Windshield wipers

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powerboatr

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Need help
Factory blades don't clean well. Even after bon Ami to clean glass. In a few days the wipers start streaking and always in line of sight.
Put Michelin blades on for 5 months. Same result! Put factory ones back on . Cleaned the rubber and still I get this weird streaking action
It's ?Ike the glass is not consistent in shape .
Springs are strong. But it still suxz
 

J Ski

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Bent wiper blades, torn wiper blades, glass imperfections or stuck on gunk (bugs, sap, etc), probably not uneven glass
 

gixer2000

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I had a similar issue and it was just gunk that I couldnt see stuck to my windshield. I washed the window, clay bar, compound with a random orbitable buffer, polished with the buffer and applied chemical guys jet seal. Its like I don't even need my wipers and when I do they don't streak

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Habbibie

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Never had a problem using rain-x latitude or Bosch Icon, they last a few years with me without streaking. The noise is obvious if it's barely drizzling or if it's dry they're gonna squeak that's a given.
 
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powerboatr

powerboatr

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I had a similar issue and it was just gunk that I couldnt see stuck to my windshield. I washed the window, clay bar, compound with a random orbitable buffer, polished with the buffer and applied chemical guys jet seal. Its like I don't even need my wipers and when I do they don't streak

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i was leaning this way.
i scrubbed the crap out of it with bon ami, a few times .
polishing it with a buffer and some compound might work.
well i am one armed now, so i have to convince my wife to do it :banana-mario:
 

jeff kushner

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I bought this on fleabay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-AQUAPE...hash=item43f256a561&item=291828573537&vxp=mtr

WARNING...don't believe them...put on 1 (ONE) coat only and it will work perfectly!

I made the mistake of letting the first coat dry then reapplying it but it wouldn't dry....I ended up rubbing till my biceps grew 4 inches getting the excess off my glass.

The stuff works amazingly well though. That coat I applied was in November and my glass still beads water like it has a fresh coat of wax....but don't ever use wax because it will soften in the sun and smear. I learned that lesson many years ago.

I would use a machine polisher with a cotton bonnet and windex to clean your glass really, REALLY well then go from there. That's what I did before applying the Aquapel just to be sure there wasn't ANY wax or grease on the glass. I've gotten very good performance from the factory WW's and recently replaced them with another set of Motorcraft wipers, front & rear.

jeff
 
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USMCBuckWild

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Never had a problem using rain-x latitude or Bosch Icon, they last a few years with me without streaking. The noise is obvious if it's barely drizzling or if it's dry they're gonna squeak that's a given.

The Rain-X wipers I got are the correct size, but the passenger side doesn't maintain contact with the entire windshield, mostly down at the lower corner. I have been less than impressed with them since I put them on back in November. I have had good luck with the Bosch in the past. I think I will go with those next.
 

Barjrob1972

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Old school was to use newspaper on the outside of the glass and your choice of cleaner. Sometimes I use off the shelf glass cleaner and other times I use 90% IPA, vinegar and water in equal parts, soaking down the glass and letting it sit for a bit. You might also have good luck with a "magic eraser" or the generic version, a melamine sponge. Once you clean to how you want, apply a layer of paste wax and buff it out with microfiber. I use Eagle 1. Meguiars used to have a cleaner wax that worked well.
I also just use regular, mid-priced wiper blades and clean them regularly.
As mentioned above, if you have a Porter Cable 7424, you can get special pads and polish it super clean. 'Top of the Line dot com' is where I bought my stuff back when I was showing my Shelby.
 

ExpeditionAndy

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I bought this on fleabay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-AQUAPE...hash=item43f256a561&item=291828573537&vxp=mtr

WARNING...don't believe them...put on 1 (ONE) coat only and it will work perfectly!

I made the mistake of letting the first coat dry then reapplying it but it wouldn't dry....I ended up rubbing till my biceps grew 4 inches getting the excess off my glass.

The stuff works amazingly well though. That coat I applied was in November and my glass still beads water like it has a fresh coat of wax....but don't ever use wax because it will soften in the sun and smear. I learned that lesson many years ago.

I would use a machine polisher with a cotton bonnet and windex to clean your glass really, REALLY well then go from there. That's what I did before applying the Aquapel just to be sure there wasn't ANY wax or grease on the glass. I've gotten very good performance from the factory WW's and recently replaced them with another set of Motorcraft wipers, front & rear.

jeff
As part of the Ziebart package I bought. They applied Aquapel to the windshield along with the rust proofing and sound deadening. So far it works pretty good. Once a year for the next 10 years I'll take it back to them to reapply the Aquapel, touch up the rust proofing, sound deadening, and paint treatment
 
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ExpeditionAndy

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The Rain-X wipers I got are the correct size, but the passenger side doesn't maintain contact with the entire windshield, mostly down at the lower corner. I have been less than impressed with them since I put them on back in November. I have had good luck with the Bosch in the past. I think I will go with those next.
The problem that I had was at highway speed the would flap like the wings of a bird slapping the windshield every time I passed a truck or a truck passed me and the just didn't do a good job clearing the windshield.
 

LokiWolf

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Bosch Icon Wipers 100%. No others are worth using. Make sure you get the A and B correct. There is a specific one for each side. I did those, and a good cleaning with Stoners Glass cleaner and then applied RainX. I use RainX windshield washer fluid also. Works great. I am the first shift in my NOC(Network Operations Center), so I drive through the majority of the bug population in the AM. I go through A LOT of washer fluid. The quality stuff makes a difference.

I used to replace and repair Glass for a living in a past life. The Griots Garage Glass stuff is GREAT.

https://www.griotsgarage.com/search.do?query=glass+polish

They have a clay bar specific for Glass, a Polish and Orbital Glass pads. Can't recommend it enough. Used the whole set on the race car at the beginning of each season. Made a BIG difference.
 

CAKD07

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I've always used Rain-X Latitude and they are great. At first rain beads right off but after a while you have to run wipers. Had this current set 3-years and while Expy is housed in garage at night for the longest was outside in Texas sun during the day while at work. Agree that they don't bend on the passenger side in lower right corner. Knowing you live in the beautiful piney woods (yes jealous) I'd say you have pine tar, sap, and other gunk you can't see.
 

star-art

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I used to use RainX for years. It would last maybe a month. More recently a glass installer recommended AquaPel. A single application of that stuff lasts 6 months or more. (Just be sure to clean the glass really well first.) I apply it in October (the beginning of our rainy season) and it lasts through the Winter and almost until Summer here.

It's gotten harder to find lately so I've been ordering it on Amazon. Something tells me RainX has been buying up their competition to put them out of business and dominate the market for their product that has to be applied much more often. I have to wonder how much longer the "good stuff" that lasts will continue to be available. . .
 

bobmbx

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After my windows get gunky and the ol' windex and paper towel just won't get it done, I clean first with mineral spirits. It dissolves virtually everything..bug guts, wax, that minute layer of diesel fuel and rubber. Then I get after it with a stove top cleaner called Cerama-bryte. Use it as a polishing compound. It gets rid of water spots, acid rain and other chemical residues. Then I hit it with Rain-X.

I also use Rain-X washer fluid.
 
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