Who makes the best windshield wiper?

[rbattelle]

I'd just like to vent about how much I HATE my Bosch "Micro-Edge Excel" blades. I cannot believe I got suckered into paying $13 per blade for wipers that last less than 1 year. Not only that, but they are now so loud that you cannot have a conversation or listen to the radio without shouting or cranking the volume up when the wipers are on.



Problem with them is that they use a tiny little sliver of rubber to connect the blade edge with the remainder of the blade. That sliver gets deformed from the pressure of the wiper arms within just a few weeks. The resulting noise is enough to make you want to just rip the blades off the vehicle and throw them through the window at Bosch corporate headquarters.



-Ryan

 

[gtobey]

Trying Bosch ICONS

I'd just like to vent about how much I HATE my Bosch "Micro-Edge Excel" blades. I cannot believe I got suckered into paying $13 per blade for wipers that last less than 1 year. Not only that, but they are now so loud that you cannot have a conversation or listen to the radio without shouting or cranking the volume up when the wipers are on.



Problem with them is that they use a tiny little sliver of rubber to connect the blade edge with the remainder of the blade. That sliver gets deformed from the pressure of the wiper arms within just a few weeks. The resulting noise is enough to make you want to just rip the blades off the vehicle and throw them through the window at Bosch corporate headquarters.



-Ryan

I thought the "EXCEL" might have meant "Excellent" or that these "excel above the rest" or "at the pinnacle of quality", etc. But again I was wrong! I agree with you, that they seem not to last any longer or perform any better than the regular Bosch wiper.



Still on the quest for an HIGH quality wiper that the "average Joe" can obtain from most local stores, I went into our Advance Auto the other day and saw a display for the Bosch ICON blade. After reading the literature, and finding out about a $15 rebate per pair, I decided to "be a sucker for the new gimmick" and purchase a pair for the '02. Let me say here, read the directions on the clips to mount them to the arm... The front edge of the attaching clip is quite sharp, and if you don't squeeze the center part to release the latch, well... Let's just say that you should have a Band-Aid ready!



These ICONs have only been on about a month, but so far, during our rain/snow/hail/sleet/wind/ice, they have performed great! They seem to do better at interstate speeds with the dirt filled misting spray from the car in front of you than any other type I have tried, even in a head-wind. They don't lift off the window, and seem to wipe smoothly without leaving a film that becomes hard to see through. I'm not recommending them yet, though, as a month is just too short to make a definitive decision. I'll have to report later when our temperatures and sun bake them...



Any one else tried the Bosch ICONs?

 

[CMullen]

PIAA Wipers a disappopintment

I bought a pair of PIAA super silicone wipers. Put them on no sweat and they worked really well until the driver side wiper refill came apart and scratched the doo doo out of my windshield.



Really PMO . Good thing i am trading it in



there are two good reasons



1. needed an oil change

2. Wipers buggered



:-laf

 

[rbattelle]

I hate wiper blades so much that I am seriously considering building my own. I'd like a pair that will last at least 5 years.



I want to try some silicone blades, but I'm gun shy about paying so much for blades when I feel I got burned bad by the $13 Bosch "Excel" blades.



-Ryan

 

[Spooled-up]

Has anyone tried the silicone heated wiper blades in the geno's catalog?

 

[Matt400]

I'd just like to vent about how much I HATE my Bosch "Micro-Edge Excel" blades. they are now so loud that you cannot have a conversation or listen to the radio without shouting or cranking the volume up when the wipers are on.

They work great on my wifes PT Cruiser but stink... just like you say on the Ram. They were quiet for 1 week and now chatter horrible. I am constantly adjusting the wiper speed to allow for the most possible water built up to keep from the chatter.

About the time I can't see I can get a quiet wipe :-{}

 

[rbattelle]

I am constantly adjusting the wiper speed to allow for the most possible water built up to keep from the chatter.

About the time I can't see I can get a quiet wipe :-{}

I do EXACTLY the same thing, on my truck and my wife's Civic.







-Ryan

 

[RickL]

I read somewhere that the problem with wipers not lasting on our Rams (2nd gen) is the compound curve of the windshield.

 

[JVantreese]

I have found that using a premium windshield washer solvent like Rain-X will help any blades that you choose. I think that the windshield curvature on 3rd generations makes it tuff for any wiper blade to work well.

 

[Dl5treez]

Has anyone tried the silicone heated wiper blades in the geno's catalog?

yogibear has..... post #18 in this thread



A co-worker bought a set also and really likes them.

 

[Spooled-up]

Guess I should read more carefully

 

[Matt400]

I think that the windshield curvature on 3rd generations makes it tuff for any wiper blade to work well.

That could be, I was surprised the OEM wipers on my 05 at 6000 miles were bad.

 

[KMerritt]

rA
Rain-X wipers

I've got the Rain-X wipers... from Wally World... and I have found that they are the best for the bucks. Only 8 bucks each or something similair. They work well with such a large windshield, dont lift up during high winds, and look pretty good as well.



KMerritt

 

[JVolpe]

After a year and a half of constant wiper blade chattering that made driving in rain very unpleasant I bought a set of Trico Innovision wiper blades. I have had them on for a few months now and I love them. They are silent all the time and work very well in drizzle or heavy rain. $12. 99 each and I would pay twice that when they need replacing.

 

[TMWeber]

Well, I've tried many different kinds including some of the premium blades and I keep going back to Anco. Seem that the summer heat is the hardest on the blades and I did not get better life out of the more expensive ones. The Anco blades last about a year (I TRY to go fall-fall) and are really well priced at Wally World.

 

[FJfonda]

I replace mine 2X per year and don't bother with refills. The best ones I have used are right off the dealer shelf as these have the least amount of fiddling to get a proper fit. Yesterday I stopped to get some and MOPAR is now selling Valeo style blades under the MOPAR name. These are ones without the metal frame to support the rubber insert. Put them on last night --- now waiting for rain to check them out. I have driven a VW Jetta with them and was impressed.

 

[dslmacdown]

I have had Bosch wipers since Nov. and I really like them. My so called "lifetime" triple edge blades made from silicone from walmart had gotten so bad they won't wipe anything off. I got caught in a rain storm driving home at night and I could not see **** I was afraid I was going to run off the road or run into someone. I also bought the Bosch's in a buy one get one free deal at Advance.



Chris

 

[The patriot]

I have winter blades on my truck. I think theyre Anco or something.

They've been there a few years now, and still work good.

I have in the past treated my windows with "rain X" but not since I did the new windshield. It was streak free, a stone hit it.

You guys seem to go through a large amount of wipers.

Every now and then I wipe mine down with alcohol on a cloth. Good to go.

Eric

 

[TheWolf]

cleaning with alcohol will actually dry out the blade faster. just use some soap and water.

 

[David Pendleton]

I've been running the same Anco Winter Blades for two years--they still work fine.