n3umw
Member
- First Name
- Randy
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2019
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 17
- Location
- Germantown, MD
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 Honda Civic EX Coupe 1.5L CVT
- Thread starter
- #1
After exactly one year of use, the 18" and 26" OEM wipers on my 2019 Coupe were leaving behind droplets of water at the center of the driver's side wiper. I decided to bite the bullet and buy the best replacements available, PIAA silicone replacement assemblies for $30. The replacements were very easy to install. The blades came with multiple adapters but these were not needed. After installation, I noticed that the center pivots at rest sat much higher than the OEM. The OEM were almost flush with the hood and the PIAA stuck out about an inch higher. I was not happy.
I knew the OEM were refillable and looking at the old blades, it was easy to see that you could slide the rubber insert away from the tip and easily remove the rubber section. I noticed that the OEM blades had Mitsubishi stamped on the sides of the pivots. Maybe I could swap the old rubber with the new silicone from the PIAA blades? Unfortunately I could not see an easy way to release the silicone insert from the new blades. After trying to unlock the PIAA tip sections, I gave up grabbed a pair of small needle nose plyers. I slid the silicone back and bent two corners of the plastic channel at the inside part of the tip upwards. This created a small neat gap in the channel, just large enough to remove the silicone before the tip. The gap was small enough that I could put the wipers back together if my plan didn't work. A utility knife or small pair of side cutters might have also worked. In effect, I made the new blade assemblies refillable.
The new silicone insert installed easily into the OEM blades and I put them back onto the car. PERFECT! The PIAA blades came with cleaning wipes, but I cleaned the windshield with Rain-x fluid in the 4 oz bottle instead.
This morning I drove to work in the rain and the new blades functioned perfectly! Very quiet and no water at all left on my windshield.
I knew the OEM were refillable and looking at the old blades, it was easy to see that you could slide the rubber insert away from the tip and easily remove the rubber section. I noticed that the OEM blades had Mitsubishi stamped on the sides of the pivots. Maybe I could swap the old rubber with the new silicone from the PIAA blades? Unfortunately I could not see an easy way to release the silicone insert from the new blades. After trying to unlock the PIAA tip sections, I gave up grabbed a pair of small needle nose plyers. I slid the silicone back and bent two corners of the plastic channel at the inside part of the tip upwards. This created a small neat gap in the channel, just large enough to remove the silicone before the tip. The gap was small enough that I could put the wipers back together if my plan didn't work. A utility knife or small pair of side cutters might have also worked. In effect, I made the new blade assemblies refillable.
The new silicone insert installed easily into the OEM blades and I put them back onto the car. PERFECT! The PIAA blades came with cleaning wipes, but I cleaned the windshield with Rain-x fluid in the 4 oz bottle instead.
This morning I drove to work in the rain and the new blades functioned perfectly! Very quiet and no water at all left on my windshield.
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