Wiper Blades
 

Since this is a maintenance item, figured I'd post this here too....

After having the OEM blades on the BRZ for nearly 4 yrs it was time to change them.

Just put on RainX Expert Fit Hybrid. Always liked RainX blades and these new ones look exactly like OEM:

https://www.rainx.com/product/expert.../#.V9VP-o-cFok

Also, can't beat the price... cost ~$9 each at Wally World

Of note, our size is 20 and 22 but the 20s were out of stock, so I got 21 & 22 (H-21 & H-22). They fit perfectly!

I'm not big on the huge housing frame that comes with the Rain-X wipers, but thats great that they fit!

I prefer sticking with OEM refill inserts myself, I pay a bit more but I like sticking with all oem parts if I can, https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Subar.../dp/B0093L139O

I recently got a pair of full replacement wipers from PIAA... and they work wonderfully. You pay a bit more for the name brand and their "silicon technology" but I cannot downplay how well the things work. Combined with RainX spray, or the proprietary PIAA treatment (comes with the units free of charge) and visibility is greatly improved over OEM. And OHMYGOD THEY ARE SO QUIET. Seriously, super quiet.
but yea... paying over $50 for the blades and fixtures is a bit much. The refills themselves are about $9.50 from PIAA directly, so not that far off from the RainX ones.

500mm and 550mm sizes are equiv to the 20 and 22 inch

http://www.piaa.com/store/p/105-22-5...per-Blade.aspx

Well the funny thing is the RainX housing looks exactly like the OEM housing. Looked like they both came from the same factory!

In my experience, why is it OEM wiper blades last years but after market a year and a half at most?

Conspiracy theory: aftermarket blades manufacturers need built in obsolescence to maintain their revenue stream and OEM wipers are inconsequential to automakers' income.

Same goes for light bulbs. I used to poo poo OEM consumables. My wife taught me that lesson. I've been converted.

I'm glad SOMEONE is looking after you ............ :lol:


humfrz

just bought my first wipers from NAPA auto parts....total cost $16.00....car sits 24/7 so no need for fancy wipers....oem lasted 2 yrs.... ;)

Just replace the wiper blade insert.

You can have the Subaru dealer replace wiper under warranty if you are still under warranty.

What dealer will replace wiper blades under warranty? They are usually number two on the "Wear items such as XXX are excluded" list.

I believe it's the kind of warranty where the dealer fucked up and now they owe him for life. So lifetime supply of wipers it is.

Ah so the kind of warranty nobody really wants.

I reckon that if you had that happen ....... the dealer just ate the cost of the wipers to get you out of his shop ......:D


humfrz

What is so hard about going down to your local Toyota dealer and getting some inserts for less than $16 total and installing them which shouldn't take more than 10minutes.. I did mine last week, only problem I had was the dumbass behind the parts counter gave me two driver side wiper blades (yes they're different sizes) just go outside and check them before driving off. Or just do what I did and install them in the parking lot

This^^^^

Unless (like em) you live where there is loads of wet snow. I found that the open dome cover on the stock ones gathered wet slush from the windshield and then froze the whole hinge mech solid. I swapped them out for some with an open hinge and no more issues.

http://www.cars101.com/subwarr.html

It is part of the 3 year, 30K limited wear item warranty.

Looks like only 1 year (12,000miles) to me. Even that is more than they would cover in Canada.

I went to Toyota for a replacement and they won't order inserts and the wiper blade they gave me... while similar is not the same and has a toyota emblem. Ahhh well.

Bumper-to-bumper: 3 year/36,000 miles. Includes all defects. Includes the Wear Item warranty covering premature wear of brakes, clutch linings, remote batteries, wiper blades etc.

Keep in mind this is Subaru only.

Ahh I didn't read far enough down and just saw the blades at the one year point. I wonder what the expected life of blades is to qualify as "premature" wear? That clutch lining part may explain why some guys have no issues getting it done and others have a battle. I don't recall how many that posted had BRZs or FRSs but that could explain a lot. This is really good info to share!

I was told by a dealership that SOA591U222R (drivers side) and SOA591U220R (passenger side) are the part numbers for just the oem rubber replacement inserts. Can anyone confirm this? (For 2014 BRZ)

It appears to be correct.

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Subar.../dp/B008RMNHVM

humfrz

Denso
 

These might work but, I'm sending back. I was hoping they would be like the oem but they're not and I couldn't just replace the rubber. Someone said in another forum that the oem wipers are Denso wipers. Looking at their website, they do look the same. I thought my oem were metal housing but they're not. The denso ones for this are labeled 'designer'. Someone else said drivers side is 22", passengers 20" but the website points me to 22" & 19".
So for my 2014
Part # 160-3119 front right *
Part # 160-3122 front left

I'm going to look a bit more to confirm actual lengths and give the denso a try.

* After some annoying trial and error with denso's website giving me the wrong size, I can confirm these appear identical to the oem wipers that came on my BRZ except the correct size for the passenger's side wiper IS 20" so Part # 160-3120 for that.