Really bad first post, but...windshield wiper blades?

[HornedFrog]

hi all, a few weeks ago I picked up a 2017 Limited. Despite some bad luck early on, I really like it.

We’ve been getting some rain in the Dallas area, and the windshield wipers on the vehicle (they may not be OEM) are really awful. Skipping both directions even with a completely wet windshield. I looked at the aftermarket options and the Bosch icon is pretty highly reviewed, but I see mention that they don’t fit our windshield very well.

So, curious what you all are running or if the OEM blades are generally pretty good.

Thanks.

 

[Habbibie]

RainX latitude, had them since i acquired my expedition 3 years ago, they're identical to the icons though a tad cheaper, I prefer the design of the latitude or icons over the metal frame wipers especially when it snows and freezes outside.

My experience with metal frame wipers were .5-1.5 years of use before a replacement is needed, this includes the "snow wipers" the ones which are metal frame but has a thin rubber sleeve over them...

Frameless wipers like the Icons & latitude's are 3-5 years on average,

You pay 40-50% more for icons up front on average but the outcome is you have to replace them 3 times less often as normally priced wipers.

Anywho anyone who swears by OEM only wipers is obviously got their head stuck where the sun never shined before.

 

[Plati]

I put on Rainx and other random brands (Bosch etc). Nothing seems to last a year anymore. Got 3 months a couple times. Its BS in my opinion. Why I can't buy a wiper blade that lasts at least a year is BS.

 

[Black]

I dislike the new single point blade style.

I just buy the old school METAL framed standard wiper blade.

Anco seem to last the longest but are no longer carried at Walmart any longer and have not found a local place carrying them.

Rain X is my second go to.
I swap blades every 6 months as I drive on dirt and gravel frequently and eats up blades.

No sense in spending the big bucks on them.
I buy the cheap ones and keep an extra set in the back.

 

[Adieu]

I put on Rainx and other random brands (Bosch etc). Nothing seems to last a year anymore. Got 3 months a couple times. Its BS in my opinion. Why I can't buy a wiper blade that lasts at least a year is BS.

Seriously, in NY too??

I'd been convinced that the sh!tty longevity of modern wipers was due to extreme temperatures sitting in the CA sun

 

[ExplorerTom]

Clean your windshield by hand really well. Like I'm talking with a microfiber towel and glass cleaner. Twice. Then go over the entire windshield with a clay bar while lubing it with your glass cleaner.

Then put on a good coating of RainX with the wipers flipped up (RainX when wet may be bad for the rubber of your wiper blades).

At this point, even old wiper blades will glide over the windshield.

 

[Trainmaster]

Sticker, I share your frustration. Here on Long Island I'm getting three - six months out of the junk. I just installed a pair of Motorcraft blades from RockAuto. The package says USA. I don't know who makes them and they're the same price that the auto parts places charge for the Chinese ones.

We'll see if these hold out like the Trico of old days...

 

[JExpedition07]

Whatever winter blades have been on my truck the last almost 2 years or so are the best wipers I’ve seen in a long time, don’t know what they are but they’ve been on for a while and still no streaks or noises.

 

[1955moose]

I use the basic Anco blades, $8.00 retail for the pair, half that from Rock Auto. But you will pay shipping. I don't notice any difference with more expensive ones. I've used them once a year for the past 4.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[powerboatr]

Clean your windshield by hand really well. Like I'm talking with a microfiber towel and glass cleaner. Twice. Then go over the entire windshield with a clay bar while lubing it with your glass cleaner.

Then put on a good coating of RainX with the wipers flipped up (RainX when wet may be bad for the rubber of your wiper blades).

At this point, even old wiper blades will glide over the windshield.

DITTO, clean it with BON AMI and good cloth, then clay bar the crap out of it and clean again.
its the crap in the air that settles on the glass.. then get a good set of blades, i use rain x as its all wally world has to fit and driving 50 miles to the big city is just a waste. also clean the blades when you wash the car.
my drive thru car wash here does a great job at cleaning the car...but leaves a weird stuff on the windows that has to be hand washed off or the blades slip or skip

 

[HornedFrog]

This is good advice. I’m getting a new windshield put in tomorrow and will report back.

 

[barrydu4]

I try to keep my windshield as clean as possible. I always use OEM parts. I may be a little **** but the OEM parts were designed to work as designed. I use to do maintenance on equipment and always tried to get the original part from the company.

 

[bobmbx]

Every now and then I'll clean all the outside glass with mineral spirits. It dissolves virtually everything on the glass. Wax, old Rain-X buildup (not sure there is any), road grime and oil, etc.

Seems to work pretty well in improving wiper performance, esp for stopping chatter and streaking.

 

[sscharlie]

I've thought about this exact thing for over 10 years and questioned my friends about it(first time here) why some factory bladed can last 8 years and when you put on replacement blades you get 6 months to a year and a half max. I'm sure I've tried every brand I can find. A few months ago I purchased some motorcraft from Rock auto. Will see if they last. I been thinking about trying the UV treatment(or gimmick) on the next set.

 

[1955moose]

I tried the Ford one's once. Didn't last any longer, I got a little less than a year. I mean they still worked, it's just they half way cleaned, leaving water and gunk. Everybody's different on how they like their window. With me and reduced vision in my eyes these days, I need clear vision. $8.00 once a year is cheap.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[Motorcity muscle]

Didn't see it mentioned here but clean the blade itself, you will be amazed at the build up that wipes off.

 

[Robert Smith]

I avoid the frame type blades because I live where it snows and they can be a pain. But in Texas you probably don’t have that problem. I saw a guy on You Tube that soaked his new blades in a protectant (Armor All) for 24 hours. Then treats than again once a year. He says it lasts a “lifetime” but it is You Tube. I haven’t tried it yet. Trying to figure out a tray or something to hold them.

 

[lbv150]

We run Anco on everything. On my '16 Expy 91-22 or 31-22 both work well just like OEM, also have RainX treatment on all the glass.

 

[JExpedition07]

Just looked I have Anco winter blades.

 

[HornedFrog]

so yeah, with the new windshield, and not even bothering to clean the blades, the factory blades slide like butter. So the windshield was the problem. heh.