Windscreen wiper blades

[RobinLegin]

I made the mistake of pressing the screen wash and put the wipers on, this evening hoping to clear the dust and see more clearly. Disaster. The biggest smear revealing a desperate need to replace my wiper blades. I had to pull over and clear the screen with a cloth.
It seems I can buy either just replacement blades, or new units. The price difference is not insignificant! I guess the issue is how easy is it to replace the blades only? Anyone any experience of this ?

[wilf]

Not too bad a job just to replace thw blades, if a little fiddly, but I did that last time a couple of years ago, and just shelled out for two new units from SOC Spares as the old ones had lost a lot of their "spring" and so were not making good contact over the whole of the sweep. Very good now, and orginal construction.

[Ian F]

I bought a new blade, although I can’t remember who from or when - basically it was cr#p, the rubber was more like plastic, it was so inflexible it only juddered across the two ends of the blade, the centre bit did nothing.
I re-fitted an older complete blade, but was then advised by a Stag colleague to buy just the rubber inserts from Halfords.

I eventually did it recently, cut them to length and they’re far, far better - admittedly the blade frames are still old, but they work, the blade feels like rubber and they clear the screen……..hooray!

[DJT]

These are possibly the ones referred to above. Fitted them to the original Speedblade type of wipers and they work well. Just need to cut them to length.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/wiper-blades/halfords-essentials-wiper-blade-refill-r03---16in-344814.html

[jbuckl]

Last ones I bought and fitted & worked ok were branded TEX.
IIRC they may have been supplied by LD part.

They have a beige strip in the molding.

They seem to have lasted well.

Im running soctfl wiper arms currently but did buy NOS wiper arms too as spares.

https://texautomotive.com/product-category/wipers/wiper-blades/?filter_makes=triumph

[RobinLegin]

Thanks all. Have ordered the blades on the units from SOC Spares as recommended. Will probably find I need new wiper arms, though the springs are pretty good.
As we’re planning to set off for the Alpine passes next month, safety first. And some of the passes are still closed, but where open, there’s lots of meltwater coming down the roads. A chum has just done some of the passes open on a motorbike and was thankful he had new tyres. He was also surprised to find snow still around.

[Woolly]

Coming back to this thread I have a set of Speedblade wipers, brought from Rimmer, fitted new last year and the rubbers are still in good condition. What's wrong is they are both missing a plastic clip, see attached photo, from the bottom of the wiper arm. I'm assuming this is a retaining clip as over a short period of time the rubbers slip down, which is worse when its raining and they are in use......

Are these available on there own and from whom? Or do I have to buy 2 new complete wiper blades???

My thanks in advance

[richardthestag]

I made the mistake of pressing the screen wash and put the wipers on, this evening hoping to clear the dust and see more clearly. Disaster. The biggest smear revealing a desperate need to replace my wiper blades. I had to pull over and clear the screen with a cloth.
It seems I can buy either just replacement blades, or new units. The price difference is not insignificant! I guess the issue is how easy is it to replace the blades only? Anyone any experience of this ?

A while back someone was selling the inserts for the wipac arms. now you seem to be able to buy the whole thing from the usual quality specialist suppliers

[RobinLegin]

My new wiper blades were waiting for my return from a very hot wine growing area .
looking at fitting these is perhaps not so simple. The driver’s side is challenging me at the moment so would appreciate “how to” guide remembering that I don’t wish to damage the car or myself in the process!
Thanks
105CA6FB-C61E-46C1-B365-E3FBF7678517.jpg

[wilf]

Remove that insulation tape and turn the bit "under" the main arm through 90 degrees or so and the wiper will drop out. I suspect you will need to replace the insualtion tape as those bits are sometimes reluctant to stay in place over the pin on the arm that is supposed to lock them there.