#@^&*! Windshield Wiper Blades

[JEBar]

a couple of days ago we put our Chevy 1500 in the shop to have it serviced and the tires rotated .... while working on it they called us and said the wiper blades needed to be replaced .... I have no doubt that the blades needed to be replaced but declined having them do so .... sat down and ordered a reasonably priced set guaranteed to fit our truck from Amazon .... blades delivered next day which naturally had bands of rain moving through .... to take advantage of a lull between showers, I decided to go out and install the new blades .... naturally the truck was parked in standing water and yes, I my shoes were quickly saturated .... that was then things became unhinged .... first, I couldn't figure out how to removed the old blades .... frustration escalated as once again it started raining .... back in the house I decided to read the directions .... must admit I was a bit taken back by the instructions being all pictures, not a single word .... for me that's not bad at all .... both of the pages of diagrams were divided to sections written for the up-teen types of wiper arms one might find .... problem, you couldn't know which type of tip was used on our truck's arms until the blades were removed .... during subsequent lull, I must have pulled or pushed or twisted something be cause all of a sudden I had a wiper blade in my hand .... back to the directions and found the area that covered the arms on our truck .... another lull, back out there and lets just say that things didn't go well .... finally gave up and decided to drive over to an auto parts, buy another set and have them install them for free .... figured that would probably be cheaper than going to a regular garage and paying them to install the ones ordered from Amazon .... naturally not a cloud in the sky this morning .... got in the truck, put the key in the ignition to head to an auto parts but I couldn't make myself crank the truck .... went back to work on the blades with the directions in one hand .... finally I noticed that one of the many parts of the adapter that came with blade needed to be removed .... once again, a picture of the part off to the side but no hint as to how to remove .... eventually, I did figure it out and the blades popped into place .... must say that don't know whether grumble or smile

[Sir Henry]

Don’t get me started………. ……I had the same problem on my RV.

[Shakey Jake]

It's always a mystery when dealing with wiper blades. There's not a bit of commonality within the companies. I always try to get the same brand so I don't add to the confusion. We've had good luck with the RainX blades in our area so that's what I usually get. Do you remember the days when wiper blades lasted longer than six months to a year? Can't hardly go four or five months in our area before they need replacing.
Jake

[BigAl52]

Ya and the price of them has gone up totally out of control for what you get.

[CT_Shooter]

We've had good luck with the RainX blades in our area so that's what I usually get.

I use RainX blades and RainX windshield treatment. The blades are good blades, but RainX treatment is AMAZING!

[JEBar]

the blades I took off were RainX .... they had been good ones but their time had come

[Sir Henry]

It's always a mystery when dealing with wiper blades. There's not a bit of commonality within the companies. I always try to get the same brand so I don't add to the confusion. We've had good luck with the RainX blades in our area so that's what I usually get. Do you remember the days when wiper blades lasted longer than six months to a year? Can't hardly go four or five months in our area before they need replacing.
Jake

I would get years of service out of mine in Washington. Now that I’m in Wisconsin I wonder if the chemicals used and the constant freezing will shorten the life of them.

[markiver54]

Ya and the price of them has gone up totally out of control for what you get.

VERY true. I just replaced mine recently. I remember the days when you could just change the rubber. Not anymore though. They weren't making enough money, so now it's the whole arm!

[brm4450]

a couple of days ago we put our Chevy 1500 in the shop to have it serviced and the tires rotated .... while working on it they called us and said the wiper blades needed to be replaced .... I have no doubt that the blades needed to be replaced but declined having them do so .... sat down and ordered a reasonably priced set guaranteed to fit our truck from Amazon .... blades delivered next day which naturally had bands of rain moving through .... to take advantage of a lull between showers, I decided to go out and install the new blades .... naturally the truck was parked in standing water and yes, I my shoes were quickly saturated .... that was then things became unhinged .... first, I couldn't figure out how to removed the old blades .... frustration escalated as once again it started raining .... back in the house I decided to read the directions .... must admit I was a bit taken back by the instructions being all pictures, not a single word .... for me that's not bad at all .... both of the pages of diagrams were divided to sections written for the up-teen types of wiper arms one might find .... problem, you couldn't know which type of tip was used on our truck's arms until the blades were removed .... during subsequent lull, I must have pulled or pushed or twisted something be cause all of a sudden I had a wiper blade in my hand .... back to the directions and found the area that covered the arms on our truck .... another lull, back out there and lets just say that things didn't go well .... finally gave up and decided to drive over to an auto parts, buy another set and have them install them for free .... figured that would probably be cheaper than going to a regular garage and paying them to install the ones ordered from Amazon .... naturally not a cloud in the sky this morning .... got in the truck, put the key in the ignition to head to an auto parts but I couldn't make myself crank the truck .... went back to work on the blades with the directions in one hand .... finally I noticed that one of the many parts of the adapter that came with blade needed to be removed .... once again, a picture of the part off to the side but no hint as to how to remove .... eventually, I did figure it out and the blades popped into place .... must say that don't know whether grumble or smile

Been there, done that, saw the movie, bought the T-Shirt

[daytime dave]

I try to replace mine each spring. It sometimes works out. If not, they last through another year. I have a new set ready to go on as I'm writing this. The only problem I have is like Jim described. Having to remove a part from the adapter I need with no explanation. It usually turns out to be so simple that it just about falls off the second one. Just about..........

[220]

VERY true. I just replaced mine recently. I remember the days when you could just change the rubber. Not anymore though. They weren't making enough money, so now it's the whole arm!

Thankfully we can still buy just rubbers if you look hard enough here in Aus although manufacturers seem to make it harder. Current Nissan has different size rubbers on each arm not only length but one is 8mm the other 10mm, I have to buy 2 lots of rubbers although it does mean I have a spare set which is just as well because I am another that am lucky to get 6 months from them.

[Rifletom]

Agree with all of the above. Some rather colorful language replacing the wipers on wife's car. What happened to simplicity?

[Ernie]

Went to my older sisters Saturday to attempt to install new wiper blades she had purchased at Costco. They were the correct lengths but there was no way to install them on her car. None of the adaptors would fit over the wiper arm and nothing I did would connect to the slot on the arm. There was a statement on the installation instructions that additional adaptors may be required but did not tell you if they were available. Packed everything back up just the way they came and told her to return them. I am willing to pay the price difference for her to get some at a local retailer that will install them.

[JEBar]

I am willing to pay the price difference for her to get some at a local retailer that will install them.

I've pretty much decided that I've moved into that group as well --