The Joy of Cheap Wipers

J

johnmyster

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Aug 4, 2015
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All I have to say is a $12 set of beam blades on all three cars and then a pile of cheap refills on the garage shelf, glovebox, etc. I'd change them like underwear but I usually get 12-18 months before I think "my rainy driving experience would be improved by $5 of fresh rubber." Take off the blade, pop off an end cap with pocket knife, slide out, slide in, trim, end cap, install. Joy.

Sorry Rainx and Bosch.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B429GMNK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A257HT5YYJ69ZR&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FB8X4Z8Q?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
 
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I've been buying the Amazon no-names for 3-4yrs now for my personal fleet. I get about a year at best out of them before they become annoying. I've never had them come apart, but they start to streak, chatter, etc, just a little bit earlier than the name brands I've been buying at 2-3x the cost.
 
Trico Force have been a solid B for most applications. Around $8/blade shipped from Rockauto, as long you order at least 6 pairs per order.
 
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That hasn't been my experience with cheap wiper blades off of Amazon.

I tried cheap wiper blades similar to what is listed in the bottom link, and I got less than 6 months out of them, before they were already starting to fall apart. I find that by using OEM or Bosch wiper blades are well worth the money. No chatter, no streaking, no squeaking, all of which I have a very low tolerance for. I usually replace wiper blades before performance degrades, but if I forget, I can typically get 2 years life out of OEM or Bosch wiper blades before they start to give me less than ideal performance.

I am an absolute firm believer that wiper blades are one of those things where you get what you pay for.
 
BHopkins said:
That hasn't been my experience with cheap wiper blades off of Amazon.

I tried cheap wiper blades similar to what is listed in the bottom link, and I got less than 6 months out of them, before they were already starting to fall apart. I find that by using OEM or Bosch wiper blades are well worth the money. No chatter, no streaking, no squeaking, all of which I have a very low tolerance for. I usually replace wiper blades before performance degrades, but if I forget, I can typically get 2 years life out of OEM or Bosch wiper blades before they start to give me less than ideal performance.

I am an absolute firm believer that wiper blades are one of those things where you get what you pay for.
Click to expand...
I’m now in the opposite camp. Inverse of $ paid. Don’t get me started on Bosch
 
I usually add some Trico's or Anco's to my Rock Auto order whenever I order parts. Typically less than $4 per blade. Change them every fall.

Blades work a lot better when they're clean, BTW. Put some soap on a small brush or rag and clean them really good when they start to streak and they'll last longer.
 
Not that I am cheap, but I am still using my Factory OEM wipers and blades at 3.5 years and 39,000 miles. The vehicle is garage over half the time. They still do a decent job. They survived a hour long moderate rain recently. Once in a while you get lucky.
 
dubber09 said:
Car Care Nut posted in the past Toyota has excellent ones sold in plain plastic bags at dealers, cheap too.
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Prior owner ditched the excellent toyota blades on our Venza, else I'd be tempted to retain them. As such, it gets my amazon cheapo treatment. It gets garaged so the amazon refills tend to get chopped in half and turned into rear wipers when I replace them.
 
Pablo said:
I’m now in the opposite camp. Inverse of $ paid. Don’t get me started on Bosch
Click to expand...
I am particular about which Bosch blades I buy. The ones I buy are OEM equivalent. In fact they are identical to the MB blades, except they have the Bosch anvil trademark on the end, instead of the MB tristar. And I love that they have the correct attachment, instead of a bag full of plastic crap that you have to sort though, to find the one that is correct for your car. And I pay no more for a pair of blades, than a single Bosch or RainX blade costs at the local AAP, Carquest, or Autozone.

I've tried cheaper blades. Some give you fair performance for the money, but it is just hit or miss.
 
Just throwing in $0.02.

Yes, on getting what you pay for.
I've carefully and completely logged repairs and maintenance for years, and oddly enough, no one brand has floated to the surface as "better". Also, average 2 year life comes to mind for "most all of 'em".

I did just receive two bottom-rung 18" wiper blades for my Ranger the other day.
The beam looks black and feels as substantial as any other.
However, the blade which contacts the glass is clear green plastic.

They'll be next to go on when my unmatched pair die.
 
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Thank you for the options. I've been buying part store wipers for our vehicles and going broke doing so. They last barely a year no mater what I do and are in the range of $30 a piece.
 
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This is like a microcosm of why quality of everything has gone down over the decades.

Cheap > than all. Consumers prioritize cheapness. Quality manufacturers go out of business. All that’s left in 20 years is garbage.

The natural cycle of things.

Where have all the good cars gone?

You didn’t buy them, little Jimmy!
 
Kurtatron said:
This is like a microcosm of why quality of everything has gone down over the decades.

Cheap > than all. Consumers prioritize cheapness. Quality manufacturers go out of business. All that’s left in 20 years is garbage.

The natural cycle of things.

Where have all the good cars gone?

You didn’t buy them, little Jimmy!
Click to expand...

Define "all the good cars" .. genuinely curious.
 
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