Since the search feature on this site rarely works, I'm going to ask a really easy question.

I need to replace my shitty wiper blades. The ones the previous owner had on were bending and then slapping the windshield and it made a racket and totally sucked. I replaced it with freebies but they skitter across the windshield noisily.

I live in Vancouver (hardcore rain city) - I need awesome wipers!

I've learned that Bosch Icon wipers are probably the best pick, however they do look similar (my memory sucks though) to the ones that were slapping the windshield.

If I grab a couple of those, what sizes do I need to buy?

Sorry for starting this thread probably for the 100th time :P

 

24A (24") for Driver's side and 19B (19") for Passenger's side

 

bosch icon are the best wipers imo - i'm using the premium rainx blades now and hate them - going back to bosch icon when these are toast.

 

Anyone know a store that sells these in Canada or to Canada?

I looked pretty hard and couldn't find anything except amazon which wouldn't ship to Canada.

 

basically any local auto store would hold them. i got mine from kragens. bosch icons ftw

 

i run icons too and in the seattle rain. i've never seen clearer.
definitely worth the top dollar price.

 

..there are a couple things you can do to extend the life span of your wipers. Every now and then use a vinyl/rubber cleaner to clean the wiper blades. Also, giving your windshield a good wax helps water bead up and drip off as well as making the wiper blades clean the windshield easier.. rather than applying Rain-X, which does absolutely nothing.. but actually worsens the windshield (..causes smearing).

 

i bought a set of icons and on the 2nd day they were streaking and by the end of the week i was better off wiping the rain off myself

gonna give it one more try this spring >.>

 

lol I'd recommend rain-x. I haven't changed my wiper blades for 3 years now..lol...I used to have a lot of smearing and I must say I'm impressed with rain-x after I applied it on my windshield.

 

..rly? I have used it once and it caused the smearing so I was like Rain-X stuff is garbage. Hahahaha, my g/f always uses it and it sometimes smears.. so Ionno, I just give my windshield a good wax and it has kept my Bosch wipers good for almost 5yrs. now. Actually, I think upgraded wiper blades were my first mod as the day I got it, I just threw away the POS OEM ones..

 

i got the icons and couldnt be happier with them, and they look better imo

 

Silblade
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/...r_silicone.jsp

And are great blades too

Piaa
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/...r_silicone.jsp

 

I bought the PIAA silicone refills off of Amazon for $13 total and stuck them in the stock blades; they are an identical fit.

 

Rain X Latitude? Why don't you like them? Mine appear to work great.

 

Hmm- I use Rain X regularly w/ GREAT results-

 

I hate them too. I was in a pinch and bought them, they were off my car within a week. They suck in the cold and freeze up faster than a fart could smell.

 

^^this pretty much sums it up. I use Rain-X and love the product, but not the wipers. will be going back to bosch icons soon.

 

double check those part numbers- the gen2 TL that I drive uses -A on both sides
The bosch icon wiper blades are directional- there is a spoiler lip that has to be up
Our car- the wipers both lay to the right of the pivot and come up to the left
Some other car makes have wipers that come in from each side, they require B models for that side
As Bosch says of the Icons, Only Grandma Hugs Tighter
What makes them great is all the parts are internal, nothing exposed to be able to ice up.
Best thing for your windshield and new blades efficiency is to start with a rubbing alcohol cleaning of the glass to rid all the old waxes and builup or crud.
Then wax glass with carnuba car wax, repeat every month or 3 as needed to keep water beading

 

Rain-X works best on the rear & side windows and parts of the front that the wipers don't hit. I don't like the Rain-X on the wiped part of the windshield.

 

I have smears if I don't wipe it off thoroughly after applying it. I didn't think it would work too before but it was on sales so I was like why not and I'm happy that I got it lol.

But I guess it's a good idea to get some good wipers/blades.

 

That's strange- 9 degrees here today & no trbl....

 

I like the michelin Rainforce. They're readily available at WM for around $8/each. They're coated w/ graphite so they don't squeal when running them on dry windshield.

Also, no Rain X for me

 

Rain-x is great stuff, but you HAVE to apply it often or as it wears off windshield wipers dont work well (from my experience)

 

i use the rain-x brand washer fluid - works great. make sure you get the stuff formulated for bug guts though - the regular formula is a little weak.

 

+1 for Bosh Icons

 

The icons are directional, but that's not what the a and b designations are for. The a numbers are designed to hug the flatter curve on the driver's side, while the b numbers are supposed work better on the passenger side where the windshield curves more sharply at the bottom. Our cars take a 424a driver's side and a 419b passenger side.

 

Im going to have to pick up some bosch icons! I can never find good wiper blades and go through them like crazy... I had RainX latitudes but they started bouncing around after about 2-3 months of use... the ones I have now are some cheapo ones and they skip and just miss patches on my windshield

 

yep...i've had it for more than a year...it still work better than other ones...imo and i'm also located in Seattle....

 

ive had the bosch icons since last spring and they work fairly well... they tend to skip across the windshield every now and then but they are consistent... so is it a good idea to clay/wax the windshield before i go back to school in the rain/snow/ice weather?

 

Well my wipers are jacked to hell. I turned them on the other day, and I guess one came unhooked. Well they both came up to about half of the windshield, the the driver side one stopped. And the passenger side one collided with it. They got stuck together and it was a wild scene. So, until I get them fixed in the very near future, its no driving in the rain for me. Driving in the rain FTL anyways.

 

I would Never run wipers that long. Twice a year mine get replaced. Single cheapest and easiest safety item on your car you can replace. I replace mine spring and fall.

 

^^me too - i replace mine 2-3 times a year for the same reason - safety.

 

^thanks for the advice, maybe its time for a new pair? they seem to be working fine to me... but nobody answered my question... is it wise to clay bar and wax the windshield?

 

i love my RAIN-X no problems with them!

 

I did on the last wax. Can't hurt at all.

 

clay should be ok, im not sure i would wax it. Many auto glass places will polish the glass (if in decent shape) to help remove the small pitting and scratches. You should check into that and the price to see if you can/want to have it done

 

^^no need to worry - slap some synthetic wax on the windshield and buff it off. bugs slip right off for the first few days too...

 

^nice... its like 25 degrees outside so i don't think im gonna do this right now... good advice for the next wax though

 

read the label on the wax- at least one synthetic I have says NOT to use on Glass