OEM wiper blades better?

[look 171]

I need a set on my 4 runner now and have tried them all, but seem to think OEM blades last the longest and best performance. Maybe I am bias? Blades at the dealer is 8-9 bucks and the whole wiper blade assembly at Autozone cost about $15 but they seem to last only one season. Thoughts? El cheapo autozone sset worked perfect on my Dodge pickup since I put em' on two months ago. Let see if they last until next year

[rusnak]

I usually change the whole shebang: blade and holder. The El Cheapo ones never last through summer for me. I use Bosch micro edge II, the ones without the aerofoil thing.

[look 171]

At speed above 70-75, the Bosch aerofoil would catch wind and start bouncing.

[NoRush993/951]

I still like the look of the original Bosch closed end wipers that were on my 993. The open ended design may be more profitable for Bosch, but doesn't look as finished as it used too. IMO.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I would have never thought it would make a difference. I drove an Acura MDX for several years. I always had a streak develop shortly after putting new wipers on from the auto store, usually a high quality Bosch part. It was at the dealer at one point and I inquired. They said, "we know this sounds like a dealer sales gimmick but the OEM are better quality and designed for more uniform pressure" I bought a set and never had the streaking again.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by look 171

I need a set on my 4 runner now and have tried them all, but seem to think OEM blades last the longest and best performance. Maybe I am bias? Blades at the dealer is 8-9 bucks and the whole wiper blade assembly at Autozone cost about $15 but they seem to last only one season. Thoughts? El cheapo autozone sset worked perfect on my Dodge pickup since I put em' on two months ago. Let see if they last until next year

I put Bosch ICON wiper blades on my 4 Runner a few years ago, They work great!!

[scottmandue]

I just put the Auto zone elcheapo blades on last year and had to replace them this year, the cheap one work but only last a year.
I upgraded the the auto zone (duralast) medium grate (they have three flavors) I think they are call 'flex bade' then they have an areo model).

The flex blades are pretty cool in that they are a one piece design so the are pressed hard to the windshield.

I will get back to you next year about their durability

Oh and the auto zone counter people sucked... tried to sell me the wrong blades twice... I finally went out to the parking lot and removed the bade to get it right

[Grog]

When I get new blades I always do it in the fall. Then you have new ones for the winter. I think summer is a little hard on them.

[Jim Richards]

Come on Jeff..."it never rains in Southern California."

[masraum]

I used to use the cheap auto-parts store stuff, but these days, I use the Bosch, they seem to work really well and last a long time.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Come on Jeff..."it never rains in Southern California."

"But girl, don't they warn ya?"

[dentist90]

Originally Posted by Grog

When I get new blades I always do it in the fall. Then you have new ones for the winter. I think summer is a little hard on them.

Travel a couple hours north and the opposite is true. Nothing harder on wipers than being frozen to the glass and when they do move they're rubbing over ice on the windshield. We have to use wipers to clear snow off the windshield, so the nice new wipers go on in the spring.

I think I've had a set go two seasons but never much longer than that.

[Jim Richards]

"It pours, man, it pours."

[pwd72s]

Still using the OEM on the '09 Mustang I bought new in April of '09. Never had even the Bosch replacements last this long. A rain soaked freeway drive on Thursday, and still streak free.

So yeah, when it's time to replace, think I'll swing by a Ford dealership.

[944 S2]

It depends on if they are made of natural rubber (best performance) or synthetic (last longer). The OEM I work for says change every 6 months since we use natural rubber.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

"It pours, man, it pours."

See, now that you guys can go back to taking long hot showers again. You guys still get out to do your daily exercise in this mess call rain? I am a wuss, so I stay in.

[look 171]

$8.99 per blade at the dealer today. Done. I replaced them two Novembers ago bracing ourselves for the big rain that never came until now. Think I will try Bosch like Bill suggested.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Come on Jeff..."it never rains in Southern California."

Yowza. The day I left your house, the trip back home on the 5 was quite ... intense. One of those: how fast can I go without hydro planing into the center guardrail type drives. To have so much rain for that continuously long of a period (the whole hour drive home) is unusual here.

I think I just installed Bosch Evolution blades a couple months ago. They have worked great through this rainy winter.

[look 171]

I don't remember rain like that in a long time.

What happened to those very light rain that last for a few days? I remembered because my mother wouldn't allow us to go out to play in the rain so we were stuck in the house for a few days. We haven't had rain like that in 20 years.

My phone has been ringing off the hook in the past few weeks with people asking how to prevent water from getting into their hill side homes. Crazy.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

"But girl, don't they warn ya?"

Nice. Haha!