body and interior Replacement wiper inserts (refills) that work!

[Mike Self]

As we all know when it's time to replace wiper blades, your friendly auto parts store stocks only complete blades, and they're always black. It's a problem particularly for us roundie owners who have silver wiper arms/blades and don't want to buy black blades as replacements.  I know you can find inserts on the Internet, but if you need 'em sooner (like I did while traveling when the driver's side rubber split) I found a source.  

 

It's a Trico "wiper blade refill", 16 inch, P/N 46-160.  I bought mine at O'Reillys but I'm sure other similar stores have 'em too.  Sometimes they're in stock; other times they have to order 'em, but will have 'em the following day.  They work just fine on the OEM blades, but you'll have to take a pair of needle-nose pliers and squeeze the retaining tangs on the blade just a little to hold the new refills in place.  

 

A word of warning if you buy from O'Reillys:  their catalog shows our 2002s using 15" blades; as we all know they're 16" (unless you have a '69 or earlier car with its original 13" blades) so don't let 'em talk you into 15" refills 'cause they won't work (as I proved to our local store). They're supposedly changing their catalog, but don't count on it.  

 

One more problem solved...

 

Happy wiping

 

mike

[gastephens]

I don't know what came on the car but I can tell you that most 16" wipers stick off the curvature of the glass. I gave up on both inserts and the junk replacement blades.

 

These 15" units install fast, fit perfectly with no adapters, look stock (real metal!), and work great. And they are reasonably priced.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CPZVTS/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

Edited June 22, 2016 by gastephens

[adawil2002]

9 hours ago, gastephens said:

I don't know what came on the car but I can tell you that most 16" wipers stick off the curvature of the glass. I gave up on both inserts and the junk replacement blades.

 

These 15" units install fast, fit perfectly with no adapters, look stock (real metal!), and work great. And they are reasonably priced.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CPZVTS/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

 

I run these on Vern & Trico 33-160s on Athena.

Edited June 23, 2016 by adawil2002

[heinemann]

Ok so can I use 15 inch blades on a '69 if they where originally 13" blades?

Edited April 11, 2017 by heinemann

['76mintgrün'02]

My guess is yes... but, you might get a ticket from the Originality Police  ; )

 

Are the wiper arms any different on a 69, than on the later cars?

[Vicleonardo1]

After living in the PNW for quite some time, I kept kicking myself for those many "Oh S**t" moments where I get hit with the first fall rain and my wipers are worthless. After many times of standing in line at Autozone with dozens of other Oregonians with similar lack of foresight, I just resort to Aquapel. Usually lasts long enough for me to get 1. Get another Aquapel treatment and 2. Get new wipers....

 

PS: Thank you guys for the info. May just order a set and throw them in the trunk...(But that would take planning and foresight...)

Edited April 11, 2017 by Vicleonardo1