FYI - Wiper blades
Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Technical Topics Forum
Forum Name: Technical Questions and Discussions
Forum Description: Got a technical question about your fiero? ask it here.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1069
Printed Date: 24 November 2024 at 6:11am
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Topic: FYI - Wiper blades
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Subject: FYI - Wiper blades
Date Posted: 15 December 2008 at 6:20pm
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We've all tried various blades over the years I'm sure (some maybe not!) with varying degrees of success. And had some that were outright BOMBS (do we all remember the Trico Teflon blades that Lordco was hawking years ago that chattered so bad some people tore off the new ones and put the old ones back on????!). Anyhow, I needed new blades for the work truck - had the lube place toss on a new set - they were selling "Rain-X" ones. Figured, WTF, it's not really my money.  Well - hot damned! These things are actually smooth, quiet, and had no signs of streaking! So, grabbed a set for my own truck from Waldo-Mart where they had the next model up (clicky -> http://www.rainx.com/Products/Wiper_Blades/Latitude.aspx - Latitude) . These ones are also super smooth and quiet. Added bonus is that there's no metal frame on them to collect snow/ice that makes them leave huge unwiped areas. Little bit more spendy at about $18 each - but in the grand scheme of things, that's chump change. |
Replies:
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 15 December 2008 at 6:27pm
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$36 for a pair of wipers! I could hire a small boy to wipe the windows for less than that.
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Dr.Fiero wrote:
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 15 December 2008 at 6:31pm
Hey Mr. Jackson... what you do on your personal time.... *cough*  |
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 15 December 2008 at 6:33pm
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Now now, the boy would be attached to the hood and not mistreated in any manner.
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Posted By: Austin
Date Posted: 15 December 2008 at 7:26pm
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Hmm may have to try those RainX ones next time around. I've tried 2 frameless wipers now and here's what i've found. CrappyTire 'original' Reflex wipers, had these on the Fiero for about a year or so. They worked great for the most part. 1 needed to be unbent/uncurved some to avoid unwiped areas of the windshield(may have been a defective one actually). They lasted quite awhile , started to chatter after about 8 months. Bosch frameless microedge, just put these on the 944 & Fiero. 21/20" on 944, 20/19" on Fiero. These I found were slightly smaller than the Reflexes even though i didnt change size. GARBAGE STAY AWAY. They were great at first but started leaving streaks on both cars after only a month of use. The 944 required extensive uncurving/unbending to wipe evenly across, the Fiero just needed a small tweak. I suspect this has more to due w/ weak spring tension however the super old standard metal frame wipers I had on before were fine!??? No chatter.. but some 'wiping' noise... I'll probaby end up toughing these out for a year unless they become absolutely unbearable. Next set might be to try the new CT Reflex WetTec, RainX, or Michellin ones I saw @ Costco. I really like the frameless design because on the Fiero, they can almost be put out of sight from the inside when positioned nicely. Sorry for the long rant
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1986 Fiero GT 3.4L V6 DIS, 5 spd, Full Polyurethane Suspension, Rear Coil-overs |
Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 15 December 2008 at 8:29pm
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The ones I use to buy were about $32 for a set, and I actually bought them for the sheer cosmetic effect, they were the Gloss White Frame vented double blade ricer style that Wally Mart use to sell. I always bought 1" longer than OEM and to my surprise they were the best damn wipers I had ever used. Every couple years I bought a new set and when I was in charge fleet maintenance at Performance Rad every Van there had them. However like any Ricer fad, they eventually went away. I think the last pair of wipers I bought were just generic OEM ones about $16 for the pair, and they work kinda ho hum, Little bit of chatter every now and then, can't completely remove dirt in one pass, have to use the sprayers a lot. I think tomorrow when I am out shopping I'll grab a set of those RainX wipers and give them a shot. As a side note I have found that tweaking the wiper arm with a slight bend to put a little more pressure on the glass helps a bit. My biggest problem with most cheap wipers is chatter/flutter at high speeds. Not extreme, but 120-140kph they would start to skip on the glass. Would drive me nuts. The Ricer ones had wing tips on them to keep them on the glass at speed. I think I have a set of wiper wings in a drawer some place, maybe I'll put them back on the car. ------------- Capt Fiero 88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
Posted By: Romeo
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 4:02pm
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Mine chatter at... 0MPH. Might just invest in those Rain-X ones once I fix everything else. ------------- Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan. |
Posted By: Bassman
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 8:37pm
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Costco ones I picked up for my GA at $10 each..work great:)...think Michelin ------------- Brian (Bassman) 86 GT Fastback 3.2L 2013 Mazda3 Sport GS SkyActive [IMG]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u243/Bassman68/BassmanSignature.png"> |
Posted By: Fiero Zen
Date Posted: 16 December 2008 at 11:04pm
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I bought the Reflex and hated them, they squeeked really bad. I find the simple Motormaster metal blades from canadiantire fine. When I travelled over to Kelowna recently averaging 160 km the blades never lifted once off the windscreen when I cleaned off the bugs/grime. I just bought the Motormaster winter set - FieroZen ------------- Yesterday is History Tomorrow is a Mystery But Today is a Gift That is why it is called the Present |
Posted By: swashburn
Date Posted: 20 December 2008 at 11:34am
| nice car austin. I only hope my 1986 se 2.8 will look that good. I am inprocess of redoing it. |
Posted By: Austin
Date Posted: 14 May 2009 at 2:17pm
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Thanks swashburn UPDATE: picked up the a pair of the Michellins about a month ago to replace the stupid Bosch ones. So far so good, and they were on sale at Costco to boot :) Quiet, wipe well, no chatter. -------------
1986 Fiero GT 3.4L V6 DIS, 5 spd, Full Polyurethane Suspension, Rear Coil-overs |
Posted By: madsod
Date Posted: 14 May 2009 at 7:30pm
I just purchased a pair of Rain-X wipers from Wal-mart for my GT. FANTASTIC wipers, would recommend to anyone  , and yes less then $20 dollars.
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Posted By: Borteep
Date Posted: 23 May 2009 at 11:30am
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I've been using the Rain-X for about a year and a half, and they seem to perform pretty well. I only had to replace one because the plastic tab that holds it to the wiper arm broke, I think it was related to a big snow dump and irresponsible wiper use but I don't remember. I don't do top-speed runs in my GT, but the wipers do their job quite well south of 140 km/h. and yeah, I initially bought them just because they looked sleeker... |