[MrCamryWagon]

Questions for wiper replacement on an '02 8 cylinder:

1. Do I replace the whole armature like they sell in the stores? I bought some Anco blades at Sears and I do not see how the new arm replaces the original- or even how to get the original off.

2. Can I just insert a refill? Toyota part looks to be narrower than replacement.

3. Are there non-Toyota inserts available?

 

[imjin]

I just use whatever refills the local parts store has, like the Anco's, Bosch, or something similar. Most of them come with a generic adapter, so you'll need to leave your wiper arms in, but remove the blade assembly at the pivot point so what you're left with is the armature that has the end shaped into a U-shape. That U-shape fits into the universal (usually plastic) adapter that comes with the refills. There is usually a release lever that lets you slide the old blade assembly down and off of the U-shaped end. Then you reverse the direction, pulling the new refill up onto the U-Shape end until it snaps into place.

 

[MrCamryWagon]

Yeah. I see the U-shape on the new blade but am not sure how the old one will come off, and am afraid of breaking it. I do see the little lever at the pivot point but I guess I need a "wiper blade for dummies" diagram to help me understand it.

 

[imjin]

I'm not sure if I even had the originals on when I got my truck early on but I'm pretty sure most of them come off the same way. There's some sort of release lever. Worst case, break it loose with a flat head, but take care not to damage the main arm that's attached to the truck, the one with the u-shaped end on it.

 

[MrCamryWagon]

Found a good set of pictures. It's obvious where the U-shape is here- I'd say it is more of a "hook".

How to Replace Wiper Blades on 1999 to 2004 Chrysler 300M-Change wipers.

 

[HOGWILD]

I have had issues getting inserts to match up with factory blade and i messed up and bought new blades to fix issue. BIG mistake, you can buy a whole new blade at walmart made by michelin for the price of the inserts alone!! michelin blades are iam sure made by pylon which has been making blades since before i was born! If ya are trying to find matching inserts for factory blades i would make sure and take blade with ya when ya go and save the back and forth as i did!!

 

[redman733]

if you look close at the underside of the hook where the plastic insert slides into the hook shape part of the arm you will notice a small plastic nub..
you simply pull the plastic nub away from the hook and it releases the plastic insert and it just slides right out

 

[Boosted27606]

The longest lasting wipers I ever had were the PIAA ( from TIRERACK ) . The VALEO are also excellent.

Cheaper ones are plenty available out there but they dont last long usually.

 

[RitcheyRch]

Ditto that on the PIAA wipers. Have them on all my vehicles that have a chance of seeing rain.

I put some Bosch Ions on my new to me 2006 GTO since doubt it will ever see rain but wanted wipers in case it ever gets wet.

The longest lasting wipers I ever had were the PIAA ( from TIRERACK ) . The VALEO are also excellent.

Cheaper ones are plenty available out there but they dont last long usually.

 

[cydonian]

here's a good tutorial:
How to Replace Windshield Wiper Blades | eHow.com

of course i'm 2 years too late on responding. by now ur old blades have either rotted off completely or u've successfully replaced them.

but there's the tutorial for anyone who needs it for future reference op2:

oh btw i just installed ANCO contour wiper blades on my 00 tundra. $37 from O'reilly's (including tax)
anyone use this brand before?

 

[sraney]

I second the PIAA suggestion. After searching the forum a few months back for the best wiper blades, I decided to have a go with the PIAA brand. They're pricey, but I've found them to be very effective and very quiet. It seemed like everything else I tried, including OEM, started skidding and skipping in cold weather after a couple of months of wear, and the noise drove me crazy. We had a "25-year" winter here in KC this year, and the PIAA's never made a sound. I'm happy.