GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I know that you should use alcohol to clean the rubber blades. I don't think I ever did in my life time. What about cleaning the blades then wipe on a coating of silicone lube on the rubber to restore it?Any opinions? Anyone heard of this? or not a good idea.

Definitely not a good idea. Although it may help the rubber, it will also smear all over your window and visibility will be poor at best.I've gone to my local Toyota dealer for refills. The fronts are the same as the Matrix, but the rear is 1 inch shorter than the current generation ones. I think the rear is 11" vs. 12".I don't remember the exact prices, but they were quite inexpensive - and not too difficult to change out. If they're deteriorating, it's worth just replacing them. When you need them, you want them to work...John

I found this during a web search after I asked the question.....From Permatex website.....Permatex® Wiper Restore™A quick and easy solution to keep your wipers in top performing condition. Wiper Restore is a water-based, silicone emulsion formula with a special surfactant to aide in cleaning, softening, andconditioning of the wiper blade rubber. This increases flexibility and helps to minimize various wiper performance issues, such as, chatter, streaking, and skipping. This special formula is alcohol andpetroleum free, so it will not deteriorate blade rubber

My Passenger side wiper is draging against the glass such that it is vibrating the glass surface. The rubber is curled against the glass.

Quote, originally posted by j42.snyder »Definitely not a good idea. Although it may help the rubber, it will also smear all over your window and visibility will be poor at best.I've gone to my local Toyota dealer for refills. The fronts are the same as the Matrix, but the rear is 1 inch shorter than the current generation ones. I think the rear is 11" vs. 12".I don't remember the exact prices, but they were quite inexpensive - and not too difficult to change out. If they're deteriorating, it's worth just replacing them. When you need them, you want them to work...JohnAmazon - Trico lists same item for both 2009 Vibe and 2009 MatrixTrico 11-A Exact Fit Rear Wiper Blade - 11"by Trico4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews) | Like (1)List Price: $19.59Price: $11.07 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. DetailsYou Save: $8.52 (43%)In Stock.Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

For cleaning them, when I'm at the gas station I just use the squeegee bucket water and a paper rag soaked in it. Rub the blade a bit and a bunch of black stuff comes off and the wiper preforms good for a while. But It's not that expensive to buy a refill blade from your Toyota dealer.I keep silicone spray far far away from the windshield!!!

I simply wash the wiper blades with a bug sponge and car wash soap whenever I wash the car. The blades on both our 09 GTs are going on three years old and they still perform the same as they did the days we drove the GTs off the lot. I will probably end up getting refills from Toyota in the spring though since they are approaching three years old.Here's a thread with all the info and part numbers for 2009-2010 wiper blades/refills.

Quote, originally posted by J_TO_ENVY »I simply wash the wiper blades with a bug sponge and car wash soap whenever I wash the car. The blades on both our 09 GTs are going on three years old and they still perform the same as they did the days we drove the GTs off the lot. I will probably end up getting refills from Toyota in the spring though since they are approaching three years old.Here's a thread with all the info and part numbers for 2009-2010 wiper blades/refills.Dang Carrie. You have some beast of wiper blades! I have replaced mine in 2 years of ownership like 4 times. Well, twice were some expensive as crap bosche that didn't last but like 3 months and then chattered and streaked like crazy. I HAVE wiped them down with alcohol, but I don't do it on a regular basis. I also do the same as J above. When its time to replace, stick with the factories, because pure flat beam blades on the driver side lift off at highway speeds. I guess because its like a mile long.

Bought a new drivers side winter wiper yesterday... the old one was starting to streak and had been used the past 6 winters.I use these:

I used to swear by those on my older cars. However, I bought a set for the Sunfire I had - and on a windy day driving to work over the Burlington Skyway, the driver's side one would literally hover about an inch above the glass from the wind catching it. Since then I've reluctant to put them on a "newer" car, as they're so long and tall they seem to catch too much wind at speed. Let us know how they do on the Vibe - I'm sure your highway speed driving will put them to the test...Since then I've had the best luck with some of the Michelin "frameless" type of wipers I've bought at Costco. They seem to harden up quickly however - certainly less than a year of useful life. After that they usually begin chattering and/or streaking. On the Vibe I've just stuck with the Toyota refills so far. I've only had to change them once to date (earlier this year) - and they were less than $10 each. Best wipers I've owned to date. They're still more prone to freezing than your "winter" ones though.

for my '10, i got a couple sets of goodyear (i'll buy their wipers, not their tires...) beam blades for $8 a pair a couple weeks back. best price i've seen on any blades in a while, let alone name brand beam style blades. so far, they're excellent. we'll see how well they hold up to snow and ice soon enough...

Any comments about PIAA blades:PIAA Super Silicone Wiper Blades are functional and stylish at the same time. These wipers use an activated silicone-coating that causes water to bead up on your windshield. Better yet, the coating actually repels water droplets when traveling at high speeds! The PIAA Super Silicone wipers are made from the highest quality silicone rubber compound. This means no squeaking or chattering when you use them.

From years of use I can tell you that below 90km/h they work great!From 90 - 115km/h they're ok but do jump around.Above 120km/h they do jump and miss quite a bit but are still somewhat functional and they do this to about 140. I've never had to use them above that, not that I generally drive that fast in winter. These rubber boot ones generally don't freeze up. They've only done it to me on long highway trips below -20C with no use.I've tried frameless before, not worth it IMO. I refuse to let any form of silicone near my windshield. It rains nowhere near enough here, it smears when the wipers are used. It does nothing to help remove road grime/dirt/bugs/salt. I've tried such products before and no, I won't be switching again. What I use works for me, quite well actually and it's a lot cheaper then buying fancy overpriced wipers every year.

At a local Toyota parts dept., I was able to purchase the rubber element for the driver side. I will pick the other blades on Friday.The parts guy, gave me a rubber element with no packaging. My question to him as well as to anyone reading this... is the element does NOT have the metal rods or thin blades that make it stiff. Is this how they give them to you? He said I have to insert them myself from the old one. And this is one reason that no one sells the refill elements only anymore. It is easier to replace the entire wiper assembly. And, I went to Pep Boys and still they don't carry refills either. The world is changing isn't it? I used to paid 2-3 dollars for a pair of refills 5-10 years ago.

Quote, originally posted by Ivibe »At a local Toyota parts dept., I was able to purchase the rubber element for the driver side. I will pick the other blades on Friday.The parts guy, gave me a rubber element with no packaging. My question to him as well as to anyone reading this... is the element does NOT have the metal rods or thin blades that make it stiff. Is this how they give them to you? He said I have to insert them myself from the old one. And this is one reason that no one sells the refill elements only anymore. It is easier to replace the entire wiper assembly. And, I went to Pep Boys and still they don't carry refills either. The world is changing isn't it? I used to paid 2-3 dollars for a pair of refills 5-10 years ago. i got a refill (rubber only) from my gm dealer-it too did not have packaging or the 2 little metal stiffeners. i just pulled the metal out of the old one before discarding and inserted it into the new blade and it was good as new. i did order 2 complete replacements (plastic housing and all) for the back. i checked and both have the metal stiffeners in them already.

I heard somewhere that the two metal stiffeners or ribs in that type of wiper blade design is a better wiper then the type that has the metal fixed to the top of the rubber or the type that has a rigid plastic support. I believe that it lets the rubber relax, expand and contract along the ribs within the assembly. So what you're saying is that the metal stiffeners only come with a complete blade assembly? And if I bend the rods, I'll need to get a new assembly?

Here's what the rubber boot wiper blades do at 120km/h with a headwind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6dqkPaflk8

This is what my expensive Bosche blades would do. I gave them the boot and stick with stock.

Viewed your youtube. It looks like washer fluid being squirted on to the window.I paid about $27.00 for the three rubber set only from a Toyota parts dealer.

I had a chance to use my "cleaned" original blades today in the rain. they now work as good as when new. They are now 3-1/2 years old.I only cleaned them with rubbing alcohol.