Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: ivanidea on January 20, 2013, 04:38:40 PM

Title: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: ivanidea on January 20, 2013, 04:38:40 PM
It's been a long time since I needed to buy any, so any recommendations?

I remember buying a set for a couple of quid from the market which lasted 5 minutes, before buying some Halfords ones which lasted a few years before I sold the vehicle.

I know the JK needs 15" blades at the front and 13" on the rear, but have read that I can use 16" on the front in case they are cheaper.
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: isle of man on January 20, 2013, 04:54:56 PM
Bite the pillow and purchase genuine wipers!!!
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: MOCAJ on January 20, 2013, 05:02:42 PM
local motor factors, why do they have to be anything special just cos it has 7 slots in the grille  :icon_winkle:
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: isle of man on January 20, 2013, 05:08:30 PM
local motor factors, why do they have to be anything special just cos it has 7 slots in the grille  :icon_winkle:

One has much to learn young Jedi....
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: MOCAJ on January 20, 2013, 05:11:39 PM
local motor factors, why do they have to be anything special just cos it has 7 slots in the grille  :icon_winkle:

One has much to learn young Jedi....

please do tell  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: isle of man on January 20, 2013, 05:18:21 PM
Well one could consider the world of prophylactic, one has cheaper options (that will cost you much more in the end!!!!!) or one could go with the brand that simply works no matter who much you foooook with it!!!
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: robsrotti on January 20, 2013, 05:21:27 PM
Motor factors and buy Bosch. Zee Germans fit them
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: isle of man on January 20, 2013, 05:25:33 PM
Motor factors and buy Bosch. Zee Germans fit them


Sieg Heil.....



Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: MOCAJ on January 20, 2013, 05:32:14 PM
mine get covered in mud and corruption on a regular basis so i see it like oil changes. Correct grade etc but change often  :icon_winkle:
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: ivanidea on January 20, 2013, 06:46:28 PM
Last time I bought cheap unbranded, I regretted it.  Halfords seemed to be reasonable quality, and the USA forums recommend Bosch.

I might have a laugh and enquire how much Jeep ones cost, but unless they are going to be better than Halfords, I don't see the advantage, especially since they 14.5".  Buying an alternative could mean I have better forward visibility since the Yanks sucessfully use 16" blades.

I will try and visit one of the local motor factors and see what they stock.
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: Jonny Jeep on January 20, 2013, 07:01:00 PM
Never liked Bosch on the TJ. The times I've used them they squeaked juddered and smeared almost from the get go and I replace them within weeks. Normally I use Unipart from Partco.
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: Brynjaminjones on January 20, 2013, 07:26:59 PM
I've not got anything to compare against, as the wipers I replaced were completely split and next to useless, but I put Champions on the XJ and they seem to do the trick. They seem fairly quiet too.
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: Panic mechanic! on January 20, 2013, 08:06:30 PM
I have used bosch wiper blades and in the past and found them to wear out relatively quickly and judder a lot,at the same time i have used a cheap brand (£2.99) from the range and had no problem with them and they have lasted longer than the bosch ones.
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: isle of man on January 20, 2013, 08:27:22 PM
I have used bosch wiper blades and in the past and found them to wear out relatively quickly and judder a lot,at the same time i have used a cheap brand (£2.99) from the range and had no problem with them and they have lasted longer than the bosch ones.

What??? In the wonderful world of driveway technology.....
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: Panic mechanic! on January 20, 2013, 09:11:08 PM
on the two beetles , smart, xj, and wj when it was being used
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: sbd on January 20, 2013, 10:02:46 PM
My XJ is a Jap import and has a bayonet fitting on the end of the wiper arm, any ideas where to get something?  :017:
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: Panic mechanic! on January 20, 2013, 10:12:53 PM
just change arms to normal one?
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: sbd on January 21, 2013, 10:06:02 AM
Could be the best way  :icon_winkle:
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: bgbazz on January 21, 2013, 05:35:49 PM
I use the Bosch on all four of mine and never a problem..and we get a shit  load more snow than you guys. Juddering is caused by dry glass..just give it a burst of washer fluid every now and then. To make it work smoothly, I add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to every fill of the bottle.
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: ChrisS on January 22, 2013, 01:47:47 PM
Just put a pair of Bosch Aerotwin on the WK - certainly work well when new, lets see how they last.  I was getting fed up with the old ones (also Bosch) freezing up into a curved shape and just wiping two narrow arcs I couldn't see through.

The new blades are silent and clean brilliantly, the old ones tended to judder quite a bit and left streaks. They weren't that old either.
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: Jonny Jeep on January 22, 2013, 07:55:08 PM
The squeaking and juddering I had from the bosch wipers was nothing to do with dry glass, though dry glass may cause it. It was happening in rain heavy enough to need wipers on all the time. If it's less than that I have intermittent control. Pissed me right off as we've always had a fair amount the stuff in the 'rainy city'.
Title: Re: Windscreen Wipers
Post by: ivanidea on January 31, 2013, 10:14:15 PM
After MOCAJ recommendation, I purchased a pair from my local motor factors (A to Z) for £5.99, and they survived a weekend of snow and heavy rain.  Hopefully they will last a while longer.  They are branded Valeo (www.valeoservice.com (http://www.valeoservice.com)), and are made in France (I won't hold that against them).

By a coincidence, my dad replaced one of the wipers on his Jazz with one from Tesco.  So far that has been fine as well.  He also looked at Aldi/Lidl as well, stores I hadn't even considered looking in.