Flat-blade wipers - any long-term benefits?

[MrT]

Regardless of life of blade etc, do the aero-style flat blades put less or more strain on the mechanism than the standard deflectored wipers? If less - the payback would come in not replacing the mechanism. If more - I'm happy with 2yrs for the wipers and maybe a new linkage every so often...

Just wondering - I've had wiper linkages fail on my old Cavs when fitted with 20" spoilered blades (the normal ones, but with the deflector like we get as standard on Vec) - I know that's a size up from 19" std, but the were all the same and I could swap front, back and side to side. And 20" were cheaper than 19" - just like the tyre thing, going up a size saved a few quid!

However, am I right in thinking the linkage is basically the same on the Vec? I.E it's an inverted 'lube-free' poly clip-on washer on the connecting link that basically dangles below the ball fitment on the wiper arm? If so, they'll wear and drop just as regularly (I got through about one linkage every 3 years with the bigger blades, but they were abt £13 trade and an easy job to fit).!

[iceeee]

only needed to replace linkage once in 3 yrs the linkage arms
according to stealers aint interchangeable so full new linkage
needed must say that upon removal of worn one make-up of new completely different to old one linkage arms totally different not hard to do as well total time 1hr

[MrT]

Yeah - the bit for the Cav was both wiper links, fixing bracket and the motor arm, which was good for the price - just a barking mad way of keeping it all together - if they weren't so cheap I was considering drilling and tapping the ball on the wiper are so I could bolt it back on with a big washer. What's the Vec one cost BTW?

I used to keep spanners in the Cav, so when the driver's side went I parked it on the door mirror and made a temp single-wiper mod by moving the passenger one up about 45degrees

[iceeee]

approx £70 for full linkage

[MrT]

Jeez - that's a leap from the Cav - might have use for the old man's tapping tools yet then!

[rushy]

Linkage is £50 from Autovaux in Wakefield mate.

[MrT]

They keep cropping up as a good value place to go, don't they?! I'd rather be ready for it than get surprised - the last time it happened in my Cav was a scream's distance from Chessington World of Adventures, on the motorway, whilst absolutely lashing it down (of course - why use the wipers otherwise?!). Still, with the right spanner the single-wiper bodge was quick.

Anyone got any thoughts about flat-blades then? I mean, in all the blurb they go on about the more even contact etc - it's more the lack of the big deflector that interests me - or is the mechanical strain on it all about the same?

[gtr1000]

On the Bosch ones I've got http://www.boschautoparts.co.uk/pcWipe5.asp?c=2&d=1, the deflector/spoiler, whilst not as large as normal blades, runs the whole length of the flatblade. So the actual pressure is probably the same(?) but spread over the entire length.

[rushy]

On the Bosch ones I've got http://www.boschautoparts.co.uk/pcWipe5.asp?c=2&d=1, the deflector/spoiler, whilst not as large as normal blades, runs the whole length of the flatblade. So the actual pressure is probably the same(?) but spread over the entire length.

There exactly the same as the GM ones to look at with the full spoiler.

[Duncan]

Anyone got any thoughts about flat-blades then? I mean, in all the blurb they go on about the more even contact etc - it's more the lack of the big deflector that interests me - or is the mechanical strain on it all about the same?

I've been using the flat blades for ages now and really like them. It's the design (the whole blade is more 'sprung' if you see what I mean) ithat means they don't a deflector to apply extra force to keep them down.

Some people have complained about them smearing at times, but you simply have to clean them now and again. I wouldn't go back to normal blades.