Dangerous Wipers!

[DriverOne]

Tonight on my way home from work, I got a chance to use some wipers I bought recently. They're the kind that just have an arch of (I guess) metal, and the rubber blade follows it. I was excited to have these new lower-profile blades on the car, until tonight. It's not raining so much as drizzling, which is the annoying kind that renders wipers almost useless. That's not why I'm upset. The wiper on the driver's side "farts" as it moves over the windshield, and deposits water in what almost seems to be a pocket on the windshield, all in my vision. I'll be returning to the old style asap.

Does anyone else have this issue? I've heard you can polish a windshield using OOOO steel wool, but I'm wary to try anything like that...

[GenevaDirt]

I've had those styles for years and LOVE them. They are a little more money but work well on my car. And they last a lot longer than the regular with less lifting issues, even at higher speeds. I am not sure what brand you are trying. I could not tell you for sure what ones I have but I know they are a brand name and not an off the wall brand.

[gergorian]

I know you can actually buy a window glass restoration kit that has sand paper that starts at 1000 grit and goes up to in think like 4-5 thousand grit, then has a special polishing compound that will make the glass look like brand new. It does require alot of elbow grease and water, LOTS of water to keep the sandpaper clean. like this or this . These kits are different than what I have seen in the past but the end result is the same.

[TorqueEffect]

So what wipers do you guys recommend? I bought cheapo traditional ones from walmart, and at highway speeds they are almost useless.

Anyone try the fancy rain-x ones?

[gergorian]

I have the rain-x ones that have the single beam style on them and they work great on my other car. I dont have my Festy driving yet but I plan on trying them out on it as well.

[Banana Bonanza]

Not only do I use old school blades with no problem, I have been using the one size fits all, cut to fit, refills, Rainex brand. Been getting them at local odd lot store for 15cents each. Alas they are now out of them and they arent getting any more cause yes it was a one time odd lot of them.

New refills hard to come by (parts stores and Wallywart want MORE PROFIT so just sell assembled blades) and Amazon wants around $5 for pair natural rubber refills now. Natural rubber works great for about a year then UV deteriorates it so much it needs replacing. At 15cents I didnt care. $5 a year seems little much (darn right I'm cheap, I drive a Festiva!!)

Like to keep spare on hand. Ordered pair silicone refills from Thailand of all places (ebay) for not much more than Amazon wanted for natural rubber ones. I had different brand silicone wipers once before on some car. They last forever but tend to be pricey at least from American sellers. So next vehicle of mine that rubber rots, will try the silicone refills from Thailand. All I can say at this point is that they look ok. Time will tell how they hold up.

Oh and by way since I dont drive 200mph, low profile means nothing to me. And the low profile blades cant use refills, they are wasteful expensive throw aways. Just another sales gimmick far as I am concerned. I remember long ago they had aerodynamic blades (old school blades with a metal wing to catch the wind) that wind blowing over them supposed to hold them down to windshield. Again unless you drive at extremely illegal speeds in rain (ever hear of hydroplaning?) or need wipers when you are doing the Indianapolis 500, they are rather pointless. If wiper blades arent holding to windshield, most likely the springs in your wiper arms are fatigued and that is what needs replacing, not the blades.

[Movin]

There are about 3 brands of that single beam around here, I thought they all were the same but I noticed they move the molded wing around so that they are different. I like both brands I have tried. The non replaceable insert quickly becomes refillable and new refills are the cheap way to nice wiping, they have a coating that lasts about 3 months. The aero wing thing really works nice when meeting those big bad trucks!

[DriverOne]

Re: Dangerous Wipers!

If wiper blades aren't holding to windshield, most likely the springs in your wiper arms are fatigued and that is what needs replacing, not the blades.

Good point! I hadn't thought of that. How would I get new springs?

I would like to try the polish as well. Years of wipers over the glass have scraped in the blade path.

[kartracer46]

Good point! I hadn't thought of that. How would I get new springs?

I would like to try the polish as well. Years of wipers over the glass have scraped in the blade path.

find a used set with stiffer springs. The B2200 and B2600's use the same wiper arm, just a different cover over the cowl nut where it attaches to the wiper transmission.

[navdoc101]

Yea, I use the Rain-X blades. They work well, no complaints. It does rain alot in Florida.

[DriverOne]

Re: Dangerous Wipers!

find a used set with stiffer springs. The B2200 and B2600's use the same wiper arm, just a different cover over the cowl nut where it attaches to the wiper transmission.

Thanks, Jay! I'll look around the 'yards here.

[TorqueEffect]

find a used set with stiffer springs. The B2200 and B2600's use the same wiper arm, just a different cover over the cowl nut where it attaches to the wiper transmission.

I also heard something about someone swapping wiper arms from a Toyota of some sort. Don't remember what year, or model though.

[WmWatt]

Take your wiper arm to the junk yard to compare.

[crazyrog17]

Dangerous Wipers!

IIRC, the 90s Nissan Sentra had stainless steel wiper arms with a stronger spring and is a near identical fit.

[TorqueEffect]

IIRC, the 90s Nissan Sentra had stainless steel wiper arms with a stronger spring and is a near identical fit.

That's probably what I was thinking of. Thanks.