Anybody use silicone wiper blades?

(Yes, I spelled the topic wrong. Don't seem to be able to fix that.)

It's a desert out here. Might rain 20 days a year. So here's how this goes:

Rain.

"Crap, the wipers are shot"

Buy new blades

Wait 3 months for more rain.

Repeat.

Seems kinda pointless. I'm wondering if silicone will hold up any better.

Don't have any. Keep windshield waxed with regular old car wax for that occasional rain shower. Then just store the blades in the trunk for when it is more then a sprinkle.

Yes, I use the PIAA blades. I live in Texas and the truck stays outside 24-7. Rubber blades fall off after about six months, and are trash after a year. The PIAA blades last about two years.

The old bosch icon blades worked really well, but then they got cheap. The rain-x blades they sell at wal-mart seem to last a couple years.

I was caught in a weak moment and bought the Rain-X blades, too. They are expensive but do last. i seem to remember seeing Michelin is also marketting a set of blades.

Can someone tell me why, in the 21st century, with the invention of the car nearly 110 years ago, we still have 5 or 6 different ways to attach the blades to the arms? Electronics manufacturers manage to settle pretty quickly among themselves on the sizes and shapes of connections on the backs of tvs, vcrs, dvd players and speakers...why can't the world's car makers get it down to 1 or 2 ways to connect wipers to arms?

Michelin blades suck ass. Within about 5 swipes, they start streaking.

FWIW, the stock blades on my wife's Fit lasted 2-years & 75kmi. The replacements from the dealership were normal slide-in type and weren't expensive. No idea if we'll get 2-years out of the 2nd set though.

I'm tempted to take a blade from one of the other cars in there & see if they'll match it up by size.

So you dont use your windshield washer fluid in the desert? You should have an idea how crappy your blades are if you wash your windscreen once in awhile ;)

KJ

Rain-x wiper fluid is pretty boss, as it applies Rain-x with every wash of the glass. Plus you dont have to wipe it on by hand. It's made a believer out of me. I try to buy their wipers too, but I dont really endorse those because I just dont see the difference, but if the fluid works so well, I'm guessing the wipers do too?

I use silicone blades when I can. Bosch and Rain-X brands have both treated me pretty well.

They are very expensive, though.

(oh, and I fixed the thread title.)

as a GRM solution, the ANCO blades that come in the blue package are some sort of silicone blend that has always held up well over twice as long as the basic rubber blades in our texas heat, and only $1-2 more than the "basic" blades

In reply to Tom Heath:

thanks, Tom!

I also use Bar Keeper's Friend on my windshields to keep the water streaking right off the window. It cleans off all the bugs and oil that accumulate when driving. Generally I will do it before I wash the car so I can be sure it doesn't sit on the paint, use it just like Comet.

I find it works just as well as using RainX but only costs $2, it's also great for removing hard water stains. I've never used the liquid, only the powder, maybe the liquid would be better.

Rain-X washer fluid FTW in any car. I have Rain-X silicone blades on my daily and while they are OK, they skip on a small part of the driver's side (of course). Also, the head attachment is pretty clunky. The Miata has some other brand put on by the PO (I suspect they are Ikons) which work just OK but are at least a year old if not more. The head and bar on those is a lot neater than the Rain-X brand.

I typically use OEM inserts if I can and have good luck, but I thought I would switch up and try something else.

Oh, and I prefer Bon Ami to Barkeeper's Friend or Comet, because it is non-abrasive but does a great job strip-cleaning the glass.

On a side note about comet, if you have rough old paint, comet can even it out to a really nice even matt.

I have a set of Bosch wipers on my truck that need to be replaced and we just picked up a set of the Rain X ones for Tiff's truck so I am going to wait and see how those work before I buy a set for my rig.

Travis_K wrote: The old bosch icon blades worked really well, but then they got cheap.

I thought so...the last 2 sets were chattering within 3 months.

So far I am impressed with the GoodYear wiper blades sold at Costco. Half the price of the crappy Bosch and they last at least a year.

I've never used any type of snake oil on my windshield, but it sounds like they work. I do claybar, polish, and wax the glass every once in a while though.

integraguy wrote: Can someone tell me why, in the 21st century, with the invention of the car nearly 110 years ago, we still have 5 or 6 different ways to attach the blades to the arms? Electronics manufacturers manage to settle pretty quickly among themselves on the sizes and shapes of connections on the backs of tvs, vcrs, dvd players and speakers...why can't the world's car makers get it down to 1 or 2 ways to connect wipers to arms?

They have?

Every car I've messed with in at least the last decade, except my jeep, has had the hook-slot type connector. Just replaced the blades today on the WRX in the parts store parking lot in about 2 minutes with no tools. I'm a fan of this type of mounting.

I've been using the Rain-x blades for a while now and they do work great, though I notice streaking after the first 6 months or so. I normally replace them after about 9 months to a year. Just picked up a bottle of the Rain-x windshield wiper fluid. Haven't tried it yet waiting to use up more of what is in the reservoir.

Rain-x blades and fluid on/in everything I own. The blades on my work truck are a year and a half old and still working fine. They are worth the extra money.

DILYSI Dave,

I'm old enough to remember when wiper arms didn't have the "hook" on the ends....and granted, the last few cars I've owned have been like that, but look at the assorted hardware that comes with replacement wiper arms. Seriously, aren't there 4 or 5 different "adapter" thingees in every package in case you have one of those odd-ball wiper arms on your vehicle?

Another vote for Rain-X washer fluid. I'm never going back to the cheap blue juice.

One more vote here for Rain-X. I use the blades and the windshield treatment, and it's great. I don't even use wiper blades anymore, and I live in Florida, where it rains daily.

Yeah the first set of bosch blades my dad bought lasted something like 5 years before they started working alot worse, now they are only good for about a year.