Review - Factory wipers vs. Dealer wipers

patrickdotryan

New member
Hi all, If you’re trying to understand Toyota wipers for your truck, or trying to buy refills only (the rubber part) for your 5th gen 4Runner wiper blades, here is a summary.

The Japanese-made OEM wipers (fitted to these trucks at the factory) can accept rubber refills. This saves money and also, why keep just tossing superior products in the landfill when only the small rubber edge is worn.

The replacement blades that dealers sell as “genuine” are actually non-original Sightline brand wipers with Toyota logos. They CANNOT ACCEPT REFILLS.

If you have the OEMs still fitted to your truck, don’t let the dealer toss them for inferior models. Ask your dealer to just refill the rubber part. Here is why:

OEM / Factory
CAN accept refills
NO Toyota logo
Made in Japan
Heavier duty
Pre-curved to fit windshield glass shape
“Foil” shape to press wiper to windshield at speed


Sightline / dealer
CANNOT accept refills (so, toss the whole thing out every time)
Toyota logo
Made in China (sometimes US)
Lighter duty
Not pre-curved to windshield glass.
Symmetrical / no foil shape.

I've attached some photos for detail.

You can also find out more info on other wiper choices on this helpful thread
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/303369-oem-wiper-blades-3.html
 

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I second-this. I was looking to replace the wipers on my 5th gen, and it would have cost me almost $70. Instead, I replaced the rubber inserts for around $25. Here is a video I made:

 
I only use the factory refills and even retro-fitted my Civic Si to use them...although it took some doing to find the correct style wiper blade to be period correct for Honda. Ended up using blades off an early-2000s Lexus SC430.

The factory refills are the way to go. On sale they are less than $10.
 

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