Wiper blades

Thin bits of metal and bright blue light. Including glass & trim.

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itchyfeet
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Wiper blades

Post by itchyfeet »

Modern car plastic wiper blades work well on modern cars.
old style metal framed wiper blades are rubbish, even the bosch ones.
I have seen some plastic universal modern style wiper blades, can I just fit these and have decent wipers or do I need new arms with stronger springs?

Anybody have decent wipers that dont screech, squeek and not wipe well?
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organicmatter
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by organicmatter »

I have wilkinson's ones on at the moment wouldn't recommend them though.
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by itchyfeet »

organicmatter wrote:I have wilkinson's ones on at the moment wouldn't recommend them though.
My point exactly
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by syncroandy »

Not sure what you're saying here, I've always used either Bosch or Quantum (~20years) and they've always been fine. Are you saying current-production Bosch are worse than the old ones ?

PS. Maybe the wiper arms have lost their pressure down onto the glass due to the spring or hinge.. ?
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itchyfeet
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by itchyfeet »

Must be the arms then, I wonder if the hinges are a bit corroded, wouldn't have thought my springs would be any weaker than any others.
Just had a new screen so can't be that.
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by CJH »

When I camp I tend to use a wrap-around screen on the front windscreen and door windows, and it sits under the wipers. If I don't remember to give the wiper arms a shove against the screen when I take the wrap-around off, then the wiper arms don't create enough pressure on the blades. This improved after I refurbished the wiper arms and lubricated the hinges, but I think the springs are a bit marginal, in mine at least.
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by itchyfeet »

Mmm, I wonder, I moved to 20 inch blades.

Going to get a new set of Bosch 19 inch blades, oil hinges and see how it lasts.
usually they are OK for a short while then poor wiping.
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by Jim San »

CJH wrote:When I camp I tend to use a wrap-around screen on the front windscreen and door windows, and it sits under the wipers. If I don't remember to give the wiper arms a shove against the screen when I take the wrap-around off, then the wiper arms don't create enough pressure on the blades. This improved after I refurbished the wiper arms and lubricated the hinges, but I think the springs are a bit marginal, in mine at least.

My situation exactly. Especially the offside wiper - it can sit off the windscreen by 10mm and stay there! No hardship pushing it down but I guess it wasn't like that when it came out the factory. The arms feel very flimsy on the spindles.


so...

I just went out and cleaned up the surfaces a bit and added a few drops of oil, it's doesn't like new but it works properly now. job done
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by itchyfeet »

I lift mine when I wash the van so maybe that's why :roll:

so obvious when you think about it.

thanks chaps :ok
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chris7ian
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by chris7ian »

I have modern Bosch plastic Aero Twin wiper blades and they perfom perfectly well.
Two things to note:
1 - whenever you lift the wiper arms, lift them at the hinge end! Lifting them from the blade end eventually causes the arm to flex (traffic wardens and flier distributors be warned :evil: )
2 - when replacing the wipers onto the glass, let them 'slap' onto the windscreen for the last 2 or 3 inches to 'seat' the blade
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by CovKid »

Best ones I've found (and they beat Bosch ones) are the ones that Home Bargains sell for about £2.99 each. They last well over 2 years and shift anything. As they're available singly, you can make your own pair up if you want different lengths. I won't buy anything else now.

Mind you, its not solely wipers that induce the squeak. Old glass doesn't help - that and mysterious films on the glass. Keep the glass clean at all times and use a water repellent like rain-x (lasts a month). I've noticed poundland sell a similar treatment in a can. That works well albeit only for a week or two but its cheap.

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Re: Wiper blades

Post by organicmatter »

Updating an old thread but the wilkinson ones I had on squeaked and rusted away in 6 months avoid them.

Just put a set on from Brickwerks (they were out of stock last time I needed them) no squeaking (all 3 different makes) and clear the rain much better.


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Re: Wiper blades

Post by Oldiebut goodie »

I have been using cheap Chinese refills - just as good as high priced ones. Squeaking can usually be cured by just giving the arm a little twist so that the blade changes orientation easily on both motions.
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by CovKid »

Good man ;)
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Re: Wiper blades

Post by bigbadbob76 »

Mine used to be useless too but new bosch blades and a gentle bend of the arm towards the screen sorted them.
I'll second the motion of letting them slap. :ok
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