It sure didn't take long, only seventeen months, for the stock wiper blades on my Highlander to wear out... I decided to shop around rather than go with the admittedly cheaper Toyota refills. After looking at several brands I decided to go with Bosch Icons based on the reviews on other sites and their appearance.
The Icons are easy to install and look much better than the factory blades with all the "truss bridge" metal hardware. The Icons have a single layer plastic frame backing the length of the blade with an air deflector to help hold them against the windshield. The only place they have any real height is a the J-Hook connector on the wiper arm. The result is a much lighter, cleaner look around the wipers.
Now for the important part, how do they work? Great! The Icons are a huge improvement over the stock blades. The clean better and do not "chatter" when cleaning off a light mist or a few rain drops. They also clean the windshield very well when using the windshield washer function. I have driven in a moderately heavy rain at 65MPH with no issues with the wipers floating or wanting to lift at speed.
The downside? Well they are more expensive than stock replacements or Rain-X blades. I paid about $35, on sale, for the two front blades. If these are as durable as I've seen claimed I should get around twice the lifetime of the stock blades which will help offset the higher cost.
The rear wiper blade was also splitting and needed replaced. Note: I have never needed to replace a rear wiper blade before on anything in the 3-4 years I usually keep a vehicle. What is Toyota putting on for wiper blades! Anyway, for that blade Toyota is the only replacement that was available locally. The rubber insert is not made to be replaced so the entire blade unit is replaced as one part. It was about $10 at my dealer...
The icon's lasted 8 months for me then it started streaking. The Valeo Gen 2 wipers are the worst, lasted 6 months then streaking. IMHO, the best were the stock ones. That reminds me, i need to get inserts from the dealer to replace the fronts again.
I thought we could replace the insert in the rear, i need to find that discussion.
I thought we could replace the insert in the rear, i need to find that discussion.
On my rear wiper frame there are plastic tabs, on both sides, that prevent sliding a new insert in to the frame. You could always cut / break one off but I didn't see any 9 inch replacement inserts in the parts stores anyway...
The icon's lasted 8 months for me then it started streaking. The Valeo Gen 2 wipers are the worst, lasted 6 months then streaking. IMHO, the best were the stock ones. That reminds me, i need to get inserts from the dealer to replace the fronts again.
I thought we could replace the insert in the rear, i need to find that discussion.
I had the same experience. Went back to the factory inserts.
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2008 Highlander Limited AWD, Silver, SmartKey, VSC/TRAK, Bluetooth, Remote Start, No Nav, Tow package/hitch/color matched fascia, roof rack cross rails, Color keyed mud guards, Camry trumpet horns
FYI, the rubber insert is real easy to change on the rear wiper...did mine in about 2 minutes.
I do like the Bosch Icon and Valeo Gen2 wipers as the internal spring design works great in the winter. I changes to the Bosch in Nov 2008 after the first snowfall. The standard wipers with the "truss bridge" ice up and barely clean the windshield. Without icing conditions they were fine. After 2 winters the Bosch were just starting to streak so I'm trying the Valeo Gen 2. My wife's Volvo came with the Valeo and just changed them after 4 years.
One can save lots of money on the Bosch, Valeo, and Trico wipers by watching Amazon.com. A couple times a year they run 2 for 1 sales. Buy the more expensive blade and the second is free. If your order is over $25 then the shipping is free too. The last time I ordered wipers I got Valeo Gen 2 sets for two cars for a total of $31.
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2008 Highlander Hybrid Limited; Nav, DVD (His)
Mine is an '08 and I just replaced the original inserts in the front and the rear. No problem with chatter or streaking. Package of 3 inserts at dealer about $21. At the first winter I went with the Bosch because they wipe great but most importantly are sealed with no metal parts to catch snow build up in a storm. I spray the bladed with silicone to repel the snow and then wipe the edge that touches the window so no silicone gets on the glass. As soon as snow is not in forecast I switch them out in the Spring and then back in come Winter. So far, so good.
Well I tried to install RainX latitudes on the '09 HL. Good luck with that. None of the fittings would "fit" the odd style J mount. Glad I saved the receipt.
I agree, the stock wipers were amazing.. I didn't realize the inserts were replaceable until the dealer did it last time.. my driver side wiper was streaking so I replaced it with an Armor-All silicone flex blade.. fucking garbage.. I threw out the old wiper too
__________________ 2008 Highlander Sport V6 AWD, classic silver, black leather, Canadian version, 90 000 KM. 2009 Tacoma AC V6 4X4, SR5 w/ power package, timberland mica, beige cloth, 48 000 KM.
2002 Highlander Limited V6 4WD, black, tan leather, 134 000 KM (SOLD)
Pep Boys is having a sale, (at least at this one) on a brand that's name slips my mind, but it hooks up the same way as the Icon and Latitude does.
Buy one get one free, with rebate.
Well I tried to install RainX latitudes on the '09 HL. Good luck with that. None of the fittings would "fit" the odd style J mount. Glad I saved the receipt.
I just installed RainX Lattitudes on my '08 Highlander, it is took 10 seconds each. The fitting that was already attached to the wiper out of the package was exactly what was needed. It just snapped in.
I just installed RainX Lattitudes on my '08 Highlander, it is took 10 seconds each. The fitting that was already attached to the wiper out of the package was exactly what was needed. It just snapped in.
Andy
I am truly happy for you. It took about ten seconds to install them on my truck, but after about twenty minutes of head scratching and fiddling with th '09 HL I gave up. I'll just go to the dealer for the OEM parts I guess. Sigh.
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I decided to shop around rather than go with the admittedly cheaper Toyota refills. After looking at several brands I decided to go with Bosch Icons based on the reviews on other sites and their appearance. 
The Icons are a huge improvement over the stock blades. The clean better and do not "chatter" when cleaning off a light mist or a few rain drops. They also clean the windshield very well when using the windshield washer function. I have driven in a moderately heavy rain at 65MPH with no issues with the wipers floating or wanting to lift at speed.
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