**How To Change 5th Gen Factory Wiper Blade Inserts - Pictorial

[Antman]

My factory wiper blades bit the dust today after almost 60k miles. Impressive! I cannot ever remember having wipers that worked this well for this long. As many of you know, I change just about everything on my vehicles, LOL, so it may come as a surprise that I am using factory replacements. They work!!

I figured I would throw this quick how-to up for those that aren't aware of how easy this is. Lord knows what the dealer is charging to replace the inserts. Do it yourself and same some dough. I paid $23 for both inserts, but I'm sure you could order them online cheaper. I needed replacements ASAP with snow on the way!


These are the part #'s for the wiper inserts. The driver's side (6140) is a little longer.





The easiest way to change these is to remove the wiper from the wiper arm. Both sides remove and install exactly the same, but do one side at a time so you don't mix them up (remember driver's side is longer).


The following shows the passenger side wiper...





Pull up on this hinged tab with your finger.






Lift up slightly on the arm and slide the wiper down the arm a little bit.







The wiper will slide off the hook of the arm.







This is the worn out blade.







Locate this end of the wiper. The rubber is wider and you can see where the frame is holding the rubber in place.







Squeeze the rubber and pull the blade out. (DO NOT squeeze the metal rods, or any part of the frame!), just the rubber blade. It doesn't matter if you rip the rubber, it's trash anyway.







Take a good look at the old blade and the new blade. Situate them so they are facing the same direction.

Remove the metal rods from the wiper blade and insert them into the new blade.











This is the new blade before and after the metal rods are installed.








Start to slide the new assembly back into the frame. The thinner end goes in first.









This picture shows the blade NOT fully seated.







This is the fully seated (done!) wiper blade.









Time to re-install the assembly.



Line the wiper up with the arm like this.








Slide the wiper down the arm and then back up the arm so the hook falls into the hole on the wiper .










Close the tab by pressing firmly into place.











Now do the same thing for the other side. All done!

Wasn't that easy? 10 minutes at most!

 

[1engineer]

I do agree. Light bulbs, wiper blades and brake pads that are OEM Toyota are also the most reliable and durable replacement.

 

[Go JayBee]

Very nice write-up. I've been doing this for years. Most folks think the whole arm needs replacing. I usually replace the inserts each year at the end of summer, getting ready for the wet winter and spring here in the PNW.

 

[mace.]

I go with the OEM refills also. Some may come across dealers like mine that don't stock every length and just give you longer ones which need cut to length. Plan for and additional 7secs for install time.

 

[G8RB8_12SR5]

Just went with these today during my 40k service. They replaced them for $7 a piece and did it for me and at no charge since it was through the course of the service. They went through 3 PNW winters and springs plus lots of bugs in Cali and were just starting to streak, so when they said hey do you want to do this, I had no problem.

 

[JayceeP]

Awesome! Thanks.

Not sure if I'll keep the OEM wipers or not though. My passenger blade always seems to ice up in winter weather causing lots of smearing on the passenger side... even with the de-icer on and the wipers bumped up over the windshield vent. Not a big deal, just more of a nuisance having to get out in crap weather to snap the blade/wiper.

 

[ShAwTWiN]

Awesome! Thanks.

Not sure if I'll keep the OEM wipers or not though. My passenger blade always seems to ice up in winter weather causing lots of smearing on the passenger side... even with the de-icer on and the wipers bumped up over the windshield vent. Not a big deal, just more of a nuisance having to get out in crap weather to snap the blade/wiper.

You're not alone!! The only thing I found that help... is to "crack"/flex the wiper before I go.

Hello from Québec City (Canada)!

 

[eddiebx]

No excuse for wearing it this far! :sadwave:

Thanks for taking the time to document this, very simple, yet way overlooked maintenance procedure. I pains me to see people toss the ENTIRE wiper arm in the trash for a new one when you can just replace the rubber insert!

 

[Intruder]

Heh, I've done this so many times now that I don't even take the wiper off the arm. I just stand with one foot on a slider and the other on the front tire and slide the blades out.

Not sure if I'll keep the OEM wipers or not though. My passenger blade always seems to ice up in winter weather causing lots of smearing on the passenger side... even with the de-icer on and the wipers bumped up over the windshield vent. Not a big deal, just more of a nuisance having to get out in crap weather to snap the blade/wiper.

I tried some different aftermarket wipers for this same reason and found they were no better. Plus, since the aftermarket ones have different adapters to attach to different styles of arms there was some additional wind noise at highway speed - I think the RainX ones were the worst for this with an actual whistling sound. Luckily I kept my OEM ones and went back to them.

 

[nashman69g]

The front ones are easy to replace...I had a PITA time trying to install the rear wiper. Keeping the arm in the proper grove was a challenge.

 

[Jpm1609]

This was very timely. I did mine yesterday. The guy at the dealer did the switch for the refills as I said I didn't have faith in them. Took him all of 30 seconds. Took a lot longer for me to put them back on.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

Great post! Who'd have thought that wiper blades could generate such interest. I agree. The OEM blades last forever. I was about to buy new blade/arm combo cause of all the marketing hype saying you should change the arms cause the spring wears out etc. Was even researching this crap on the internet and you would not believe the hype companies can create for stupid wiper blades. Thanks.

 

[Go JayBee]

The front ones are easy to replace...I had a PITA time trying to install the rear wiper. Keeping the arm in the proper grove was a challenge.

I just did the rear blade recently. As I remember, just had to wait till the arm was straight up & down, turn ignition off, and just flop the arm backwards almost all the way. Then it was cake to slide out the insert and replace with new.

Oops, my bad, there is no way to flop the arm backwards. I must have just struggled with the new insert, cuz I don't recall taking the arm off.

 

[Mtn.Rush]

Perfect instructions Jeff. Just changed the fronts and back on the cruiser within 5 min. Thank you sir.

 

[young]

what is the part number of the rear wiper blade?

would be great if you add instruction on rear wiper replacement with alot of pics!!

 

[adam2562]

yea the oem toyota blades have always done me good for the last 15 yrs of having a license and toyotas

 

[1engineer]

Bringing this thread back up again as it is getting close to winter time and new wiper blades. Pay attention class because [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] is showing you how to save some cash! People in California disregard as you will never get anymore rain and have no use for wipers....

 

[nb rob]

thank [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] ! I've always replaced the entire assembly on former vehicles. I will certainly pick up some new blades from the toyota parts department and give this a go.
Excellent write-up!

 

[1engineer]

thank [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] ! I've always replaced the entire assembly on former vehicles. I will certainly pick up some new blades from the toyota parts department and give this a go.
Excellent write-up!

A slight fly in the ointment... For 2015 they do not have the front wiper inserts shown separately but you can still get the rear insert. I just bought the OEM front wiper blades and the rear insert for $39 and installed them myself. the rear insert took 30 seconds and the fronts took a minute apiece. Less than 5 minutes for all three and that includes walking to the trash to throw the old blades away.

 

[BlacknTan]

Great tutorial .. as usual!

The wife's Honda worked the exact same way, btw ... I never recall Detroit Iron reusing any parts from the old blades, but the Asian system is great!