Hey guys,

I have a 1999 4Runner and I think it's time for completely replacing the front windshield wiper arms. No matter how new the wiper blade refills are, the wipers squeek and don't clean up as well as they used to when the car was new.

Would you recommend that I replace the entire wiper arms, by unbolting the new ones and replacing with new? Let me know your thoughts on this one. Also, how much would they cost? Any idea?

Thanks.

 

jim,

try clay bar'g the window. sounds crazy, but thats a great way to get the window completely clean and free of bug guts, built up crud, etc

bob

 

Hmmm....My new refills squeek for a bit right after I change them. But after they break in a bit they work just fine.
Is your wiper 'arm' pressing the blade completely against the windshield? Are you sure you are useing the right sized refills?
Check the arms position, is any of the metal parts twisted or bent in such a way that it is coming in contact with the windshield?
Find a similar 4-Runner and take a look at the wipers on it(with the owners permission, of course)
They shouldn't need to be replaced yet, I drive a 85 runner with the original wiper arms. And I live in Oregon.(lots of rain)

 

You have bad wipers. Try these (flat blade ones), I´ve liked a lot: Valeo XTRM:
http://www.valeo.com/automotive-supplier/Jahia/pid/1037

 

Make sure your wiper arms are not bent.....that may be causing the squeek and there is no need to replace them for that. Just take a pair of pliers and bend them back to parallel with the windshield. I have had to do mine at least once.

 

use a bunch of rain-x!