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Piston Slap: What About the Wiper Blade Refill? (Part II)
Sajeev wrote in a recent Piston Slap:
“I’d pay a lot to turn back the clock and have wiper blades with replaceable refills. I am no fan of being locked into an ecosystem of paying more money for even more land waste.”
Last weekend I was presented with an opportunity to put my money where my mouth is, to be free of the overpriced aftermarket wiper blade ecosystem I claim to dislike. Please join me as I turn back the clock with vintage wiper blades that easily accept rubber refill cartridges.
I visited a 1986 Ford Thunderbird in the junkyard, mostly for needs pertaining to Project Valentino. (More on that later, much later.) But as I admired/lamented this T-bird’s well-preserved and wholly original condition, I noticed it still had the original wiper blades with removable rubber inserts. I knew I had to buy them for my 1988 Mercury Cougar XR-7 simply because I made such a stink about aftermarket wiper blades just a few weeks ago in this column.
(The following is based on recollections from 25+ years ago, when this Cougar was my daily driver as a busy college student, so take it with a grain of salt.)
Allow me to explain: At some point in the late 1990s, it became difficult to find replacement wiper blade refills (just the rubber part) on the shelves of your local parts store. There was no Automotive Internet to source the refills, and I wasn’t savvy enough to ask the employee at the counter to look for refills in the back. And because it was pouring rain during my visit, I chose the path of least resistance: replacing my factory wiper blades with aftermarket ones that were readily available. I tossed the Cougar’s factory wiper blades in the trash can in the AutoZone parking lot, dried myself off in the car, and never looked back.
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But this locked me into a shockingly expensive and confusing aftermarket wiper blade ecosystem I eventually disliked. The problem is twofold: The new, aftermarket wiper blades had crimped-on rubber refills. Removing the rubber from these blades required careful prying at the crimp, which nobody will make the time to accomplish when replacement blades are cheap and plentiful. (Factory blades do not crimp to the rubber—they usually require a separate clip that you squeeze to remove the rubber.)
The second problem comes from those who found rubber refills in the late 1990s, because many were redesigned with “potholes” that held the insert in the arm and made the insert significantly harder to remove when the time came to replace it. The Thunderbird I found in the junkyard still had these potholed replacements on its factory wiper blades, as pictured on the lower of the two photos above. This is in stark contrast to the traditional method (pictured in the upper photo) with metal clips that allow you to quickly release the refill.
So either way, “they” got you: Motorists were locked into the aftermarket wiper blade ecosystem if they shopped at places like AutoZone. Perhaps places like WalMart and the once ubiquitous non-corporate auto parts store didn’t force you to drink the Kool-Aid. I was not so lucky, but my daily driver from that era is now a cherished classic.
Back to modern times: Last week, I bought those wiper blades found in the junkyard. On Monday, I destroyed the “pothole” rubber refills with tin snips so they successfully slid out, and installed a pair of Trico 44-series refills with the proper metal locking clip. With them installed in my garage and sitting behind the wheel, these “new” wipers are almost invisible to the eye. Wow.
While wiper blade technology has indeed improved, their clunky design does make old cars look kinda funny. So going back to vintage stuff with replaceable refills is best, right? Well…
There are pitfalls with backwards upgrades. My setup works fine in regular rain, but the wipers squeal with a light mist on the glass, and chatter like mad as the windshield dries. The vintage plastic parts also flex and twist as the rubber runs across the Cougar’s dry windshield, making clattering noises akin to bead necklaces thrown around at Mardi Gras.
The sad reality is that modern wiper blades are superior, especially the beam (above, left) and the hybrid wiper blade designs from the last 10-15 years. Realizing I did the windshield wiper equivalent of ripping off fuel injection and slapping a Rochester CCC or Motorcraft Variable Venturi carburetor in its place, I am forced to reconsider my actions.
But then I turn off the wipers, watch them park themselves back into invisibility, and I fall back in love with my notion of escaping the aftermarket wiper blade ecosystem. I don’t drive the Cougar very often in the rain these days, so if you want to follow in my footsteps, here’s what I recommend:
- Find (but do not buy) the factory wiper blade for your vehicle in junkyards, online classifieds, etc., and look at the photos very closely to ensure you can procure the correct refill for it.
- Find (but do not buy) the wiper refill from an online vendor. There’s a good chance the Trico 44-series is the correct model. (That’s the one with the aforementioned metal clip.)
- Buy both #1 and #2 after you are sure they will work together.
- Keep your current wiper blade in case you ever need it as a daily driver in foul weather.
I hope this entertained and enlightened at least one of Hagerty Media’s readers. If you are in the Houston area and want a perfectly good set of 18″ beam wiper blades, drop me an email at the address below. You can have mine!
Have a question you’d like answered on Piston Slap? Send your queries to pistonslap@hagerty.com—give us as much detail as possible so we can help! Keep in mind this is a weekly column, so if you need an expedited answer, please tell me in your email.
I enjoyed the in depth on this topic. Refreshing in a 15 second reel world where nothing gets context.
I personally was swept away like so many raindrops…
Thank you both for being the washer jets to my dry wiper blades.
These comments are intermittent but only time can wipe away the pain.
I sense the fluid nature of your statement.
Someday it will all become clear! 😊
Ack! Stop it.
I think the drawbacks outnumber the aesthetics. When driving through a hellfire rainstorm, we rarely get the break to switch to the beam with silicon. I would use the Trico insert to separate the dilettantes from the gearheads at the local drive in. But I’m hardly a guy who can even approach a 90 point car let alone a 98-100. I’m not even able to use 8 points on a Pontiac as I want my discs.
I think these will be fine if you get caught in rainstorms, as I remember using these blades/refills in many a gulf coast storm. (Maybe even in a hurricane?) You just don’t want to make a habit out of it these days, because we have better stuff for daily drivers.
I figured I was lucky to score a pair of wiper blades for the Bentley for only $80, or about 1/5 of the regular price. I wasn’t too concerned about replaceable rubber parts.
We used to install the Trico refills at my full service Texaco gas station back in the day for $1.25 each. When you asked the customer if they needed to replace both sides? Most would reply” I’ll have to hold off for now & save up money “
Same here. Replacements at our Esso station were less than 2 bucks. Had a guy in a 65 vette pay with coins for just the driver’s side!
For a daily, the benefits of silicone blades and the water beading coating they apply are worth the cost and aesthetic comprises. Being able to see between the beaded drops on the glass vs. looking through a wavy sheet of water is fantastic.
For years I ordered Silblades or PIAA silicone wipers online, now Rain X Latitude silicone wipers are available at local parts stores.
I recently installed Rain-X Latitude on one of our daily drivers after getting frustrated with how annoying another after-market brand was to install. Remove this Clip A. Take off Part B and reverse-install it. Add Part C in place of Clip A. Install. Test, only to find it didn’t securely lock into place. Pick up the blade arm off the ground and retry the installation. 😆 I decided to try the Rain-X blades primarily for their improved water-beading. I was happy when I saw how easy the installation was, doubly so when I saw how great a job it did helping to bead the water on the windshield.
Look this is not rebuilding an engine.
I have dealt with this for years on my old Pontiac. Even in 1985 the GM Trico wipers were one time use for the non skilled.
Over the years I found replacements for them with a simple mod. Even if I can’t find a black metal I remove the rubber and put the metal slider on it.
As for the new blades I find the OE beam wipers while more expensive to hold up better and longer. I replace them once a year. The old wipers would go about 6 months. The sun would kill them.
Many people skip the rear blade on SUV models. Too often they test and kill the glass. Most folks don’t know how to change them
Couple of notes.
Rain X is a great way to lessen your reliance on any kind of wiper blades. Over 40-45 mph the rain shears right off. Good stuff
Up until a few years ago (well maybe 9 when I retired) BMW sold rubber wiper refills in a couple of lengths. You reused the metal splines from the old blades, but those were available separately as well. They worked great, but were a pia as the “full service” BMW parts/service department was expected to install them. Finally got the hang of it after a dozen or so!
I continue to use the OEM replacement rubber strips on all my old Hondas, and have used Rain X for decades. The frames for these blades will last for the life of the car and the rubber strips are easy to replace. They are low profile and stay on the windshield at speed. Rain X makes driving in the rain so much easier on the head, and extends the life of the blades, as you don’t have to use them at highway speeds. I also use Rain X to wipe the road grim off the wipers with a rag or a piece of paper towel once and awhile to keep them working at their best, and extending the life of the blades.
For the cars that accept the fastener system, PIAA Aero Vogue wipers are great because they sell refills and they have an OE look. Don’t shop at your local parts store that only sells overpriced complete blades. Find a compatible blade and refill system from an online retailer.
I won’t even mention what generally happens to wiper blades that are used off road but even for street use I think that half the time I’m replacing wiper blades it’s because the whole blade has been destroyed. For this reason I always use the cheapest blades available and always carry a spare in the trunk.
The low-profile original Trico wiper blades are sometimes the only thing that will fit under the style of the “hideaway” hood rear edge overhang that was popular in the ’70s. My mom’s ’73 Vista Cruiser had that type of hood and ’71-’74 Mopar B-bodies (Charger, Road Runner) and E-bodies (‘Cuda, Challenger) have it, also. So finding replacement refills is required.
I was wondering about that, because there are a lot of GM vehicles from that era with really slick hood/cowl designs and hideaway wipers.
Don’t forget that many classic era (60-80s) foreign cars used a narrower wiper refill than American cars did.
I have an 86 Vette and finding wiper blades is a challenge.
they are low profile and need to fit under the hood when off.
After market don’t fit.
You probably need the Trico Series 44 refills on a factory set of wiper blades.
I get my Trico blades from NPD or Classic industries
The wiper blade conundrum is like buying shoes. So, if you find a pair that you like in the size that fits, buy three pair.