Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Having trouble getting good wiper blades

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-23-2015, 01:53 PM
  #1  
jackthelad
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
 
jackthelad's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 3,473
Received 675 Likes on 519 Posts

Default Having trouble getting good wiper blades

A while back I had installed the one piece Goodyear blades. Now they have some miles on them they make a lot of noise unless the rain is really pouring down.

So, it was time for new wipers. RainX seemed to get good write ups, so I tried them. No noise, but I get a smearing effect, a bit like misting as they wipe. Since I did not have that previously, I guess it's caused by whatever chemical is in the RainX blades. So they will have to go.

I had previously found that Bosch are initially good, but get noisy after not too many miles.

So, I want a wiper that does not judder, is quiet and works efficiently in both light and heavy rain. And lasts more than a few months.

Any recommendations, or is back to good old Trico?
Old 12-23-2015, 01:56 PM
  #2  
El original
Melting Slicks
 
El original's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2008
Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,146
Received 201 Likes on 168 Posts

Default

Just give your rain X a chance to break in.
The following users liked this post:
SG Lou (12-23-2015)
Old 12-23-2015, 02:05 PM
  #3  
Bill Vett
Safety Car
 
Bill Vett's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2001
Location: Warrington Pa.
Posts: 3,725
Received 53 Likes on 44 Posts

Default

We have windshield wipers?
Old 12-23-2015, 02:06 PM
  #4  
SG Lou
Safety Car
 
SG Lou's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2010
Location: Fords, NJ
Posts: 3,937
Received 486 Likes on 370 Posts

Default

Speaking of wiper blades....I just came from the Subaru Dealer. My wife's 08 Tribeca needed blades real bad. Passenger side I can get any place, driver side is a Dealer Only part......to the tune of $44.00

WTF ?

I told her she needs to get a C5........wiper blades can be purchased cheap

Last edited by SG Lou; 12-23-2015 at 02:07 PM.
Old 12-23-2015, 02:10 PM
  #5  
jackthelad
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
 
jackthelad's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 3,473
Received 675 Likes on 519 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by SG Lou
Speaking of wiper blades....I just came from the Subaru Dealer. My wife's 08 Tribeca needed blades real bad. Passenger side I can get any place, driver side is a Dealer Only part......to the tune of $44.00

WTF ?

I told her she needs to get a C5........wiper blades can be purchased cheap
If it's like my wife's Legacy GT, it's a special blade with an aerofoil. Ignore it, put a regular blade on, that's what we did. As far as I can tell it makes no difference at US legal (and above) speeds.
Old 12-23-2015, 02:11 PM
  #6  
jackthelad
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
 
jackthelad's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 3,473
Received 675 Likes on 519 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Bill Vett
We have windshield wipers?
Like it doesn't rain in PA......
Old 12-23-2015, 02:14 PM
  #7  
Surfer G
Racer
 
Surfer G's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2011
Location: Smith Mountain Lake VA
Posts: 337
Received 78 Likes on 27 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by jackthelad
A while back I had installed the one piece Goodyear blades. Now they have some miles on them they make a lot of noise unless the rain is really pouring down.

So, it was time for new wipers. RainX seemed to get good write ups, so I tried them. No noise, but I get a smearing effect, a bit like misting as they wipe. Since I did not have that previously, I guess it's caused by whatever chemical is in the RainX blades. So they will have to go.

I had previously found that Bosch are initially good, but get noisy after not too many miles.

So, I want a wiper that does not judder, is quiet and works efficiently in both light and heavy rain. And lasts more than a few months.

Any recommendations, or is back to good old Trico?
I just put Trico Onyx (their best blade) on the vette, haven't had a chance to try them yet.
Old 12-23-2015, 02:14 PM
  #8  
SG Lou
Safety Car
 
SG Lou's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2010
Location: Fords, NJ
Posts: 3,937
Received 486 Likes on 370 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by jackthelad
If it's like my wife's Legacy GT, it's a special blade with an aerofoil. Ignore it, put a regular blade on, that's what we did. As far as I can tell it makes no difference at US legal (and above) speeds.
I tried that already Jack, the " J hook " on the Drivers side arm is double the width of the passenger side. Only way I can get around it is to remove the wiper arm and make the J hook narrower by grinding it down.
Old 12-23-2015, 02:55 PM
  #9  
rrwirsi
Melting Slicks

 
rrwirsi's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2014
Location: Havre de Grace Maryland
Posts: 3,137
Received 1,216 Likes on 776 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Bill Vett
We have windshield wipers?

And what are they used for?
Old 12-23-2015, 03:35 PM
  #10  
Vetteman Jack
Administrator

Support Corvetteforum!
 
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 343,010
Received 19,305 Likes on 13,977 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran


Default

In all honesty, the OEM blades have always worked well for me and lasted a long time. Not sure who makes them though.
Old 12-23-2015, 03:35 PM
  #11  
Bill Vett
Safety Car
 
Bill Vett's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2001
Location: Warrington Pa.
Posts: 3,725
Received 53 Likes on 44 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by jackthelad
Like it doesn't rain in PA......
I just replaced my original blades, yes 15 years old. During inspection the tech noticed some cracks and suggested I replace them. I don't leave the house in the corvette if its raining, I take my CTS. Yes I've been out and it rained but most times the RainX works fine. I have a Vortex CAI and they don't like rain.

Last edited by Bill Vett; 12-23-2015 at 03:37 PM.
Old 12-23-2015, 03:55 PM
  #12  
rconkin
Instructor
 
rconkin's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2014
Location: Jonesborough TN
Posts: 151
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

I currently have the Michelin Stealth Hybrid blades on my C5 and my wife's MDX and so far so good.
Old 12-23-2015, 04:50 PM
  #13  
jackthelad
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
 
jackthelad's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 3,473
Received 675 Likes on 519 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by SG Lou
I tried that already Jack, the " J hook " on the Drivers side arm is double the width of the passenger side. Only way I can get around it is to remove the wiper arm and make the J hook narrower by grinding it down.
Lou, some good threads out there, like these:

www.sb9t.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1443&page=2

www.sb9t.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3115

Good luck.
Old 12-23-2015, 04:55 PM
  #14  
zdeckich
Safety Car
 
zdeckich's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2014
Location: Fort Worth Texas
Posts: 3,793
Received 312 Likes on 231 Posts
2017 Corvette of Year Finalist
2016 C5 of the Year

Default

Have you tried to clay bar your windshield and/or take a razor blade to it get all the contaminants out of the glass? Not only will it prolong the life of the glass and it will help lower noise on the windshield.
Old 12-23-2015, 05:13 PM
  #15  
LouisXIVco
3rd Gear
 
LouisXIVco's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I just went to Trico Neo Form last week, BOGO 1/2 off, from Advance Auto (not sure if still applicable). No complaints and i've been dealing with snow, and frozen rain in Denver.
Old 12-23-2015, 05:15 PM
  #16  
Black 02
Safety Car
 
Black 02's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2011
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 4,260
Received 427 Likes on 316 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by SG Lou
Speaking of wiper blades....I just came from the Subaru Dealer. My wife's 08 Tribeca needed blades real bad. Passenger side I can get any place, driver side is a Dealer Only part......to the tune of $44.00

WTF ?

I told her she needs to get a C5........wiper blades can be purchased cheap

Surely there is a place to order them online for less. I get all of my BMW parts mail order because the dealers want full msrp or more for everything, some even double the price on small items here
Old 12-23-2015, 05:23 PM
  #17  
MAC5
Drifting

 
MAC5's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,761
Received 230 Likes on 148 Posts

Default

Trico - Exact Fit (Conventional model) 22 inch size

Use them on all our vehicles for years.

Last edited by MAC5; 12-28-2015 at 08:15 PM.

Get notified of new replies

To Having trouble getting good wiper blades

Old 12-23-2015, 07:38 PM
  #18  
jackthelad
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
 
jackthelad's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2013
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 3,473
Received 675 Likes on 519 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by zdeckich
Have you tried to clay bar your windshield and/or take a razor blade to it get all the contaminants out of the glass? Not only will it prolong the life of the glass and it will help lower noise on the windshield.
The noise is caused by the blades juddering across the glass - you can actually see it happen. New RainX - no judder, but some smearing. As was recommended, I will give them a while to see if things settle down.

And no, I don't claybar or scrape the windshield - it gets cleaned, but that's it. BTW, how do contaminants get "into" glass? It is a much harder medium than any contaminant out there. Dish washing detergent at most is all you need.
Old 12-23-2015, 08:08 PM
  #19  
DSTURBD
Melting Slicks
 
DSTURBD's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2003
Location: Yuma CO
Posts: 2,170
Received 48 Likes on 42 Posts
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran

Default

Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
In all honesty, the OEM blades have always worked well for me and lasted a long time. Not sure who makes them though.
Quite a while ago, I was watching a program on one of the automotive channels and one of the segments was about the few parts that are actually worth getting from the dealer because of their quality or their application specificity, or both. I don't remember all of the reasons exactly, but they said that wiper blades were one item that they said you should get from the dealer because of the OEM quality and other reasons. Since then, I have gotten all of my wiper blades from the dealer and have been very happy with performance and longevity. I know!!! Hard to believe, huh?!?!?

DSTURBD
Old 12-23-2015, 08:37 PM
  #20  
57gman
Burning Brakes
 
57gman's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley PA
Posts: 881
Received 89 Likes on 66 Posts
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified

Default

Originally Posted by rrwirsi
And what are they used for?

Are they real? there for show, right?


Quick Reply: Having trouble getting good wiper blades



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:57 AM.