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I replaced my windshield wipers today!!!

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Old 08-10-2008 | 04:29 AM
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Default I replaced my windshield wipers today!!!

Man, Ive watched the men in my family do this at least once a year and everyone else in town when at the auto store. I managed to get the rubber strip to come off the wiper arm. Funny since I use rain x and many times do not even use my wipers.

I went for the rain x style since I use their products. I want hot pink tripple blade ones, but they were all out.

I went with the same size for the passenger side, I think 18 inches. The drivers side was like 24 inches, I went with 21 as Ive always felt itwas too big.

I like them so far. They felt beefier than oem and may go even smaller on the drivers size next time.

To replace, lift arm from window, where the blade piviots on arm is a tab on the inside. Press that with a finger and it pops downwards to the wiper arm mount.
Old 08-17-2008 | 01:33 AM
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Thank you. I've tryed to replace them several times, but I disappointed, as everytime after a month or two they are leaving small trace of water on the window for a few seconds after aech pass and that drives me crazy. I tried several brands from WALMART i.e. rain x, bosh, and a noname.The OEM was good the a year before they started to do this thing. Really frustrating.
Old 08-17-2008 | 01:55 AM
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Walmart sells a lot of class B merchandise, therfore nothing for my car comes from there. All the fluids and stuff I buy comes from a local advance or auto zone dealer. That is where I got the rain x blades.

I also use rain x, works well, but tuff stuff to install as it takes a good buffing and can fog up the windows if not buffed in well.

Anyway, I could go shorter still on the blades. THe first use during a storm the window stayed pooled with droppletts, then after a few minutes the blades started to bite and slick away the water.

I went with rain x just because I like their products. My dad is a die hard bosch fan, but hes own vws and benzs.

Id visit an autozone of advance and see what they suggest and if it acts up again, return them.
Old 08-17-2008 | 04:49 AM
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The main thing with wiper blades is to make sure they are fresh. Sounds stupid, I know, but the rubber starts to deteriorate as soon as the blades are made, Sunlight just speeds it up.
No matter if you go to Auto Zone or Wally World, get the ones without dust on them.
Old 08-17-2008 | 04:51 AM
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Thanks again. I did not know the same things are differnet in different stores. Will try the local dealer next time. They have the blades for twice as much as I paid.
Old 08-17-2008 | 04:58 AM
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Well, if you live in a hot, dry area, you might find the expensive blades don't last much longer than the ones from Wal-Mart.

I'd go with the Rain-X treatment first. Love that stuff!
Old 08-17-2008 | 08:39 AM
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Thanks for a reply. I wrote that before I saw your post. That's interesting concept. By the way, I've seen silicon blades that promised a life time warranty but cost less than bosch. I have Rain-X treatment and I notice some improvements, but I don't like it very much, as it requires a lot of wiping when applied, otherwise the glare are visible on the glass.
Old 08-17-2008 | 01:28 PM
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Good tip, never buy dusty parts for your car. I love it when looking at batteries and they are covered in dust. Yeah, right, who is going to buy a dusty nasty battery. Needless to say, when I worked at sears tire auto center, that was my job, to dust the batteries. THe secret was to buy a battery in the back since that is where the new stock went behind the counter/roll upgarage door like thing.

Rain x takes some effort to install, so having ms, I have to set a day to do it, but its well worth it. I was giving a co worker a ride home one day and the sky burst at about 1030pm. At night I seldom run the wipers as the rain x the water runs off the window. He was shcoked that it did not hamper me and we could continue at the posted speed limit as everyone else slowed down and turned on their blinkers.

Yeah, turns out that rubber is just as date and environment sensitive as food. I think goodyear ships there tires in a climate control trailer like they would produce and start to include a date on the tires as well.

FYI, my parents got a year in VA out of there wipers.
Old 08-17-2008 | 09:05 PM
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Thanks. Very informative.
Old 08-18-2008 | 02:51 AM
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NightDriver, if you are having glare issues with Rain-X, you might not have put it on a perfectly clean windshield. The best results I have EVER had from Rain-X was just after I had clay barred the windshield. Just a thought.

I think Rain-X really proves it's worth is on the back glass & the side mirrors.
Old 08-18-2008 | 02:59 AM
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Yupper, if you get the spray, roll on applicator or wipes, you need to clean the glass first. I use the roll on applicator myself on all windows. I rub it over all the windows and both mirrors. I even do the rear side windows that are very narrow. I do this twice going around the car. I then take the cloth in the tail cap and start wiping. I do the edge, then circular motions in the middle. I then walk around the car doing all the windows twice. Afterwards, I stand away and look for swirlies or fog onthe windows, then rub those out.

I would say about an hour in all while switching hands.

When it rains, the water just rushes off the window with leaving any trails or anything.
Old 08-18-2008 | 03:04 AM
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That stuff is sooo cool.

I use the original liquid. Hit all the glass, by the time I finish the last side glass, the windshield is dry, ready for a second coat. Take it off with a clean mico fiber, then move the car to the sunny spot to look for swirls.
Old 08-18-2008 | 03:46 AM
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Right - my was not a perfectly clean. That must be a problem.
Old 08-18-2008 | 04:31 AM
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it can be a huge PITA, until it rains.....
Old 08-18-2008 | 05:11 AM
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I have a 4 pack of amonia free glass cleaner with no streak formula I got from sams club in the spray can with yellow lid. I use the blue shop towels and give the windows a good cleaning. My dad use to work near sand blasting and would use steel wool to get all the crap off his windows. If you have never used rain x before, you should clean your window twice.

Here is what I use from advance auto.



Example of rain x treated glass



No rain x





Old 08-18-2008 | 11:04 AM
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yeah rain-x is just awesome makes it look like your in a fish tank with all that water streaking away
Old 08-18-2008 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by duck_dodgers_24_5
yeah rain-x is just awesome makes it look like your in a fish tank with all that water streaking away
sounds cool. i wouldn't know tho since i've never been in a fish tank.
Old 08-19-2008 | 04:00 AM
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It's not that bad if the tank is big enuff.
Old 08-19-2008 | 10:19 PM
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that was me 28 years ago
Old 08-19-2008 | 10:29 PM
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