Perfusion

With the rains we've had in the Bay Area over the past couple weeks, it reminded me that I was in desperate need of new windshield wiper blades. I went to my local auto parts place and sourced a set of Size 20 Bosch replacements, as identified by the store's computer.

I opted for the Bosch's because of their somewhat attractive $8.99ea pricepoint vs. the more expensive PIAA offering. On a nice, sunny, Saturday afternoon, I replaced my (probably original) wipers with the new Bosches, and tossed the tired old ones in the garbage.

Monday morning - trash day - came and went without moving the Vette. Today, I head out and want to clean my windshield with my new blades. I hit the "MIST" mode on the turn signal stalk, and what do I hear?

"*THUNK*!"

"WOH! What was that?!"

It was the sound of the top edge of the Bosch piece catching against the underside of the hood as it attemped to come out from under and into the "ready" position. Keep in mind, my car is a 96 and the wipers store virtually underneath the hood at the base of the windshield - I don't know how earlier model C4s behave.

Nonetheless, I get out to take a closer look and realize that the Bosch wiper is a good 1/8" taller than the OEM piece, thus making it unlikely for it to clear the underside of the hood (without first rubbing) when first coming on or when being turned off.

The moral of the story for anyone who may be contemplating new wiper blades for the remaining wet season?

Save the time and money and just buy the damn GM parts.

Bob CTS

Great post, everyone should keep this because most of the other manufacture blades are too tall to clear the hood when down/stored. I used a brand from Advance and I think the brand was trico they where the only ones that fit.

RichS

I've been just changing the rubbers and keeping the original hardware. I think they are like $4 at Wallyworld.

Red Tornado

bingo

replacing the whole blade assy is both unnecessary and more expensive.

mikeb

Seems kind of odd that taller blade hardware wouldn't fit the '96s.
I could see this problem happening with an '85 thou.

Having an '85 that doesn't see the rain too often, I probably have the OEM stuff on mine (they sure look it).
I haven't used my wipers in the past 5 years, and if I'm lucky, I won't use them the next 5 either (but that's my problem, I just don't drive it in unpleasent weather anymore).

JackDidley

RainX brand clears the hood like stock.

jfb

I replace the wipers on my 87 with Ansco blades and make sure that they have a metal rib. The plastic ribs are not stiff or strong enough.

Perfusion

Good info from all... My goal was for this thread was to create something that would be easy to find in the future via the Search when another member might be contemplating how best to approach this situation. The more information contained herein the better!

cv67

I had a brand new set of Boschs I chucked the other day for that exact same problem. Guys at Vatozone wouldnt take them back because the package says they fit

Ybnormyl

Had the same basic problem.
I changed mine in the auto parts store parking lot.
When I started the car and turned the wipers off, the wipers tried to return to the "storage" mode. In the process, "attacking" the new paint job, since they were incapable of going "under" the hood.
Upon returning to the store, I found that many other brands do not even offer a blade assembly for 94-96 Corvettes.

Luckily I kept the original and changed out the insert.
The little chip in the paint still makes me mad.

ignatz521

I replaced my blades about five months ago with trico I had no problem with clearance but with them catching each other on the down stroke so to rectify this I have a 20 inch on the passenger side and 19 inch on the otherside & havent had any problems since

enventr

Had the same problem with bosch (95) went to dealer picked up oem and they work great

joecaver

that's all I ever do. The arm rarely needs to be replaced.

Bob89c4

I never drive either vet in the rain, all of the wipers are like new!

Brian9

I got a set of new blade refills a couple of months ago from a guy I know that sold his vette and had a extra pair but havent even taken the time to look at the wipers to see how the old blades come off... any tips or tricks on the easiest way to install the refills? thanks

runner140*

I've been using Ansco blades for three years on my 96'. It rains often down here and with the high heat, I change them every four to six months. Never had a problem.

AGENT 86

When I bought my vette, the hood had some chips and scrapes on the underside. Year later I installed some Bosch wipers and low and behold, they rub exactly where those chips and scrapes were.
Took them back and got Trico "Exact Fit". Problem solved

tlong

Trico Innovision fit on a '96. The Exact Fit and Teflon do too. The Innovisions have a steel rib with no springy deals...looks great and they work very well. Just this side of ricey.

Even after minimal use mine slanted and chattered badly after a year.

Perfusion

Interesting... So from what it sounds like so far, the best (and cheapest) scenario is to change the insert ONLY - that is, the rubber blade that actually touches the windshield and nothing else.

GM fits fine, of course, but I believe you need to ensure you're getting 95-96 parts.

Trico works in that it clears the hood, but it sounds like they are prone to early failure even when not used.

********

I would *love* to try the set of PIAAs that my local place has - the guy at the counter claims they're the best of what they carry (this isn't Vatozone, either - a local 5-store chain that really knows their stuff). However, considering I've already spent $18.00 for the Bosches plus $54.00 for the GMs I had to buy to replace the Bosch ($27.00 x 2), PLUS the $11.00 for the bottle of Arctic White touchup paint to fix the chip in the hood paint, I'm already into this wiper change for $83.00 + tax!!!!

dtomar

I got a replacement pair from Schuck's Auto Parts here in Washington and they fit fine. They were under $10 each.