windshield wiper blades

Need to pick up a set as the drivers blade self destructed. The book at walmart only goes up to 93 for the Riv. Need to know the right size.

check autozone/napa/advance they have the books with the correct years. IIRC it is 20. but don't take my word for it. check it on your own too

Get a tape measure or ruler and measure the length
That's all you need to know for new blades..

Good deal Ill just go measure the other one. I'll finally get to start driving the Riv again next month and the fiance is going to have to drive it a day this week while I fix an axle on her Grand Cherokee

lucky her

IIRC 22"

if you go to Advance or NAPA or CarQuest you can get "exact fit" wiper blades. They will cost a bit more but when they park the little plastic blocks lift them up off the windshield so they last longer and dont stick/freeze in place. THey are the old Trico style with a spring in the center that holds the curve in the frame and holds the pin from the wiper arm in place. To put em on you just snap 'em on absolutely no tools needed. To get 'em off however you will need a small or regular screwdriver to push down the spring above the hinge in the center.

Albertj

I dunno, I bought 22" blades and mine are those kind that are really flexible and hug the windshield (best wipers, mine are the Rain X ones and I got a buy one get one deal on them but I think other companies make them too). I notice the corner of one of the blades never touches, so it looks like a 21" might be a better fit but according to the book in the stores they say 22" on both sides.

Shintsu:

It's because you bought Rain-X blades.

You are right that 21" blades will work, although they will not clean enough of the windshield to be legal in some states (some state vehicle laws specify the extent of the wiper's swept area).

To see the difference in blade flexibilty, you would have to get the Rain-X and Trico blades out of the box and put them side by side - and remove the retainer from the Trico blade. Then it's obvious. The Rain-X blades are flat in the box and although they will curve enough when pressed to touch most of the windshield, they will not curve enough to touch the windshield on the lower far corner on the passenger side. They are also tall enough so they will not permit the wiper arms to park up on the plastic blocks at the base of the windshield (the wiper just 'clutches out' when this happens - not that big a deal but I wonder if this has killed more than one wiper motor). The Trico blades will touch with windshield on the lower far corner on the passenger side when installed properly, unless the blade frame is damaged or the squeegee retainers are minched for some reason and it can't move in the blade frame (it moves a millimeter or two). The Tricos have a flexible stainless steel spine in the squeegee.

By the way, how's your Riv running with the Taylor wires, and how is the puppy coming along?

Albertj

Thanks Albert and another thanks for talking me out of buying the RainX blades I was going to!

I bought the Rain-X blades (22" for both sides), and have had great success so far. If you examine the mounting bracket on the blade and arm, it actually allows you to mount the blade two different ways. One way, the blade sticks out too far, but turn it around and it fits very well.

What AA posted sounds plausible... turn the mount bracket around and it should fit.

But tell me - with the rain-x blades on, do the squeegees come up off the windshield when the wipers are parked? I don't think they do. So there will be an accumulation of dirt to scratch the windshield when you tourn on the wipers... not a problem just once but maybe over time...

Albertj

Albert, they don't come up AFAIK but I've had mine for a year or more now and had no problems. They work great getting the ice/snow off the car too. Best purchase I made in some time, I hate using the crappy blades on the F-150...streaks everywhere!

I am crazy about wiper blades... I usually replace mine every 6 months or so, which is why I tend to go for the cheaper blades. I usually get Anco blades, having very good luck with them historically. I have found more expensive blades are still crappy after 6 months. Last fall I bought Anco's "Contour" blades, which are Euro-style with the airfoil etc. 6 months later I can safely report that the rubber wears out just the same. They still have a good clean and stay on the windshield at speed, which is nice, but the rubber is starting to tear off on the passenger side tip.

I also use Rain-X regularly, the kind you apply to the windshield, not just the washer fluid (although I use the washer fluid too), so I don't turn my wipers on as often. Anyone who doesn't use Rain-X should try a full coat on a clean windshield sometime. It's incredible stuff!

Anyhow, my point is more a complaint about the rubber quality still being low, even though the "Contour" blade is like $20 each. If the blade is cheap, I don't mind the wiper rubber being cheap. When the blade is $20, I expect a better product.

I bought my blades on rebate. They were $20 each but Pepboys had a $20 MIR which I used to get two blades for $20. Definitely a good deal.

Shintsu: thank you for your feedback.

Derek: the "exact fit" blades are not that expensive at RockAuto.com or at Advantage Auto. I replace the rubber part every year; I get 3 years out of the blades; usually the only problem is the metal tab I have to bend to change the refills breaks.

The standard ANCO wipers (the yellow box ones) would be the least expensive I'd put on. They are definitely a good value. And I've not been happy with the "contour" type wipers, you are right the rubber dies just as fast as the other ones and worse, they are not refillable which turns a $3.00 problem into a $40.00 problem - that's just plain rude of the wiper makers. RockAuto.Com had the refills for about $4/pair, so I ordered some along with some other stuff I needed. I don't remember how much the exact fit blades went for; I do know that they seemed somewhat overpriced at CarQuest and NAPA but were reasonable at Advantage.

Albertj

Thanks albertj, good to know. Are the "exact fit" blades by Delco?

Wow, seriously? I mean I've had these blades for a long time and I haven't done anything to them. They still work great. I'll put it this way, they were one of the first things I bought for the car and that was back in late 2006 I believe. Since I have driven the Riv it has always had these blades on it. I keep one of the old ones in the trunk as a spare in case one should happen to break so I'm not left with nothing. Glad to say I've yet to need it. I'm certainly going to be buying another one of these whenever they go bad, $20 for 2+ years of use is pretty good if you ask me.

Derek: The "exact fit" blades are solde in Delco packaging but actually are made by Trico; in my area Advance Auto handles them as Trico replacement blades for less than $10 each ( I don't remember exact price and it's been more than a year since I bought).

Shintsu: It's great you found a wiper balde you like. It would not be hard to make a rubber that's better than what comes on many OE or replacement blades. So you're saying they do not streak at all? if they streak at all, might be oil or car wax from automatic car washes on the windshield... you can try cleaning the windshield with toothpaste (the cheap stuff like Ultra Brite will work) on a small microfiber towel or car wax applicator, maybe followed by Rain-X applied per package directions. (takes a few minutes but is not difficult). If that does not fix it then time for new refills or new blades. Wipers will wipe fairly well even though due for replacement.

Albertj

No, that's the F-150. It hase those cheapo blades everyone else uses that I can't stand. Erm, why would I want to replace the rubber on it anyway? My blades don't streak or anything. I've just never been much impressed with those cheap looking crappy blades. Just imagine the fun you'd have trying to order one of those giant uni-blades some of the Mercedes cars use. Pretty cool watching one on high speed pop out of socket and then back and over to get the other side of the window over and over!

I like how some of the GM wipers came together in the middle and then swept outward (We had a '94 Olds Cutlass Supreme that did this). The only problem I've noticed with those is that they tend to be more visible on the windshield while they're on. I know it's silly but the wipers on the public buses are pretty damn sweet too, no idea how big they are but they always do a good job. Their movement is really cool to watch!

What is the best replacement wiper blade? Looking for a clean swipe with no streaking. Want a wipe down to pure glass.

[quote="albertj"] The "exact fit" blades are sold in Delco packaging but actually are made by Trico; in my area Advance Auto handles them as Trico replacement blades for less than $10 each

Id give these a try.

Sorry to bring up an old thread.  The Trico 22-1 Exact Fit blades sold for our cars are the slightly newer style metal frame.  I was able to find the old school "2 piece" metal blade on amazon, the Trico Exact Fit 22-4, however I called around town and found them a little cheaper.  They have the newer red Exact Fit package, so maybe they're still made?  Just incase anyone was still interested in the original design blade, it is still available as the Trico 22-4.  I ordered a set from a store in town and will see if they are infact the old-old "2 piece" design with the spring in the center.

After reading this thread more carefully I am not sure if I am mistaken on what the design of the original blades is.  The Exact Fit blade is readily available in this newer style.  However the design I was imaging from the description up above was this older style.  Can anyone confirm which design the original blade really is?

stydel311 wrote:

After reading this thread more carefully I am not sure if I am mistaken on what the design of the original blades is.  The Exact Fit blade is readily available in this newer style.  However the design I was imaging from the description up above was this older style.  Can anyone confirm which design the original blade really is?

The older style, Trico 22-4.

They are way cheaper on RockAuto.com.

ACDELCO 82224 [GM#89001017]

or

as the closeout Trico "Exact Fit" blades for $1.29 each, TRICO 224 [#600224].

albertj wrote:

stydel311 wrote:

After reading this thread more carefully I am not sure if I am mistaken on what the design of the original blades is.  The Exact Fit blade is readily available in this newer style.  However the design I was imaging from the description up above was this older style.  Can anyone confirm which design the original blade really is?

The older style, Trico 22-4.

They are way cheaper on RockAuto.com.

ACDELCO 82224 [GM#89001017]

or

as the closeout Trico "Exact Fit" blades for $1.29 each, TRICO 224 [#600224].

Thanks. I did find them on RockAuto but by the time I pay for shipping it's only like $2 cheaper than in town.