guaranteed" they would last me the > life of the car (or something to that effect), Maybe if you live in florida. Any "premium" wiper blade will be utterly destroyed by one good freezing rain storm. If you live anywhere with real winter weather, the best strategy is to buy the cheapest crap you can find at Wal-Mart or similar, and replace them each year right before the annual vehicle inspection. For less than five bucks a pair, why worry if it lasts more than ONE year? -Dave Thanks to all for your responses. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area so we never get truly freezing rain storms (we do get rain though). I should ask around in Seattle where it rains about 80% of the time. :) -Steven >>Did a search on this topic and can't find any *good* current info (it's >>all 1992 and previous). I will provide my opinion on this matter. I [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > vehicle inspection. For less than five bucks a pair, why worry if it lasts > more than ONE year? -Dave I disagree. I live in Minnesota, with lots of ice, snow, and cold weather. Last winter I tried a set of the new style Trico winter blades, which are completely enclosed in a rubber boot. Expensive, but boy they sure do work. No more having to chip all the ice off the wiper blade blade back to get the spring free to hold the wiper to the glass. Ice cannot get into that part of the blade back anymore. I will have to replace it this winter, but that blade has lasted for about 15 months, and in this climate I figure that is pretty good. >>> Did a search on this topic and can't find any *good* current info (it's >>> all 1992 and previous). I will provide my opinion on this matter. I [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > to replace it this winter, but that blade has lasted for about 15 > months, and in this climate I figure that is pretty good. When you park your car, pull the wipers away from the windshield and leave them up (if your car is new enough to be able to do that) or slip a piece of cardboard under them. Then when it snows they won't freeze to the windshield. 99% of the ice that builds up on the blade assembly will come off when you set the wipers back down, just let them "snap" against the windshield from a few inches. I've been doing this ever since I had a car new enough that the wipers would stay away from the windshield by themselves, yeah it looks retarded when parked, but then again I'm not the guy waiting for the engine to warm up and unfreeze my wipers so I can use my windshield washers either. I just start the car, clean it off, and then set the wipers down and drive off. nate  Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel > When you park your car, pull the wipers away from the windshield and > leave them up (if your car is new enough to be able to do that) or slip [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > nate The problem was not freezing to the windshield. The problem was ice getting in the flexible strips that run from the end of the arm to the blade holder. That is, the blade supports that apply pressure to the blade holder and hold it against the glass. That is the area that those Trico blades keep clean. >> When you park your car, pull the wipers away from the windshield and >> leave them up (if your car is new enough to be able to do that) or [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > blade holder and hold it against the glass. That is the area that those > Trico blades keep clean. letting them "snap" against the windshield takes care of that IME... nate Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel > Last winter I tried a set of the new style Trico winter blades, which > are completely enclosed in a rubber boot. Hey, Rip Van Winkle: These were "new style" in the early 1970s. > Did a search on this topic and can't find any *good* current info (it's > all 1992 and previous). I will provide my opinion on this matter. I [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Steven Good luck. Bosch's quality has gone way down, I just bought a pair earlier this year and they're already starting to streak and chatter. The ones that were on the car when I bought it lasted almost a year (I don't know how old they were when I got the car,) I think they were Anco (I was going to buy those, but couldn't find them.) really, I'd be interested in any recommends myself for blades that last more than a year. Yes, my windshield is cleaned regularly and the arms are adjusted so the blades are perpendicular. nate Signaturereplace "fly" with "com" to reply. http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel > Did a search on this topic and can't find any *good* current info Fancy wiper blades come and go. The ones in the yellow Anco box work well. > As a side note, people seem to be recommending Bosch wipers Expensive German brand name; it MUST be better, right? Wrong. My experience with Bosch wiper blades has been awful. > Did a search on this topic and can't find any *good* current info (it's > all 1992 and previous). I will provide my opinion on this matter. I [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > wiper blades. I need something that will last me at least 7 years like > my previous set. Silicone wiper blades is what your after, PIAA, Havoline, and Silblade are some of the makes out there. Ted > Silicone wiper blades is what your after, PIAA, Havoline, and Silblade > are some of the makes out there. Thanks for the info. I didn't know that conventional-looking wiper blades were now being made of silicone. I have Tripledge silicone wipers, which are lousy because they have multiple edges and are kind of stiff, but I bought them mainly because I'm in a sunny climate and want longevity rather than good wiping. They're ten years old but are still like-new. > > Did a search on this topic and can't find any *good* current info (it's > > all 1992 and previous). I will provide my opinion on this matter. I [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Ted Anyone tried the PIAA blades? I just passed right by those because I ASSumed they were of the same quality as their fog lights. nate > Anyone tried the PIAA blades? I just passed right by those because I > ASSumed they were of the same quality as their fog lights. > > nate Same here. To me, the PIAA logo is a claxon screaming "DANGER! JUNK! DANGER! JUNK!" I actually have a seperate issue regarding windshield wipers. I have no problems with their normal operation, when they start streaking I either clean them or replace them. My issue is finding wipers that do not lift off the windshield while driving in the rain at over 70 mph. I've found some that are shaped like a reverse airfoil (sort of) that purport to stick to the windshield, and they do better than most but they still lift off at the higher speeds and finding them is problematic. Right now I can't seem to find them at all. It's worse in the winter if I'm using winter type blades. They offer more resistance to the wind and some types lift up so much that only the outer two inches actually clear anything. Yes I could simply slow down to where the wiper stays on the windshield, that would certainly be my wife's immediate choice for her and me. But it would be nice to have effective windshield clearing even at 75 mph, should the need ever arise. How about clip-on wiper arm airfoils? Thanks, Corky Scott >I actually have a seperate issue regarding windshield wipers. I have >no problems with their normal operation, when they start streaking I >either clean them or replace them. My issue is finding wipers that do >not lift off the windshield while driving in the rain at over 70 mph. Just replace the springs in your wiper arms (or the complete arms) its nothing to do with the blades. You need new wiper arms or springs for them or the arms need to be bent a bit to put more pressure on the blade. Mike 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's > I actually have a seperate issue regarding windshield wipers. I have > no problems with their normal operation, when they start streaking I [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Thanks, Corky Scott > I've found some that are shaped like a reverse airfoil (sort of) that > purport to stick to the windshield, and they do better than most but > they still lift off at the higher speeds and finding them is > problematic. Right now I can't seem to find them at all. You're looking for Trico wipers, I had that kind once. "windspoilers" I think they were called. I think the key is to thorougly clean and re-lubricate the whole wiper arm to make sure it makes constant and consistent contact with the windshield. I hose mine down with Simple Green, Orange blast or another cleaner, rinse them very thoroughly, dry them and even put a tiny drop of oil on the end of each pin and leave them laying on their side so the oil can work its way over both ends of the pin. Since I use winter wipers (was -20F here last week) I take my time and do this in the "off-season." --- Bror Jace |
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