5th Gen Wipers

[LandCruiser]

Truck came with the aero-style wipers. By the 10k service they were totally ruined. Had my stealership replace the wipers as part of the 10k rotation and oil change.

Truck came back with the skeletonized-style old school wipers and dealer had thrown out the ones that came with the truck. Said that they don't stock the "new style."

They work fine, but is there a difference between the ones that came with my 4Runner and the cheap-o ones the dealer installed?

 

[Okki]

I believe the stock ones are Bosch. I'm running Michelin Stealth's on my truck at the moment. Got them at Walmart. Not bad, but have started to streak since I've installed them.

I also tried Rainex, but with those you need to use some unsightly adapter.

I've got some more details in my build thread. I'll probably get a an OEM set again. Maybe someone who still has them on their truck can post the brand/model for us.

Okki

 

[Go JayBee]

Heard of inserts?

Why change out the whole arm? I've been buying just the inserts (the rubber blades) for nearly 20 years. Takes about 5 minutes to pull the old and slide the new ones in. Don't throw out the metal splines that shape the wiper blade and pay attention to how they were installed on the original arm. There is a difference between the driver and passenger sides.

 

[TOY2G]

Why change out the whole arm? I've been buying just the inserts (the rubber blades) for nearly 20 years. Takes about 5 minutes to pull the old and slide the new ones in. Don't throw out the metal splines that shape the wiper blade and pay attention to how they were installed on the original arm. There is a difference between the driver and passenger sides.

The rubber inserts have been discontinued in most large retailer locations in the US. I was a purchaser for Pepboys for several years and 2008 Anco said they were scaling back inserts and it will no longer be part of the national dealer program.

fact is, the inserts we fine until it became an issue matching them to the OEM. For instance you had 6 20" inserts to chose from; Standard, Wide and Narrow, and then plastic or metal frame. so for each size wiper you needed 6 options making inserts a huge waste of effort to save the customer a few bucks. And then there was the issue with floor space in parts stores to stock 10 sizes of wiper blades and inserts taking an entire isle.

Sorry to rant, (I THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT CARE TO KNOW) but this was a big deal when it went down, and I know you can still get inserts in a few places and online, but for the most part they are gone. And on most OEM models they will not accept inserts anyway after 2003.

:moping:

 

[Go JayBee]

The rubber inserts have been discontinued in most large retailer locations in the US. I was a purchaser for Pepboys for several years and 2008 Anco said they were scaling back inserts and it will no longer be part of the national dealer program.

fact is, the inserts we fine until it became an issue matching them to the OEM. For instance you had 6 20" inserts to chose from; Standard, Wide and Narrow, and then plastic or metal frame. so for each size wiper you needed 6 options making inserts a huge waste of effort to save the customer a few bucks. And then there was the issue with floor space in parts stores to stock 10 sizes of wiper blades and inserts taking an entire isle.

Sorry to rant, (I THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT CARE TO KNOW) but this was a big deal when it went down, and I know you can still get inserts in a few places and online, but for the most part they are gone. And on most OEM models they will not accept inserts anyway after 2003.

:moping:

Good stuff here, but I have always gone to the dealer for the inserts. In fact, I asked the parts dude at the dealer about inserts for my 2012 T4R and they were available. My advice: stay away from after market stuff...go to the dealer...they are not that expensive, and you know they will fit.

 

[1000MPH]

I just got the wiper inserts from partznet.com
The originals have lasted 3 years so far and I usually to need to replace every winter.
8521442040 rear $2.53
8521406130 Right $4.65
8521406140 Left $5.07

 

[Bay33saw]

I just got the wiper inserts from partznet.com
The originals have lasted 3 years so far and I usually to need to replace every winter.
8521442040 rear $2.53
8521406130 Right $4.65
8521406140 Left $5.07

Are they easy to install? I've always bought the whole arm and have never replaced just the inserts. Do they just slip on and off? and how do you get to the rear wiper with it hiding under the spoiler??

 

[Mason]

I just got the wiper inserts from partznet.com
The originals have lasted 3 years so far and I usually to need to replace every winter.
8521442040 rear $2.53
8521406130 Right $4.65
8521406140 Left $5.07

Didn't even know they offered these.

 

[c2one]

Found this review. It's a good (long) read.
http://thesweethome.com/reviews/the-best-windshield-wipers-for-your-car/

They suggest the Rain-X Latitude 5079277 - it's a beam style blade with synthetic rubber.

 

[kenski]

and how do you get to the rear wiper with it hiding under the spoiler??

I remember reading somewhere in the manual you're supposed to turn on the rear wiper, then turn off the engine while it's out. It's easier than it sounds since the lowest setting on the rear is pretty low frequency so it's not that hard to catch.

 

[Intruder]

Are they easy to install? I've always bought the whole arm and have never replaced just the inserts. Do they just slip on and off? and how do you get to the rear wiper with it hiding under the spoiler??

Really easy to install. Slide the old ones out, take out the metal rods from each blade, put the rods in the new blades, then slide back in. Rear wiper as mentioned is just turning the key all the way off while the wiper is down.

 

[Bay33saw]

Really easy to install. Slide the old ones out, take out the metal rods from each blade, put the rods in the new blades, then slide back in. Rear wiper as mentioned is just turning the key all the way off while the wiper is down.

Bonus I asked my service guy to replace them when they do the driveshaft....easy. Thanks

 

[AZrunner11]

Old Style/New Style

When I was in AZ the dealership was selling the old style, then dealership in Tennessee stocked the new style. The new style cost me more. They are said to contour to the windshield better.....just repeating what I was told.

 

[Snooperstyle]

I just got the wiper inserts from partznet.com
The originals have lasted 3 years so far and I usually to need to replace every winter.
8521442040 rear $2.53
8521406130 Right $4.65
8521406140 Left $5.07

Just ordered some these also. Thank you sir.

 

[sandcrawler]

i simply replace my worn out wipers with the original OEM inserts as well. cheap, easy and long-lasting in my experience.

 

[AnthonyMV]

Want great wipers ???

Denso Designer 160-3124 driver side
Denso Designer 160-3120 passenger side
On amazon.com

Great,great wipers!! Look and perform WAY better than OEM.......and, big plus, that "plastic cover" at the center of the OEM blade that breaks if the blade rotates 360 degrees.....doesn't happen on the denso's ........
To be honest......I've noticed these denso's lately on a lot of cars.......jeep grand Cherokee's, Mercedes Benz's
Really cool aerodynamic blade.......