Wiper refills
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
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Wiper refills
For those of you who replace their wiper blades and drive in the rain: I made slight mods to one of my c7's wiper arms so they would accept the trico 44-refills. You can buy two refills for $4 bucks vs. factory $10ea plus shipping. They work well but....I am wondering how long trico will be making refills and if they stop originals might not fit(I have not tried). So before I make the mods on another c7 have you guys found OEM refills at a decent price or have other options. I change mine 2-3 times a year.
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Feb 21, 2021, 04:01 PM
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From: Virginia
Personally, based on my experience owning/operating a chain of auto parts stores for 16 years, I never replace refills but always replace the entire blade/frames. I do this because often when the rubber skips and/or wipes windshield poorly it's because of un-even spring tension applied across the rubber by worn out blades.
I drive A LOT, and fairly often in poor weather, and while blades are a little more expensive than rubber refills, I've never had to change wiper blades on a vehicle more than once every few years. Can't imagine changing refills 2-3 times per year.
I drive A LOT, and fairly often in poor weather, and while blades are a little more expensive than rubber refills, I've never had to change wiper blades on a vehicle more than once every few years. Can't imagine changing refills 2-3 times per year.
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Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Virginia
Personally, based on my experience owning/operating a chain of auto parts stores for 16 years, I never replace refills but always replace the entire blade/frames. I do this because often when the rubber skips and/or wipes windshield poorly it's because of un-even spring tension applied across the rubber by worn out blades.
I drive A LOT, and fairly often in poor weather, and while blades are a little more expensive than rubber refills, I've never had to change wiper blades on a vehicle more than once every few years. Can't imagine changing refills 2-3 times per year.
I drive A LOT, and fairly often in poor weather, and while blades are a little more expensive than rubber refills, I've never had to change wiper blades on a vehicle more than once every few years. Can't imagine changing refills 2-3 times per year.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; Feb 21, 2021 at 05:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
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well after 45 years of owning cars I never replace the arms, especially on classic or worthy cars for multiple reasons. You mention the springs but I have noticed articulations of arms are different, matched to the curvature of the glass, hence why some new arms/rubber will cause noise when wiping. If you look at them closely you will notice the pivots are in different places from OEM. It only takes 5 minutes to change the refills, no big deal. Trico sells a ton of them, GM just goes out of their way to make the arm proprietary so you have to but their stuff.
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Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Virginia
well after 45 years of owning cars I never replace the arms, especially on classic or worthy cars for multiple reasons. You mention the springs but I have noticed articulations of arms are different, matched to the curvature of the glass, hence why some new arms/rubber will cause noise when wiping. If you look at them closely you will notice the pivots are in different places from OEM. It only takes 5 minutes to change the refills, no big deal. Trico sells a ton of them, GM just goes out of their way to make the arm proprietary so you have to but their stuff.
However I totally agree with you as I would never replace an original wiper blade from a fine classic car, with anything but an original replacement. But then I never drive my fine classic cars in the rain so all that matters is that arms, blades look good.
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I have found that the OEM wiper blades tend to do a much better job than many of the aftermarket barnds.
Last edited by Vetteman Jack; Feb 21, 2021 at 11:08 PM.
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Safety Car
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From: Margate, FL
Due to poor fitment and performance I just stick with OEM wipers these days. The GM parts cost $42 for a complete set (both sides) and last about 2 years down here in south FL where they get plenty of use on my daily driver. Streaky, noisy, skipping blades are so annoying I'll gladly purchase the overpriced OEM ones to avoid that. I find the OEM pieces also look better as most aftermarket generic wipers use some bulky adapter.
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From: Virginia
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I'm in...
Are these a good deal? I was thinking of getting a dozen.
https://www.amazon.com/General-Motor...4383906&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/General-Motor...4383906&sr=8-1
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2012
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Replacements
3 or 4 years, seriously? Garaged car, weekend driver? I use to live in s. Cal and changed them at least once a year. Now in blazing florida, mandatory twice a year if in sun. Baked wipers will ruin glass. I bought a car with that kind of damage.