Flat wiper blades

[sharrar]

Hello,

My wiper is currently more of a smearer and I wondered if anyone can recommend a flat blade type? I've read past posts and is a J hook type what I'm looking for?

I'd seen this on ebay and thought it looked promising with a few adapters and one that looks like it matches original connector

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-BOSC ... SwiDFYL0Db

I also saw this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-For-J-Hoo ... ctupt=true which is j hook and says fits excel )but could be lies!)

I had tried a SJ wiper but it arrived damaged and doesn't seem to contact with all parts of the windscreen (the edges do but the centre part floats over the top and not something adjustable)

Thanks in advance

[Lotus-e-Clan]

My main concern about deviating from a std blade would be if the modern flat blades press harder on the screen, and/or the blade rubber/silicon friction is greater than std, then it might slow the blade down and put more strain on the wiper motor/mechanism. .. and we all know how vulnerable/flaky the Excel's wiper motor/mech is ..and how difficult it is to replace.

However, if the opposite is true then it would be a genuine upgrade.

[alanmoss]

I have run with a Bosch Aerotwin flat blade for a few years without problem.
I use a J hook blade having acquired a replacement Storm 17" wiper arm from Demon Tweeks before they stopped selling them.
The J hook connector version is AR24U

There is another version, AP24U. which has a variety of adaptors to suit various other types of arm, including one for a side pin.
I happen to have one unused in my garage, acquired in error, but I don't know if it fits the standard Excel side pin arm, and unfortunately I cannot find my original arm.

[sharrar]

Thanks Peter. Some good points on the mechanism I hadn't considered possibly extra strain and am definitely don't want to compromise anything in that area. I'd be cautious

Alan I was interested in your modification but the original pictures aren't showing any longer. Any chance you still have them?

[alanmoss]

This was the original adaptor solution for a flat blade with the side pin


As I reported before I changed the wiper arm to a J hook model from Demon Tweeks, but no longer available from there.
If you can locate an alternative it is a 17" arm.

[Johnwindwood]

We fitted a flat blade and soon took it off again- it wouldn't move properly because of sticking to the screen!
Fitted a new standard blade and problem solved.

[Lotus-e-Clan]

We fitted a flat blade and soon took it off again- it wouldn't move properly because of sticking to the screen!
Fitted a new standard blade and problem solved.

That's just what I feared. I wonder if it's brand-specific though?

[tonypoll]

Another approach, that I used last month, was to retain the metal part of the wiper blade and slide in a new rubber. It works fine.

[MrCoolA]

Flat blade on mine for a few years now and no problems. The motor performs as it did with the oem type, still not brilliant especially on slow intermittent and this is with a new motor also a few years ago.

[sharrar]

In the end I stuck with a standard blade but may try a flat in the future. It's interesting reading the different approaches though.

I purchased this adapter - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adaptor-Kit- ... 2749.l2649 and the silver pins are all I needed . These fit well into a regular type blade such as
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Unip ... 2749.l2649

Going forward I'll retain the pin when I need to swap out the wiper. It's £5 for the wiper rather than £20 with shipping from SJ sports so I'm happy with that!

[Johnwindwood]

In the end I stuck with a standard blade but may try a flat in the future. It's interesting reading the different approaches though.

I purchased this adapter - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adaptor-Kit- ... 2749.l2649 and the silver pins are all I needed . These fit well into a regular type blade such as
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Unip ... 2749.l2649

Going forward I'll retain the pin when I need to swap out the wiper. It's £5 for the wiper rather than £20 with shipping from SJ sports so I'm happy with that!

That Unipart blade is the very one I am using ! Recommended!

[Phantasm]

I still have the standard blade style with the articulating arms, my pin was dead so I now use a stainless Steel bolt with washers between the blade and arm and 2 nuts on the outside and painted it all black. You can adjust the nut tension so the wiper swings freely, the washers reduce rotational wear in theory but are probably not needed in truth. I am very careful to not use the wiper when the glass is not wet... it does have a lot of friction and slows the blade down. Further, it doesn't usually park as far down as it would when 'lubricated' by the rain or washer, sits about an inch high on the outer radius. Clears water like a champ though!!

[sharrar]

Thanks John, I'm finding it really smooth and quiet. A massive improvement on my old one.
Phantasm - that's a nice solution, I was thinking before to do something similar but definitely do recommend the adapter kit too.