Windshield wiper options

[1883atlantics]

Hi everyone. New member here. My 90 V6 sedan has got to be the pickiest car out there. I have tried many different brands of windshield wipers and they all chatter. Even when new, they only wipe a few times and then they start chattering. I'm on my 3rd windshield and every time this happens. When I got the car the stock windshield was on there AFAIK (glass was labeled toyota). I see other Gen2s on the road and no chatter visible -- so what do I do? I'm going NUTS here.

Thanks
Jeff

ps> I put the stock back on, they chatter the least it seems. Should I try Toyota refill inserts?

[toyomoho]

Might be something on the windshield itself. Have you tried cleaning it with Windex, vinegar, etc.

[1883atlantics]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

Might be something on the windshield itself. Have you tried cleaning it with Windex, vinegar, etc.

Yeah I've tried cleaning with all sorts of stuff. Stoner's Invisible Glass works for me now as far as clear glass goes, but the wipers still chatter. I'm starting to think it's the arms that hold the blade to the glass? I dunno. I get so annoyed when it rains and I'm in the car grrr

[Variety=Spice]

check the alignment of the arms. sometimes they get tweaked and don't hold the wipers perpendicular to the windshield. some aftermarket replacement parts can alter that angle, too.

[jaduncan]

Or the tension on the arms. Springs may be worn. Might get another set from the pickyard and try.





Allen

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by 1883atlantics

ps> I put the stock back on, they chatter the least it seems. Should I try Toyota refill inserts?

Hate to ask... you tried new genuine Toyota blades, right?

Otherwise, I second the idea to replace the springs and check the blade alignment. I haven't had any problems with stock Toyota wiper blades (though I do have to replace them every year due to sun damage from the SoCal sun).

-Charlie

[1883atlantics]

Originally Posted by white90dx

Hate to ask... you tried new genuine Toyota blades, right?

Otherwise, I second the idea to replace the springs and check the blade alignment. I haven't had any problems with stock Toyota wiper blades (though I do have to replace them every year due to sun damage from the SoCal sun).

-Charlie

How do I go about checking for blade alignment? Do I need some sort of tool to see if they are being held perpendicular? No (gee I feel dumb saying this), I haven't gotten new Toyota blades. I tried finding them online but couldn't and going to my local Toy dealers (only have 2) is a pain. I guess I could bite the bullet and go to them but the prices are really high there.
On a side note....did I read somewhere that you have done some suspension work on your gen2? I have terrible groans/creaks from front and back suspension on my gen2. I just replaced the sway bar bushings in the rear to that would help a bit, but noise is still as bad. I have 1 year old SensaTracs on all four corners, but the mounting hats (at least in front where I can see them) look to be the old ones. The car looks nice but groans like an old crabby man. Also, whenever I take my foot off the brake pedal it groans. Got any advice?
Thanks
Jeff

[nogard]

Well I hope you can appreciate this. After I read your about your problem, I decided to go out side in the dark in my PJ's and take some pictures with the flash. I don't like the set up of the wipers on the 2nd gens. I also had the same chattering problem, but only after the blades were half worn. So since I really liked the design of the wiper arms that come on the 4th gen camry I have. I decided to switch the arms of this original design shown here.


To this design



What I actually did was take the arms off of a '93 tercel. I actually got two driver side arms, with springs. Then I took that arms off of my camry, unbolted at the pivot point where it actually has a nut that hold them on. Then I drilled out the pin that holds the straight part of the arm to the cast part of the arm that bolts to the car. Then I drilled the holes in both parts out to 1/4". I got a 1/4" stainless steel shoulder bolt, the width of the arm, I think about 1". I placed a washer on the bolt, passed it through the two parts of the arm. Then there is a washer between the arm and cast arm piece on both sides. I have a picture draw of the hardware layout below.
Put another washer on, and then held it with a nyloc stainless steel 10-32 nut. Even though that is smaller the 1/4", that happens to be what the shoulder bolt I used takes. I believe I also had to swap the wiper arm springs. I had to use the tercel springs with the tercel arm. This set up seems to work better because it places the wiper blade closer to the center of the arm, and not off to the side, giving it more leverage to twist. It is also a lot easier to replace the whole blade assembly. This style just slides on and off. Unlike the stock style that needs the blade popped on/off the pin, and the pin needs to be screwed onto the small phillips head screws that are always rusty and break. I use trico wiper blades. I think the original style is a type 1. They list everything by length of blade and then type, example, 16-1. But the blades that fit a '93 tercel are a type 3, like a 16-3. All I did was measure from the end of the new arms I put on to the edge of the windshield and top of windshield. With the arms in there resting state, and with them a full sweep. Then you multiply that number by two to get your blade length, and then just get the type a tercel uses. I think I ended up using a 18" on the passenger side, and a 20 or 21" on the driverside. I can't remember, but I got them as long as I could.

Here are a few more pictures of how it looks, any questions just ask. I've had it this way for a year. I haven't had any problems and love the way it works.

[1883atlantics]

Wow! Nogard that was an awesome reply! I do appreciate the photos and the drawing. I was kind of hoping there would be a less "surgical" solution to my wiper problem, but I'll definately keep your fix in mind. Off topic....what's a good brand of fuel filter for the gen2?
Thanks again!
Jeff

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by 1883atlantics

Off topic....what's a good brand of fuel filter for the gen2?
Thanks again!
Jeff

Whenever possible, use the stock Toyota parts. In most cases, they really are better (ie, you get what you pay for).

-Charlie

[Kingdom934]

I dunno if this might help but I do sometimes use turtle wax car polish on the windshield of my '85 Camry and I don't get no annoying sqeeks (I just compound and wax the entire car, glass and all...i dunno why)

I also remember I used to spray down my car rubber areas with a few different sprays (From tire sprays to gloss sprays), so they could also have done something to the windshield which gave it a more 'smoother' surface.

Another thing is that I wipe down my car daily so that could also play a role too.



EDIT: you mention chattering, didn't re-read it many times.

My passenger side was chattering like crazy, found out that the blade arm and the arm joint was rusted a bit and caused it not to go all the way 'down' on the windshield. I used a regular screw driver to 'open' up a space between where the joint meets and sprayed it heavly with WD40. Now they go down all the way without issue. I'm doing the WD40 treatment monthy or so to keep it from ever coming back.

[Ancientwolf13]

You have to be careful with what chemicals you put on the windsheild. Alot of windsheilds have coating on them to make them slick. Over time this wears off from the rubbing of the wipers. Another thing wipers will shudder if there isn't enough rain or the coating left to lubricate them. Cheap quality wipers will also cause this effect.

[nogard]

I also use car wax on every thing. All the painted metal, alloy rims, and windows/windshield. It works great when it is raining, and isn't sticky like rain-x. Maybe you have something on your windshield. You ever try using a wax stripper, if that doesn't wreck the special coating this is on there (didn't know there was such a thing). And then maybe waxing it, if you would just clean it, it would be so clean the wipers would be worse, and really chatter.

[1883atlantics]

Originally Posted by Kingdom934

I dunno if this might help but I do sometimes use turtle wax car polish on the windshield of my '85 Camry and I don't get no annoying sqeeks (I just compound and wax the entire car, glass and all...i dunno why)

I also remember I used to spray down my car rubber areas with a few different sprays (From tire sprays to gloss sprays), so they could also have done something to the windshield which gave it a more 'smoother' surface.

Another thing is that I wipe down my car daily so that could also play a role too.



EDIT: you mention chattering, didn't re-read it many times.

My passenger side was chattering like crazy, found out that the blade arm and the arm joint was rusted a bit and caused it not to go all the way 'down' on the windshield. I used a regular screw driver to 'open' up a space between where the joint meets and sprayed it heavly with WD40. Now they go down all the way without issue. I'm doing the WD40 treatment monthy or so to keep it from ever coming back.

I just did this a couple of days ago! How funny. I squirted some WD on the springs in the wiper arms and it really helped the chattering. But....I suspect the springs have seen better days, or are rusting, because I tried the wipers today and they chattered again. I might just bite the bullet and get the new toyota arms (over $100! eek) and see if that cures it. If it doesn't, I'll just bang my head on my steering wheel until I pass out. lol.
Jeff

[Ancientwolf13]

I'm actually surprised there aren't many websites that list about it now that I'm looking for it.

This is just one site explaining about one type of coating technology that is in use from a company themselves.

http://www.v-kool.com.sg/Resources/M...eAd.pdfhttp://