Wiper blades (don't buy rain-x)

nadz · Post by **nadz** » 05 Oct 2010, 19:18

I bought new wiper blades for my Volvo 850, I got the rain-x latitudes because I have heard so much good stuff about them. I just wanted to let you all know, do not buy them, they suck. The one on the driver side part of the windshield does not come into full contact with the glass resulting in poor visibility.

*Update*
You guys were correct in that the arm is bent, I just bent it more so it would make contact with the windshield, the blades work fairly well now.

nadz · Post by **nadz** » 05 Oct 2010, 19:31

Yes I put the clips that came with it, they clicked into place. I even tried switching the blade from the passenger side to the drivers but it still does not come into full contact on the glass, it's the middle part of the blade that does not touch the glass.

Post by **jblackburn** » 05 Oct 2010, 19:36

Hmm...maybe you need to bend the wiper arm a bit. The 850 wiper arms get out of shape a lot.

I had the Bosch Icon ones that apply even pressure all across on there before for only like 6 months, and they were already skipping.

Post by **thecheat** » 05 Oct 2010, 20:05

I bought the PIAA silicone blades, $9 each on amazon. LOVE THEM!!! No squeaks, cheap, and were of course a snap to reload on the old frames.

I wanted to buy Silblades but they are expensive again...managed to get a pair for $20 on sale. I had a pair on my jetta for two years and worked so well I moved one to another car - couldn't take the right side, unfortunately.

Post by **tjts1** » 05 Oct 2010, 20:40

Your wiper arms are bent out of shape. A cheap upgrade are S70/V70 wiper arms. Much better design if you can find them at the JY.

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 06 Oct 2010, 07:10

I've had good luck with the Bosch Aeros - they last reasonably well and stand up to being pulled off icy windows in the morning better than most. However, the best blades I have had were the Volvo branded ones that came on the car when I bought it from my indy mechanic/dealer. They were still pretty good after 2 full years of use in the North-east. I had the same mechanic replace them when it was in for other work, hoping they'd use the same ones again, but they used standard Bosch which look like they will last about a year.

On topic with the OP though - yes, I'd bet your arms have been tweaked. Might be possible to straighten them, but this can be difficult to do well, because they must be straight in all 3 axes.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Oct 2010, 20:50

I have had exactly the same issues with the high dollar wiper blades on all three of my 850s. I thought that shelling out the big coin for the fancy single point blades would solve a bunch of problems and they lasted all of three months before the blades shredded.

I'm back to the basic Anco or Bosch with the multi-point mounts on all three of them. It sucks in an ice storm but they have otherwise worked well.

...Lee

Post by **thecheat** » 07 Oct 2010, 21:17

Ozark Lee wrote:I have had exactly the same issues with the high dollar wiper blades on all three of my 850s. I thought that shelling out the big coin for the fancy single point blades would solve a bunch of problems and they lasted all of three months before the blades shredded.

I'm back to the basic Anco or Bosch with the multi-point mounts on all three of them. It sucks in an ice storm but they have otherwise worked well.

...Lee

What do you mean single vs multi point blades? Single as in the newer euro cars where the blade is a single curved piece? Those blades use standard inserts just like on the old style blades.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Oct 2010, 22:39

Exactly,

The blades don't really have any pivot system other than the mounting point.

The mounting point worked just fine but the blades themselves shat themselves quite quite quickly - as in they tore apart from the concave frame.

...Lee

Post by **Red-Arrow** » 08 Oct 2010, 04:50

I bought the Michelin® Radius™ wiper blades from Walmart and got a $10 rebate. The Blades are very slick and clear the window perfectly. There new so I can't comment on the longevity yet.