[ForeverYours]

It's that time of the year again when the sky starts pissing rain around the lower mainland all day errrday :okay:


My car has stock windshield wipers that are in need of a replacement (not all the water is being wiped off and streaks are being left). They haven't been replaced in years and now I'm looking for new ones

Are any of you guys running aftermarket windshield wipers? If you can provide me with the brand, where you purchased them, and a quick review of them that would be great. I'm planning on hitting up Canadian Tire and see what they have this weekend


TIA :fullofwin:

[TypeRNammer]

Bosch Icons if you want HD vision on the road.

If you have a costco membership, the Michelin Stealth Wipers are on sale, 20 dollars tax in for the pair.

[Lancerion]

Not sure about the other automakers, but for Mitsubishi you can just buy the rubber inserts for less than $10 each side instead of replacing the whole wiper.

[BrRsn]

PIAA brand from overseas auto is sweet. Feels like im driving a high end luxury car .. very quiet + do a really good job for a good price.

[knight604]

^ this.

[k3mps]

Do you guys encounter this ?

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/93/img0080b.jpg

My wipers are about 9 months old.
Every time my left one removes the rain, it leaves beside this smear that dries up in about 15seconds. The smear is pretty much...half of the driver side of the windshield
Is it time to replace them or is my windshield just dirty?
I probably need to change them anyways but I tried on the ones from my friends Mazda 3 which are 2 weeks old and they still smear.
Not sure if his are already worn or w.e or just have a dirty windshield.
9 month old car shouldn't a dirtier windshield than any of your cars....garage parked all the time :badpokerface:

[!SG]

you can always take some times to thoroughly clean the outside of your windshield.

use a bit of steel wool on the outside windshield to clean off any grime, ull be surprised how clean ur windows will be!

[supafamous]

I've clay bar'd my windshield a couple times to remove all the grit. Works great.

[MG1]

Plus, clean the wiper blades. People, including me, forget to do this on a regular basis. Prolongs the life of the blades. Not because you're cheap........... ok, maybe...... but because it's a waste. Since I started cleaning the wiper blades with alcohol, no more streaks and shit. I guess you can use just about anything to clean the rubber/silicone/whathaveyou, as long as it doesn't react with the material. Those disposable wipes for cleaning glasses seem to work fine. No fuss, no mess.

[dvst8]

Piaa's are the way to go. Lordco has them as well. I've been using 1 set for the last 5 years. Still does its job well.

[Sky_High]

OEM rubber insert refill > anything that Crappy Tires sell....


Not sure if his are already worn or w.e or just have a dirty windshield.
9 month old car shouldn't a dirtier windshield than any of your cars....garage parked all the time :badpokerface:

9 months is a LONG time. Of course....that's unless your car is driven by a typical Richmond C-Lai that use it for less than 3KM / day just for grocery shopping....

[dink]

Running Bosch with aquapel

[SumAznGuy]

Little known tidbit. Piaa refill inserts will fit other wiper frames. YMMV.

Personal experience, love the Piaa silicone wipers. Overseas is going to be cheaper than Lordco unless you have mad discounts with them.

On my DD, I am using cheapo Walmart wipers. Since they are less than 6 months old, the wipers work great.

[Lomac]

I've tried a whack load of different wiper brands over the years... PIAA, Bosch, even the generic Canadian Tire ones. To be honest, I've yet to discover a real discernable difference between them all. Sure, some worked slightly better clearing snow off the windshield first thing in the morning, but for basic rain storms... nah, it's not worth paying the extra $50 for a set of PIAA's over generic ones. So long as you occasionally clean the blades and windshield properly, they all work basically the same.

[OTG-ZR2]

I just buy the cheap-o wipers. Plan on getting 1 rainy season, replace them next year.


Every time I fuel up I clean my blades... makes them like new!

[kakucaekz]

Also make sure you slap some RainX on your windshield, helps out a bit too. Water just beads and slides off, and wipers glide silky smooth. Been using RainX for years, love the stuff.

[heleu]

I've tried a whack load of different wiper brands over the years... PIAA, Bosch, even the generic Canadian Tire ones. To be honest, I've yet to discover a real discernable difference between them all. Sure, some worked slightly better clearing snow off the windshield first thing in the morning, but for basic rain storms... nah, it's not worth paying the extra $50 for a set of PIAA's over generic ones. So long as you occasionally clean the blades and windshield properly, they all work basically the same.

I feel the same way. The expensive ones are more than double the cheap Crappy tire ones. The rubber in the blades tend to harden/and break down over time regardless - I think it's better to just replace them more often with the cheap ones.

[SumAznGuy]

I've tried a whack load of different wiper brands over the years... PIAA, Bosch, even the generic Canadian Tire ones. To be honest, I've yet to discover a real discernable difference between them all. Sure, some worked slightly better clearing snow off the windshield first thing in the morning, but for basic rain storms... nah, it's not worth paying the extra $50 for a set of PIAA's over generic ones. So long as you occasionally clean the blades and windshield properly, they all work basically the same.

The only difference is how long the wipers last. Cheapo wipers usually last 1 year but near the end they suck badly.
My first set of Piaa silicone wipers came with my car and they worked fine in the rain alll 5 years that I had the car. Sure they streaked a little on the first few wipes, but after that they worked just like new.
My new set of Piaa's for the wife's car cost $50 for the set. Cheapo wipers from Walmart, similar sizes as the wife's car, cost just over $25.

[saveth]

If your car uses larger than normal wiper blades Costco is hard to beat. Wipers are on sale right now at Costco for less than 10 bucks each taxes in for any size.
Posted via RS Mobile

[H.Specter]

rainx + aquapel is helpful, but actually reduces the lifespan of your wipers .

[sonick]

What do you guys use to clean the wipers with? Wouldn't alcohol dry out the rubber and shorten the life?

I've used RainX in the past but it caused the wipers to start skipping/shuddering instead of being smooth.

Maybe windshield washer fluid is the logical choice.

[GLOW]

Also make sure you slap some RainX on your windshield, helps out a bit too. Water just beads and slides off, and wipers glide silky smooth. Been using RainX for years, love the stuff.

the rain x spray can shit works awesome. couldn't find it anymore though. had to settle for the windshield washer fluid instead... they probably make more from it...that can lasted me years :fullofwin:

[inv4zn]

RainX does what its supposed to do, but I found there's a lot of glare at night.

Used Bosch Icons in the past, now using the cheaper variant, and there's not too much of a difference. The more expensive ones do feel marginally better.

Will probably go to Costco if they're on sale haha

[SumAznGuy]

Remember to use a good glass cleaner on the outside of the glass as SG mentioned. Last time, I was in a rush and only had Chlorox wipes. Worked great cause it took off a lot of oil that had accumulated onto the windsheild.
That should help a lot with the wipers streaking.

[snails]

RainX does what its supposed to do, but I found there's a lot of glare at night.

Used Bosch Icons in the past, now using the cheaper variant, and there's not too much of a difference. The more expensive ones do feel marginally better.

Will probably go to Costco if they're on sale haha


rainX and products like it are just wax, works great until you use your wipers... and because its just wax it smears and causes streaks after a while and it cuts your wiper life in half, glass polish your window clean, like posted above steel wool will work.

I used steel wool and some normal car polish and it gets rid of water spots and any existing dirt/grime accumulated and just give my wipers a wipe with a cloth and some water, in my washer fluid bottle i have normal washer fluid good for winter and i also mixed some weak de-greaser in it, about 1 part de-greaser 5 parts washer fluid, keeps everything clean :D

[inv4zn]

Would the Autoglym glass polish work for this? That used with a foam pad or something

[Sango]

Depending on the car, you should be able to buy the OEM blade inserts and it's good to go. If you can find them online (which I do for my car), it will be cheaper than getting them from the dealership.

Ideally, they would be replaced twice a year. Once in spring, the other in fall after the extreme conditions (ie. winter and summer) have passed. Even thou one doesn't necessarily have to follow it, the blade insert in general does have a certain life expectancy even if it's not being used.

[snails]

Would the Autoglym glass polish work for this? That used with a foam pad or something

assuming you are replying to my message, pretty much any polish, some people clay bar but i advice against it because if you have small rock chips like we all do, the clay gets stuck into it and you will have little dots of clay in your windshield.

[TRDood]

PIAA brand from overseas auto is sweet. Feels like im driving a high end luxury car .. very quiet + do a really good job for a good price.

+1

$40 well spent.

[littledog]

Do you guys encounter this ?

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/93/img0080b.jpg

My wipers are about 9 months old.
Every time my left one removes the rain, it leaves beside this smear that dries up in about 15seconds. The smear is pretty much...half of the driver side of the windshield
Is it time to replace them or is my windshield just dirty?
I probably need to change them anyways but I tried on the ones from my friends Mazda 3 which are 2 weeks old and they still smear.
Not sure if his are already worn or w.e or just have a dirty windshield.
9 month old car shouldn't a dirtier windshield than any of your cars....garage parked all the time :badpokerface:

Try something called "No Touch Auto Glass Stripper". It can be found in Canadian Tire. It works wonders.

Personally I don't recommended rainx/aquapel on your windshield. They leave a slight haze (which disappears in 1-2 seconds) after every single wipe. I found that really annoying and hard to see.

[dachinesedude]

clean your windows and blades every so often, something so simple work wonders

[JordanLee]

Aquapel and weekly Windex cleanings and a yearly claybar works great me. I've found Aquapel to last a lot longer than Rain-X. *Cough Cough *

[valent|n0]

where to get the best price for bosch. Bosch icon is the boss :)

[Manic!]

Walmart has Rain X wiper blades on sale for $3.97. They also have Viewmax wiper blades that come with a lifetime warranty. So you can get new ones ever 6 months for free.

[Auto] WM: Viewmax wiper blades, $9-11 and comes with lifetime warranty! - RedFlagDeals.com Forums (http://forums.redflagdeals.com/wm-viewmax-wiper-blades-9-11-comes-lifetime-warranty-1243774/)

[Euro7r]

OEM. I ordered mines from the states, since it's cheaper. Better than anything from stupid Canadian Tire.

[Harvey Specter]

I just got a new 2013 Civic in May which I boot around as a daily driver and the wipers are awful. I rarely drove the car in the summer or used the wipers because it didn't rain so I have no idea how they can be worn out. I'm going to take to Honda this weekend and see if they can replace the blades.

[AW607]

I just picked up a can of Glass Kleen, I'll probably wipe down my windshield tomorrow with my oil change.
I threw on a set of Bosch Image blades for my mom's car. They work brilliantly, and before that point, my mom has never ever replaced her blades.. They've gone to the point that a piece of her old blades came off and the metal frame started rubbing against the windshield :heckno:

I've been using a pair of Rain-X Horizon wiper blades, works okay for the first month or two, then the quality just goes downhill. But then again, I've been using them since February. Probably time for a replacement..
Posted via RS Mobile

[oldsnail]

if i still have my inserts, i would use them.. but otherwise, i am using the michilen wipers from costco. they are 8.xx this week. how bad can they be for a rubber manufacture. a set last me about 2 years..

[FOB Mainlander]

When it starts raining, spray some washer fluid to the windshield. That helps a bit but regular windshield cleaning is still required.

[sonick]

Try something called "No Touch Auto Glass Stripper". It can be found in Canadian Tire. It works wonders.

Personally I don't recommended rainx/aquapel on your windshield. They leave a slight haze (which disappears in 1-2 seconds) after every single wipe. I found that really annoying and hard to see.

I couldn't find this on their website or any Canadian Tire stores, but WalMart stocks it. Picked up the last bottle on the shelf at the New West yesterday and applied it.

+1 on this, worked wonders.

[MikeyStyle]

currently using the si-tech silicone wipers (http://piaa.com/wiperblades/si-tech.html) and i've been pleased with it

got it from overseas auto (http://overseas-auto.com)

[tiger_handheld]

OEM rubber insert refill > anything that Crappy Tires sell....


THIS!

I feel like a dumbass for throwing away my OEM ones and replacing with some BOSCH crap.

I want to buy OEM mazda wipers but no one sells them!!!!

[littledog]

THIS!

I feel like a dumbass for throwing away my OEM ones and replacing with some BOSCH crap.

I want to buy OEM mazda wipers but no one sells them!!!!

Not even at the dealership?

[bensta]

my last 3 cars ive put piaas on.

only buy them when on sale tho:thumbs:

[ApePee2]

PIAA brand from overseas auto is sweet. Feels like im driving a high end luxury car .. very quiet + do a really good job for a good price.



+1 running my second sets of PIAA's couldn't be happier. Got mine from overseas as well.

[FerrariEnzo]

Walmart has Rain X wiper blades on sale for $3.97. They also have Viewmax wiper blades that come with a lifetime warranty. So you can get new ones ever 6 months for free.

[Auto] WM: Viewmax wiper blades, $9-11 and comes with lifetime warranty! - RedFlagDeals.com Forums (http://forums.redflagdeals.com/wm-viewmax-wiper-blades-9-11-comes-lifetime-warranty-1243774/)

is the sale still on?

[Benz_05TSX]

I heard there is a glass polisher you can buy at Lordco. Works wonders but it is super abrasive.