tried a search but found nothing of use... what is the procedure for replacing the rear wiper (or wiper blade) on a 4th gen?! The molding of the wiper arm makes it next to impossible to get the blade itself out, so is it a case of simply buying a new one from the stealership or is there a trick to replacing the rubber part?

Id like to know also, as mine needs replacing.

I just replaced the rubber insert on mine. I think that is standard procedures, just swap the rubber insert.

Last summer i bought the blades and had the dealer do the leg work for free. Those guys know how to replace 'em by heart. Took them 2 mins.

That's CHEATING!!!

My dealer does not sell the front or rear wiper inserts.
They only sell the whole assembly. Next time I need a new rear wiper I will be hunting around more than I did this last time.
Spending $11 at the dealer for the rear wiper seemed too much especially when the front wipers cost about the same (each) and they are 2X+ as long.

I have been messing with my rear blade assembly off and on for the past couple weekends in 5-10 min stints, usually before leaving to go somewhere. Seems like I have to almost break something to get it to come loose, dunno if it's just stuck from road grit or what. Logically, the blade should be replaceable, so I'll take it off the truck and get a closer look at it soon.

I can definitely see why your dealership would sell the entire assembly and not the inserts as it seems to be a point of confusion for even the dealerships. My dealership gave me a Scion 12'' wiper blade when I asked for a replacement blade. It's a silver color and looks different on the ends so I'm not sure if it will fit even if I chop it down on either side. Gonna have to go back there I guess and see if I can clear this up.

It's rather ironic really that this is even an issue for people at all, but nonetheless, here we are.

LOLs. I had nothing to lose, all they had to say is "no" if they didn't want to do it for free. If i had to do it myself, it'd probably take me forever especially taking the old ones out.

From the Repair Manual

Attached Images

 

Oops. I think I posted these in wrong order.

Attached Images

 

At last the wiper gods gift us with this revelation!

Heh, awesome man, thank you, that confirms my suspicions of being on the right track. I knew it couldn't be any more complicated than a typical wiper, my blade is just stuck from road crap.

Thanks a bunch for the pix.

I was at the dealer over the weekend getting a new air filter and it turns out the new wiper blade assembly was only $13 -- twice as much as an insert but worth $6 extra to avoid fiddling around in the cold and to get nice new black plastic on at least part of the wiper arm

Getting the old one off took a minute. You have to flip the blade to almost 90 degrees to the main arm, which means the end is jammed up against the window but gives just enough room to unclip it.

Thanks for posting the insert replacement diagrams.

Partznet (link at top of page) has the insert for $2.06

TRDparts4u is $1.96

I never found the insert at Partznet, just the blade. Anyway, with $8 in shipping charges it still makes it way more expensive than my stealership or getting a generic insert at my local autozone.

if you're not cheating, you're not trying lol