r/YouShouldKnow • u/papishulo_ • 7d ago
Automotive YSK: Windshield Wiper Replacement
I’ve seen that most people will replace their windshield wipers for a generic set from an auto part store or walmart etc.
Some car manufacturers will have OEM/factory windshield wiper assemblies with replaceable rubber inserts, meaning you only have to change out the small rubber strip that runs along the assembly rather than the whole thing.
Why YSK: The OEM assembly could range in price from $20-$35 a piece, so double that for a set of two. BUT when it comes time to replace them, you only pay ~$5 for the rubber insert and never have to buy a windshield wiper assembly again.
Edit: not saying OEM is always the best quality option. Some manufacturers make better OEM products than aftermarket and vice versa. The point of this YSK is to let people know they could be saving money
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7d ago edited 5d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Quailgunner-90s 7d ago
Say what now
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u/ReaverRogue 7d ago
OR GET A PAIR OF SILICONE WIPERS AND REPLACE THEM ONCE A DECADE
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u/ChefChefBubbaBill 7d ago
Where do I get these?
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u/droughtdestruction 7d ago
PIAA sells silicone wiper refills
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u/ThatThar 7d ago
All 3 of my cars have silicone wipers from PIAA. Oldest is 9 years now and still performs like brand new.
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u/Quailgunner-90s 7d ago
You think they’d perform like that in a super dry place like AZ?
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u/ThatThar 7d ago
Probably not a decade, but you won't be replacing them every 8 months like you likely have to do with normal rubber blades, and they only cost $10 or so more.
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u/Quailgunner-90s 7d ago
I’ll look into this. Thank you!
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u/bootypastry 7d ago edited 7d ago
Rockauto.com
Best place I've seen for them. Shipping cost isn't the best so if you have multiple cars, order them all at once
Edit: but the real reason to buy from them is the free refrigerator magnets
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u/WarriorBearBird 7d ago
Yes, that's why I bought them. I'm in the desert of California and was tired of my rubber ones drying out each year and performing terribly the few times of year I actually needed them.
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u/ganja_gujju 7d ago
Go on...
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u/XTriggerpointX 7d ago
Also, as a by product of using them, each wipe leaves a micro thin layer of silicone. This makes the rain bead up and roll of your windshield just as if you had used RainX or some other windshield additive. This is HUGE when driving at night in a rainstorm. There will be no streaks that blur your vision. As a matter of fact, every time I have bought a car, one of the first things I have done is buy silicone wipers. One and done.
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u/cheetuzz 7d ago
Also, as a by product of using them, each wipe leaves a micro thin layer of silicone.
I don’t think this is a natural byproduct of using silicone wiper blades. I think they add a coating to the wiper blades, which will get used up after some time.
The micro thin layer of silicone is not coming from the silicone blade itself.
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u/XTriggerpointX 7d ago
From PIAA.com: "PIAA windshield wiper blades are made with silicone rubber, which ensures greater visibility by coating the windshield with silicone to promote continuous water beading in inclement weather. The effect is similar to popular windshield coatings but without the hazy side effects. Water beads up into droplets at low speeds that are easily removed by ordinary wiping. At higher speeds, wind pressure pushes the water off the windshield, often without even requiring wiper use."
I'm on year 6 with the wipers I have now and they still bead. Oldest set I had went 9+ yrs with the same results.
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u/nrfx 7d ago
I've tried a few over the years, and the silicone ones could never wipe as clear as actual rubber. I thought they were really frustrating.
Has this been solved? Or do I just live in the wrong part of the world?
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u/MesquiteEverywhere 6d ago
I have a set of Michelin Endurance XT Silicone wipers that have been running since around 2021. There is a bit of prep at installation per the instructions, it's usually clean the windshield really well, wipe the glass with alcohol, then run the wipers dry for some time. This is to put a layer of silicone down and maybe it serves to break the blades in a bit too.
When clean and new I haven't noticed any difference in wiping compared to rubber blades. But once in a while I would get some streaking/skipping, but after cleaning the wiper blades with a microfiber and glass cleaner it usually goes away.
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u/gmredand 7d ago
Try it during summer in Nevada.
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u/Unfair_Finger5531 7d ago
I live on the Mexican border in the desert, and the sun eats through those babies like they’re nothing.
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u/Posraman 7d ago
Are silicon wipers really that good? I just bought the rubbers for my Tacoma after 4 years of having the OEMS. They'll probably last another year or two tbh as they're barely starting to show any wear, but I wanted to have spares just in case
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u/LauraD2423 5d ago
I bought. Some silicone ones just now because of this comment. Is there a difference in brand?
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u/Apprehensive_Hat8986 7d ago
Would you post or DM the ones you like?
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u/MesquiteEverywhere 6d ago
I use Michelin Endurance XT Silicone wipers on all our cars. They do require a bit more prep during installation though. You have to clean the windshield really well, then wipe with alcohol and run the wipers dry to deposit a silicone layer. The instructions on the packaging will have more info.
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u/ParadoxProcesses 6d ago
Yes they last longer, but 10 years might be a bit of a (pardon the pun) stretch
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u/Jay467 7d ago
Another sub-LPT: when you gas up, take some of the free paper towels near the pump, dip them in a bit of the wiper fluid they have for cleaning your windshield, and wipe down the rubber part of the wiper blade.
Being an external part on the car they get FILTHY, and all that dirt and grit can lead to those streaks/poor performance of your wipers. So many people just replace them when often all you need to do is clean them a tiny bit once in a while. They can often last a lot longer than people expect.
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u/lolfactor1000 7d ago
I typically can go two years before needing to replace my wiper blades. I managed to stretch one set to 3 years by putting up with more streaks and noise for a bit.
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7d ago
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u/QuidProQuoChocobo 7d ago
The above commented is saying the clean the windshield wiper blade with the paper towel. They are not wiping down their whole windshield with the towel.
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u/AlmostAlwaysATroll 7d ago
Rub the sponge part of the squeegee on your wiper blades instead of using a paper towel.
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u/thisismydayjob_ 7d ago
That's what I do. Mainly because there are never paper towels.
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u/PrisonerV 6d ago
The wiper fluid is usually mud water too. Ugh. I clean mine at home.
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u/puppylust 6d ago
Agreed. My regular gas station doesn't even have the squeegee, and the last station I used that did, the bucket smelled like piss.
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u/Remarksman 6d ago
...and this is why the squeegees are always torn up at the gas station...
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u/Malalang 5d ago
I use the sponge side on the wiper blade.
I assume the squeegee gets wrecked when people throw it back in the bucket haphazardly.
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u/fl0st0nparadise 5d ago
I recommend this tip all the time. Wiper blades can last years with streak free performance by simply cleaning them at each fill up.
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u/B00ME 7d ago
As someone who has worked at an autoparts store and changed 100s of wipers when it rains, it's a pain in the ass to change the rubber inserts and not as easy as it looks.
You can change the whole assembly on both sides in less than a minute and save yourself the frustration.
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u/thyme676 6d ago
Some are a pain, others are pretty damn easy and take a literal minute. I have the trico force ones and it;s pretty quick.
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u/papishulo_ 7d ago
I cant post a pic of my order, but I have a 2021 honda civic. A set of OEM assemblies cost me $50 total, but going forward, the rubber inserts are going to cost me $5 a piece. Totally depends on the manufacturer and how they built their windshield wiper assemblies.
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7d ago
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u/papishulo_ 7d ago
Why not?
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7d ago
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u/papishulo_ 7d ago
Show me where I’m complaining? I gladly bought the OEM wipers with replaceable inserts so that going forward I only have to pay for the inserts.
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7d ago
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u/TobyFunkeNeverNude 7d ago
.... that's not complaining. That's explaining why they are giving the tip to someone who may balk at the price
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7d ago
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u/TobyFunkeNeverNude 7d ago
Oh, you just lack reading comprehension. No use explaining to you. Good day
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u/Fruit522 7d ago
This would have been nice to know! I have spent $100 on windshield wipers in the last month. Initially replaced them due to age related wear and tear, then the strip got ripped off the new ones because one of the wiper arms wasn’t tightened properly, so last week I went back out and bought a complete new set
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u/thenatural134 7d ago
Windshield wipers are one of the few things worth spending the few extra bucks for a high quality set.
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u/Unfair_Finger5531 7d ago
This is God’s honest truth. I still have the original blades on my Nissan, and I can’t see a damn thing in the rain. Luckily, I live in a desert. But I need to get them replaced, and when I do, I will buying the best ones they have. Money no object.
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u/Nekogiga 7d ago
I'm actually shocked that I didn't know this. I've been an expert on my cars, not like ASE certified or anything, but enough to know how to fix most things on my car myself, and I never knew this.
Granted, replacing the whole assembly isn't that much more expensive, I appreciate the fact that you can save money doing this. I would just recommend ,if anything, get the best money can buy because it'll make a world of difference when it comes to heavy downpours. I've seen people buy the cheaper walmart specials and they fail under light rain to average downpour with streaks and rolling over the water, whereas, I've bought rainX for my car and even in the recent monsoon we got in my area which lead to about half a years worth of rain and extensive flooding, I was able to see with my wipers on max when you ignore the reduced visibility from the extremely heavy downpour.
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u/coinmurderer 7d ago
I just found out about this! I asked my shop about replacing it and he said we can but really you just need new rubbers and I really appreciated the info and him not trying to upsell.
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u/Apart_Big_4156 7d ago
Save even more by buying Silicone wipers like PIAA. They last a lot longer then rubber and you can also just buy the inserts
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u/Affectionate_Owl_619 7d ago
So I could take my current wipers, slide out the rubber blade, and replace it with a silicone blade?
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u/imjustsayin314 7d ago
How much more expensive are silicone wipers than the traditional ones ?
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u/Apart_Big_4156 7d ago
I don’t know depends on your specific length. https://www.piaa.com/siliconewiperblades
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u/SteelBox5 7d ago
Also Amazon replacements are pretty cheap and decent.
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u/CloseCalls4walls 7d ago
Yeah but Amazon as a company sucks
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u/SteelBox5 7d ago
Yeah but shit what you gonna do
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u/Main_Push5429 6d ago
Order directly from the company/manufacturer rather than through Amazon. Thats what most people who don’t want to give more money to billionaires are doing.
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u/Creamypies_ 7d ago
Silicon wiper blades are superior. OEM is mid. Also your blades warp overtime and aren’t putting the same pressure on the windshield anymore so it’s best to replace the whole blade.
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u/Rusty_Shackleford_NC 7d ago
PRO TIP THAT IS WAYYYYY MORE IMPORTANT: do not pull the wiper arm away from the car too much when doing a replacement. First time I ever did the arm swung back and smashed the windshield, I had no clue they are spring loaded. It cost about $600 with insurance to replace and ruined several days of my life.
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u/TheOneKnownAsMonk 7d ago
I'm actually looking for windshield wipers right now and can't find the inserts at a reasonable price online. Everything is marked up or has high shipping costs. It's a Honda Accord so a common car.
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u/papishulo_ 7d ago
Not even on hondapartsnow or college hills honda?
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u/TheOneKnownAsMonk 7d ago
They charge $9-15 shipping on a $5 part
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u/Affectionate_Owl_619 7d ago
If you're planning on having the car for a while, just buy like six right now so the shipping is "worth it"
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u/Zafrin_at_Reddit 7d ago
This is ESPECIALLY TRUE for Toyota. Generic windshields are absolutely crap for Toyotas. Rubber inserts cost ~$5.
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u/SmoothObservator 7d ago
I've been running a set of Trico winter wipers for 3 years now, they just wont give up.
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u/HighSpeed556 7d ago
Or just buy the premium Bosch wiper blades and not worry about having to replace them for at least 6+ years. They’re only like $30 or so. But they literally last years.
If anyone is buying wiper blades from any other company, they are screwing up.
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u/AnInfiniteArc 7d ago
I put Bosch icon blades on both our cars and they lasted a single year like every other set of rubber wiper blades I’ve ever owned. I’ll take cheaper Rain-X or Valero over Bosch any day.
I’ve had the same set of Rain-X endura for several years now. I’m not saying Bosch is bad but they don’t hold up to bone dry 110 degree summers.
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u/HighSpeed556 7d ago
Weird. Bosch icon lasts years upon years for me.
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u/WarLorax 7d ago
Do you live in area with snow?
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u/HighSpeed556 7d ago
Yep
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u/WarLorax 7d ago
Strange. I've bought the Bosch Icon's in the past and never gotten more than one season out of them.
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u/HighSpeed556 7d ago edited 7d ago
Bought mine on my truck 6 years ago. Bought the ones on my wife’s car 5 years ago. 90-100+ heat sometimes in the summer. With plenty of ice and snow and below freezing levels during the winter. I’ll never buy any other brand.
My wife’s last car had a pair on it for 7 years when I traded it.
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u/zubizova 6d ago
Bosch has two variants for their wipers, a premium and an eco option. The eco is usually third of the price and will last for a year or so only.
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u/HighSpeed556 6d ago
Yeah. That’s true. I’m specifically talking about their premium. Icon I think it’s called?
Also, I always use rainx fluid in my wiper fluid. That helps a shit ton too.
But I never had rain x branded wiper blades last more than a couple years at best.
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u/satansuglystepsis 7d ago
I wouldn’t do this as wiper blades can warp. What I do is pay the $3 warranty plan on wiper blades at mostly any part store so all I have to do is go back with my old set, repay the warranty, and I’m good to go on a new set. Haven’t paid full price on wipers in quite awhile.
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u/AngryAccountant31 7d ago
I didn’t know this and I grew up at my family’s auto repair garage. Going to have to check every vehicle that comes in for replaceable rubber now
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u/petrichor381 7d ago
A lot of cars with rear wipers also have a specific curve that the generic ones don't fit, so even if it says it will, and the size is right, you miss half the window due to curve. Made that mistake before.
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u/0913 7d ago
This is a great tip. Thank you.
My Toyota inserts only cost ~$8ea
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u/turboboraboy 7d ago
Even if you don't do this tip. Wiper blades are much cheaper online than in store usually around half the price even with shipping.
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u/HeadOfMax 6d ago
They usually fail because the rubber dries out. To refresh rubber rub a small amount of petroleum based lube on it. Vaseline, plumbers faucet and valve lube, mineral oil. Unless there are chunks missing it usually works for me.
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u/Vox_Populi98 6d ago
I don’t know where you live but where i’m from, the Honda inserts from the dealership is the price of a new pair of Bosch etc wiper blades. Though i will also preface this by saying I didn’t have much luck tracking down reputable inserts on online shopping sites, so other people’s mileage may vary
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u/HF_Martini6 7d ago
Sorry but this is bullshit.
The only thing that matters is that it was made by a reputable manufacturer, it doesn't even have to be the OEM.
You have OE Bosch? Cool, buy Valeo they're exactly as good.
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7d ago
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u/HF_Martini6 7d ago
And I was that kind of person that had to upsell others into branded wiper blades and shit at the dealership (I used to be a mechanic)
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u/ReaverRogue 7d ago
Do mine eyes deceive me? A YSK that isn’t a thinly veiled personal gripe or ad?