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Wiper Blades

layoutshooter

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Is it just me or are wiper blades getting worse? I cannot seem to find a blade that will work properly on my truck. I have tried 6 or 7 different brands, types, sizes and they all seem to streak or miss entire areas of the windshield. They also freeze and then they really miss the glass. When I was young they did not seem to freeze and quit working like they do now. I am going to have to try something else, again. The winter blades I have now just plain suck. This time I am going to try putting a 21" or maybe even a 20" on the passenger side. The book calls for 22" on both sides but the blade does not even touch the glass for the last 2" or so. Is anyone else having problems like this or am I doing something wrong? I have a 2006 M2 model M112 with a one piece windshield. Layoutshooter
 
Dakota

Dakota

Veteran Expediter
I notice also the blades don't last as long, but then again I moved from San Diego, Ca to Fort Wayne, In
wiper blades really aren't a big concern in San Diego

When you say winter blade are you talking about the ones that have the frame wrapped or the newer ones that have no frame?

For regular summer wipers I've always had good luck with the Bosch brand blades, in the winter I use the rain X latitude blades and they seem to work great.

If your still using blades with the frame/pivot points try the newer frameless blades I think you'd them. The only drawback is that they are expensive. But clear vision is priceless :)
Rain-X Latitude Wiper Blade <-----Latitude
 
Dakota

Dakota

Veteran Expediter
I was just thinking, you said when you were young the wipers worked better. Could it be because the windsheilds were flat and not curved?
 
layoutshooter

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
That is a part of it Dakota, they were flatter back then. They did not seem to freeze like they do now. Might be my failing memory, just seems that way. I did try the Rain-ex framelss, they did not even come close to working on my truck. Layoutshooter
 
OntarioVanMan

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
I tried those "expensive" frameless ones...no better then the no name blades...I've tried all the Bosch line and just come back to the AutoZone house brand....at least I get the credits on the bonus card....5 $20 purchases and you get a @20.00 cash card!

spend a $100 and get $20 back....not a bad deal
 
fastman_1

fastman_1

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Winter blades I always go with one that is 2 inches Shorter than called for still not perfect but better, I' saving my Nickels for a set of heated blades.
 
layoutshooter

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Why? Are winter blades longer or stiffer? I also thought I read in here a while back that the heated blades did not last very long. Layoutshooter
 
Jack_Berry

Jack_Berry

Moderator Emeritus
i have a set of the rain x latitudes. unfortunately or not have not had bad weather to use them in yet. buy 2 and get a fuel car from shell. every little bit helps.
 
Doggie Daddy

Doggie Daddy

Veteran Expediter
We have a 2007 FL M2106 and have always had wiper problems.I have tried all the brands and types and nothing seemed to work.

The passenger side always worked good but the drivers side never did. One day while driving on the interstate I noticed that the drivers side blade was moving around while the wipers were parked,it was actually not pressed tight against the windshield.

I had a "light bulb moment...(thank's Oprah) and figured that the spring in the wiper arm must be weak. I replaced the drivers side wiper arm and have had no problems since.:rolleyes:
 
F

FIS53

Veteran Expediter
I've noticed on a couple of vehicles it is the spring pressure. These newer blade arms seem to have weaker springs than back in the past. Of course one minor problem with increasing the spring pressure is to not let the blade drop back onto the windshield from max height out as the cheaper blades could break (plastic parts). On one vehicle i was able to shorten the spring a little and this helped a lot. Only too a few minutes, cut and bend with cutters and needle nose pliers.
Rob
 
Humble2drive

Humble2drive

Expert Expediter
layoutshooter said:
. . When I was young they did not seem to freeze and quit working like they do now.
Click to expand...

Funny you should bring that up.

My wife and I were fighting windshield visability problems all through the snow and ice storms last week.

We both thought back to the days when we were driving through blizzard conditions in our International cabover with the flat front windshields and the cheap little wipers. We don't recall having any problems back then or even needing to buy special wipers.

Oh well, sigh . . . . I guess we will need to start spending more $$ on upgraded wipers, slush busters, etc.
 
layoutshooter

layoutshooter

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I will look into the springs, I think I will just replace them. I am having problems with both but the passenger side is worse. Layoutshooter
 
Dakota

Dakota

Veteran Expediter
I know the M2 passenger side has that extreme curve so maybe a shorter blade might work. We have the same wiper problems with those trucks. I took the entire arm off and placed it about two inches higher than it originally was so that it would clean the windshield better on the driver side. Arms actually come off really easy.
Never did think about the spring strength, something to check into.
 
Moot

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Last March I took Terry O's advice and bought a set of Michelin Optimum blades. I just replaced them last week. Usually I replace blades in the spring and fall.

The Optimums are a frameless one piece blade so there are no articulation points to ice up.
 
Doggie Daddy

Doggie Daddy

Veteran Expediter
Is this site great, or what? When you have these annoying little or not so little problems all you have to do is post about it and get all kinds of real life solutions to the problem.:D
 
H

holnfr8

Expert Expediter
layoutshooter said:
Is it just me or are wiper blades getting worse? I cannot seem to find a blade that will work properly on my truck. I have tried 6 or 7 different brands, types, sizes and they all seem to streak or miss entire areas of the windshield. They also freeze and then they really miss the glass. When I was young they did not seem to freeze and quit working like they do now. I am going to have to try something else, again. The winter blades I have now just plain suck. This time I am going to try putting a 21" or maybe even a 20" on the passenger side. The book calls for 22" on both sides but the blade does not even touch the glass for the last 2" or so. Is anyone else having problems like this or am I doing something wrong? I have a 2006 M2 model M112 with a one piece windshield. Layoutshooter
Click to expand...
http://www.expeditersonline.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gif

Joe, I think it's just you getting worse, the wipers are fine. thx for asking. LOL
 
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