The wipers on my car have been screeching since I bought it about three years ago. I put new rubbers on them a while back, but that didn’t fix it. I don’t drive in the rain frequently enough for it to be a major bother, but yesterday, I was near a Supercheap Auto, so I went and spent the money on some good quality replacement blades.
They work smoothly and perfectly. After three years of screeching, a silent wipe is almost unfathomably satisfying.
Anyone else miss the days where you removed the two metal spines and just replaced the rubber bit? cost was in pennies too.
This is still available on some cars. Honda will sell you just the rubber insert. (Probably others too) It comes with a graphite powder on it to help you slide it into the wiper blade. It is about $5-8 instead of $40 for the blade
As I said in the OP, I tried that and they still screeched like a stuck pig.
I completely glossed over that! I’ve not the rubbers for sale in the UK for decades! Usually the blade supports just need a wiggle and some WD40.
The new silicone and semi-silicone blades are good, just a shame they are £30 a set.
I don’t drive in the train frequently
I certainly hope not!
Lol. Well spotted. Edited.
I’m betting the train will swerve first.
Tried looking for the relevant Groundhog Day gif but couldn’t find it.
I used RainX wipers for a long time but Bosch makes a superior product, they last for a long time so far, even in the baking sun
I’m actually in the market fow new wipers and I’ve been using RainX for well over a dacade. Maybe it’s time to try a new brand. My last set of Rain X blades started to leave streaks after like 6 months (could have been the really bad winter - lots of ice and salt). Not horrible streaks, they aren’t a safety concern, but little imperfections really bother me. I’m very particular about my windshield cleanliness.
The RainX washer fluid, though, is fantastic.
Is there some kind of disadvantage to using this stuff? I can’t remember exactly but I feel like every time someone mentions this stuff someone else explains why not to use it.
In newer vehicles with washer fluid level sensors, rainX washer additive can cause the level sensor to stop functioning correctly and always think the tank is empty and you get a light on the dash, otherwise AFAIK no other issues
I’ll take being able to see at night in the rain over a light on the dashboard any day.
Except the silicone in the fluid will plug the screens on the pump and the level sensor, so it will always show empty. As a mechanic I hate that stuff.
You may have missed my other comment about that:
I’ll take being able to see at night in the rain over a light on the dashboard any day.
And for me, replacing a washer pump and/or level sensor occasionally is not a big deal. I find the trade-off for the extra safety to be well worth it.
Use Aquapel instead, it works 100x better, and doesn’t ruin your washer system.
I’m just seeing the glass applicator stuff - how long does it last before you have to reapply?
Lasts about a year.
I will seek it out, thank you!
I followed this same path. RainX are a fine blade, but Bosch performs better and lasts significantly longer.
New blades are great. Really improves visibility when it’s raining
There’s that, too.
The other reason I’ve been putting it off is that the last two times I’ve done this on previous cars with the same problem, they’ve been totalled within a couple of weeks (not my fault). I’m not a superstitious fellow as a rule, but still…
Give us an update in a few weeks.
I’ve been riding my bike to work lately, and rarely go anywhere on weekends, so my car can go unused for weeks at a time. Hopefully that’ll help preserve its life.
The previous incidents were when I was a driving instructor and doing over 1000km a week, so a much greater likelihood of a crash.
Our neighbor nearly wrecked our car, which was parked in our driveway, last week. Her car rolled down her driveway on its own and came within centimeters of ours, crashing into a utility box next to the street. That was definitely not-dull.
So a car can be destroyed even without anyone moving it. I wish you luck!
Especially when it’s coming at you like a locomotive.
