[suchham]

So has anyone bought replacement blades? I bought the much-touted Rain-X Lattitudes but will be taking them back (got the wrong sizes). I think I'll just get them from Honda, as the Rain-X blades don't allow you to re-use the protective cover that fits on the stock arm, and the Honda blades seem reasonably priced.

[centrider]

spinner said:

I got the blade inserts from Honda. Worth about $7 each, much cheaper than buying whole blade assemblies for $28 each. But replacing the blade inserts was one of the more difficult things I have done for the car. But I strictly followed the owner's manual's instructions. Some say you can simplify the removal and re-insertintg by just leaving the blade assemblies on the wiper arms and sliding out the inserts from the far tips of the blades.

Sorry for a Prius owner butting in here, but isn't that the way inserts are usually changed - on any wiper blade?

[suchham]

From looking at the manual, it does seem straightforward-but I know how these simple things can go. I'll try it without removing the whole arm first & see how that goes. I'll report back & let you know if that works.

[centrider]

suchham said:

From looking at the manual, it does seem straightforward-but I know how these simple things can go. I'll try it without removing the whole arm first & see how that goes. I'll report back & let you know if that works.

I went into my local AutoZone looking for wiper refills for my Prius. The clerk told me they wouldn't last a month, but the wiper blades? Well, that was another story. So he brought me to the blade section. He even offered to put them on for me.

By the way, they (Anco) ain't cheap.

[suchham]

The refills cost just over $10 for the two from the dealer. Installation time was about 30 minutes. It's probably posssible to do this without removing the blade arm, but I think it would be a major hassle trying to get the refills back onto the arm. It is still awkward doing this job, but if I can do it, anybody can. The hardest part is pulling down the end of the rubber arm cover to allow the removal of the old blade. If you have arthritic fingers, have someone else do this job. Although I had no mishaps, it might be a good idea to put a cover over the hood to prevent scratches in case the arm gets dropped during the removal process.

[centrider]

suchham said:

The refills cost just over $10 for the two from the dealer. Installation time was about 30 minutes. It's probably posssible to do this without removing the blade arm, but I think it would be a major hassle trying to get the refills back onto the arm. It is still awkward doing this job, but if I can do it, anybody can. The hardest part is pulling down the end of the rubber arm cover to allow the removal of the old blade. If you have arthritic fingers, have someone else do this job. Although I had no mishaps, it might be a good idea to put a cover over the hood to prevent scratches in case the arm gets dropped during the removal process.

Don't know if I'm comparing apples-oranges, but I had my 23 yr old grandson change mine. I bought my refills from the Toyota dealer as the local auto parts chain carried only blades. By the way, I'm driving a Prius.

Like you, my g-son was surprised at the amount of effort it took to get the blasted things out. Instructions on the packaging were useless so he had to go to the internet for instructions.

[Philt]

I bought inserts for the Camry Hybrid and I don't remember it being too difficult to replace them. The quality of the originals made me go back and just buy inserts from Toyota. They seem to last quite a while. I like the blade assembly as it is on the car because it is more streamlined and quiet. I'll keep buying inserts from Toyota. They are cheaper than a whole new wiper anyway.

[centrider]

Hey, congrats on winning that 100 buck gas card. Use it well.

[kimkiroo]

I dont have it yet but planning to get one. Blades are expensive here that is why I am looking for christmas sale lol

[centrider]

kimkiroo said:

I dont have it yet but planning to get one. Blades are expensive here that is why I am looking for christmas sale lol

Listen. The cheapest way to do this is to go into the Prius Dealer or someway get the Prius blade refills. They are cheap, cheap - cheap.