Windshield Wiper Brand Preference?

[allen6634]

i have the rainx blades on my truck , they where $20 a blade and i haven;t had to replace them in 5 years i love them they don't squeak clean very well .

 

[aczlan]

I got just over a year our of the Bosch "Beam" style ones from Walmart (vs 6 months from the cheaper ones). Got a bunch of Valeo 900 series blades for $10 each through Amazon around Thanksgiving (this blade: Amazon.com: Valeo 900-28-1B Frameless ULTIMATE All-Season Wiper Blade - 28": Automotive) and replaced the blades on our cars and the inlaws cars. They have worked well so far, waiting to see how well they do long term.

Aaron Z

 

[diesel lover]

When I worked for the Model A shop we got a batch of military surplus wiper blades... Model A Fords and Jeeps used the same blades. These wipers were 35 years olds and were superior to the imported stuff coming in at the time... I still have one on one of my cars and the rubber is still soft... and works! Will have to give RainX a try... was given some "Blue" washer fluid and put it in the Silverado and BMW and it wrecked the washer fluid pumps in both. Since then I just use plain water... maybe the RainX is washer motor friendly?

I would not recommend plain water as it does not have any of the agents to remove road tar, grime, dirt, ice and snow.

The "blue" washer fluid you got could have been freeze able. I would never use water also because it can and will freeze. When it does it can damage or ruin your spray nozzles and of course your washer fluid tank.

Winter washer fluid needs a de- icer. Both methyl achohol and methanol are extremely good for road tar, and de-icing propertys.

As far as brands like rain X you will have to see it to believe it!!! It makes your windshield like a Teflon covered frying pan! The water just beads off along with ice etc

 

[ultrarunner]

I will give it a try...

It's actually started to rain here.

Freezing has not been a problem... frost is very rare.

I think the gallon jug I was given was just too corrosive for the washer pump... could have also been going many months between giving the windshield a squirt.

I was ablt to take the GM pump apart and free it... the BMW had to be replaced... not too bad around $34

 

[MikePA]

Re: Rain-X

Take this for what it's worth. 2005 Silverado. Used the 'blue" windshield washer fluid for years. Started using Rain-X. Within 6 months, a seam in the tank opened up and I had to replace the tank. Internet postings speculated there was an incompatibility between the washer tank and some chemical in Rain-X washer fluid.

 

[OKnewguy]

I did not read the whole thread, but rockauto has incredible prices on wiper blades from time to time. You put in your model and year, and then it gives you all the ones they have. They run from $1.50 on up. You can not beat their prices.
Dave

 

[JDgreen227]

I did not read the whole thread, but rockauto has incredible prices on wiper blades from time to time. You put in your model and year, and then it gives you all the ones they have. They run from $1.50 on up. You can not beat their prices.
Dave

Love Rockauto....BTW, have used Rain X winter washer fluid for the past seven years on four GM vehicles with zero problems. And I use a LOT of it here in Michigan.

 

[Bird]

As JakeBrake & I mentioned earlier, we've been using Anco blades from Walmart. I was in a Walmart yesterday and happened to be walking by the display and they had no Anco blades; 4 other brands instead. I see their website still shows the Anco as well as all those other brands.

 

[3930dave]

Yep, it's too bad we can't get the natural rubber content that was common with your A's ultrarunner....

Apparently, we're "saving the environment" by not using replaceable blade refills anymore, that were made from a renewable resource.....

Dealing with ice here, I've pretty much given up on plastic framed blades - but that isn't a careabout at your end, so you may be fine with any of the plastic framed ones recommended here. Tried one of the Michelin frameless blades, that went back to Costco right away, as the plastic mount cracked during installation - and I'm usually pretty careful that way - cold weather might have been a factor at the time of installation, it was long enough ago I don't remember the temperatures.

The best low cost metal framed blades I've come across lately are distributed here by Wurth (commercial autoparts hardware company) under their own label - not sure who the OEM is. The plastic mounting point could be a bit beefier (I haven't broken mine, but a buddy who's always in a hurrry has broken one), and the blade material seems to last about the same as anything else - UV and ground level ozone seem to do them all in at about the same rate.

For those in snow country, I like a metal framed Winter blade, with the rubber covers. As Gary commented, you can get a bit of lift at high speed, but for the driving I used to do, it was worth the tradeoff. On my vehicles the lift effect wasn't bad, and I like those blades for winter enough that I'd try a helper spring on the blade before condemning the covered ones. Take the Winter covered ones off in the summer, as the UV will rot the covers - treat the covers with silcone spray before putting them on the following winter. Blade cross section on the Winter blades is typically beefier, to help deal with tearing due to frozen in place blades.

I remember seeing advertising from Bosch a number of years back about a mostly/all? silicone blade, but I never found one of those and don't see a listing on their website today. I might spend the money to try a silicone blade, but like most here I just buy on price now, so long as I get a metal frame.

Rgds, D.

 

[flusher]

Went in to buy wiper inserts for my Chevrolet Pickup and learned the auto parts store no longer carries "Just" the inserts.

They have 5 different brands/grades of wiperblade with holders... some were $16 each.

My climate is on the dry side and looking for long lasting blades at a reasonable price.

Anyone have a preference?

Is there a superior blade worth the money?

Whatever is on sale at Walmart. We have about 4 months of triple digit temps here in the North Sacramento Valley (June-Sep) and wiper blades don't make it through the heat. I replace blades every year in Oct when the rainy season starts.