[stipud]

Well, my nice factory wiper blades ripped right off this morning, as they were frozen to the windshield (wohoo -25*C/-13*F).

I have a set of Bosch Icon wiper blades that I had previously used on the car, but removed, because they barely worked. However, they will work a lot better in the interim than having nothing at all. I think I could make them work a lot better by getting new springs for the wiper arms, since they barely offer any downward force anymore.

I know they are 422A and 422B, A is for drivers side, and B is for passenger side. However, I threw out the boxes, and I can't for the life of me figure out which is which. I can't find A or B stamped anywhere, and they are both the exact same size and shape. I assume the B would be slightly more curved, due to being on the edge of the windshield, but they look the same.

Does anyone know how to tell these apart? Maybe part numbers or something? Thanks.

 

[Mike J]

The last time I had a similar problem with low wiper arm pressure, the guy at the car parts shop told me to spray some penetrating oil on the arm hinge and work it about 25 times. It helped a great deal.

 

[stipud]

The last time I had a similar problem with low wiper arm pressure, the guy at the car parts shop told me to spray some penetrating oil on the arm hinge and work it about 25 times. It helped a great deal.

Good call. I was planning to do that, along with some silicone lubricant for a more long-lasting fix.

 

[Kermit]

Drivers side blade should have the aerofoil on it, the passenger side nothing.

 

[stipud]

Drivers side blade should have the aerofoil on it, the passenger side nothing.

On the stock blades this is true, but both my Icons have aerofoils on them. vv

 

[walmark]

Ok, so who ripped the idea off of whom?

Did Rain-X copy their Latitude blades from Bosch Icons or vice versa?

 

[stipud]

Valeo Ultimates too

So I checked them over again... they look the exact same but there are two different part numbers:
6902405426725
6903013426554

Oh well, I have a 50/50 chance of getting it right... that's good enough for me :lol:

 

[raquettelaker2]

Why on Earth would they be different? I have Valeo Ultimates on my car and I have never heard of one being different than the other. Do you think the difference between A/B on the Bosch's could be the curvature of them? I know sometimes the passenger side blade doesn't make contact all the way over to the side...

And yes, wiper arm pressure makes a huge difference. I originally bought my Valeos for my '01 9-5 and they were the essence of suck. Then when I got my '04 Aero I threw them on for fun and they work flawlessly.

 

[stipud]

Why on Earth would they be different? I have Valeo Ultimates on my car and I have never heard of one being different than the other. Do you think the difference between A/B on the Bosch's could be the curvature of them? I know sometimes the passenger side blade doesn't make contact all the way over to the side...

And yes, wiper arm pressure makes a huge difference. I originally bought my Valeos for my '01 9-5 and they were the essence of suck. Then when I got my '04 Aero I threw them on for fun and they work flawlessly.

In theory, the passenger side should have more curvature than the drivers side, otherwise it misses the corner of the screen. I am now convinced that mine are totally the same however. Their dimensions are the same in every aspect. They have the exact same curvature and spring force. They miss the exact same spots on my windshield (tried swapping them L to R to see if it made a difference, and it doesn't).

So as far as I'm concerned, they put the exact same thing in my A/B packages. I don't know if that was a mistake or not, but there's no way these things are different.

The penetrating fluid did work miracles on the downward pressure however. I gave it a soak and moved the arm up and down for a few minutes, let it sit for an hour, and did the same thing again. Before, the wipers barely fell if you let go of them at 45* from the windshield. Now they snap down with authority. No more streaking, and the wipers just devoured the frost and ice on my windshield this morning, in a single wipe. I recommend anyone with streaking issues or an older car to do this. Night and day difference!

So, mission accomplished I guess?

 

[mayhem]

My 04 does something really weird with the wipers, when I bought it a couple years ago the driver's side of the windshield had a series of scratches in the glass that followed the path of the wiper and were right where the arm connects to the blade. I figured the prior owner had lost a blade and the arm scratched the glass.

Had the windshield replaced this past summer. Put new Bosch Icons on and all has been ok, but the wipers just suck in general. New blades don't last the typical half a year or longer that they do in other cars.

Now I see the new windshield is getting scratched right in the same darn place as the old one and I have no clue whats causing it.

I'm due for some new blades so I'll try something different than the Icons, but since I've had such good results with them on every other car I've owned, I'm inclined to believe its not the wipers, its the arms on my car or something.

I did notice that the driver's side blade at the home position seems to be leaning somewhat forward or down from that point of view. Maybe I've got a bent arm or the actual shaft the arm is mounted to is out of alignment?

Ideas? I'll give the springs a shot of lube and see if it helps.

 

[jjthegreat]

Nope, its the Icons. I am sorry, but they really suck for the price they charge for them. I have gone through 3 sets in 2 years and had enough. When they start to suck again, break off one of the wiper caps, pull out the actual rubber wiper blade and just replace that. Can get a 2 pack for 5 bucks at walmart and just cut to size. I dont know if the replacement rubber is any better tho, time will tell.