Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 16:40:00 -0500 From: ma_twain <ma_twainnospamo.com> Subject: Re: Wiper inserts for 9-5
Vince wrote: > I have a 2002 9-5 Wagon and am having a hard time finding rubber wiper inserts. I don't want the whole blade, just the inserts. > > My mechanic says that Velco has made the wiper blades a non-standard size (22.5 inches instead of 22, and a little thinner than > most) to force me to replace the entire blade whenever the rubber insert needs to be replaced. > > I did manage to get an aftermarket 22 inch insert into the driver's side blade, but it was a real chore because the insert is wider > than the blade. And it does not wipe as well as I would like. > > Has anyone found a good source for inserts? > > Thanks. > > Vince > This is good timing - I asked the independent Saab shop the same question (different year Saab). The advice was not to replace the rubber insert - because of the reason you listed( poor wiping) and these tends to break sooner and result in metal to glass (scratches). You may think, this is get me to buy the wiper blades from the shop, but I don't think so. They did not try to sell me the wiper blade. There are many places that sell wiper blades, so the prices are competative. I suspect you could find what you need on the web at less than what the dealer price. This also raises the question of if you can afford a 9-5 wagon, why is the cost of the wiper blade an issue? Are other services considered "too expensive" being skipped?