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Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:23 pm

The rubber on my wiper blades has become hard. Is there any way to restore them? Sorry if the topic already exists, I searched and didn't find it. A Google search recommends cleaning them with vinegar, then water, then petroleum jelly and then they should be good "for a few rains" :shock: The sense I get from reading is that one should just man up and buy new blades.

Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:59 pm

I looked into resorting the pliability of rubber when I got some NOS wiper blades from the 60's. a safe option seems to be medical glycerine, or glycerol, which we can buy cheaply in a pharmacy here. I have used it for many rubber items and seals. Clean with isopropyl alcohol, then leave on a coat of glycerine for a few days (or longer), brushing every so often (it tends to 'bead'). Then wipe off and lightly clean with water. The wiper blades I did seemed more pliable, and glide across the screen beautifully.
The right hand floor mat here has been 'glycerined'!

I'm sure there will be other suggestions.

Sun Aug 03, 2014 5:39 am

I've heard baby oil works. Have not tried it yet, but have looked into it.

The glycerine idea might be a good one too.

Sun Aug 03, 2014 5:48 am

New Bosch blades are around $15 for both.

Sun Aug 03, 2014 7:50 am

Just replace them with new ones.

Sun Aug 03, 2014 12:05 pm

Well, yeah, but those aren't the straight ones, right, Glenn? Those are the ones I want.

Sun Aug 03, 2014 7:01 pm

I also have a few sets of old blades that I thought about rerubbering. I don't like the look of new blades on a vintage vehicle, ruins it for me, like have a set of Bosch blades on a 40 something car.

I have 2 sets on my bug, a vintage set that stay on most of the time and a new set I put on when it's raining.

Sun Aug 03, 2014 7:20 pm

What year? Why not http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D113%2D955%2D425%2DBSPR

Sun Aug 03, 2014 7:21 pm

Rain-X. Who needs blades? :wink:

Mon Aug 04, 2014 6:21 am

*Darren wrote: What year? Why not http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D113%2D955%2D425%2DBSPR

Those would do. The existing ones have been on the car for something like seven years, so I guess it's time... :lol:

BTW, never tried Rain-X. The car doesn't go out in the rain anyway.

Mon Aug 04, 2014 10:04 am

79SuperVert wrote: *Darren wrote: What year? Why not http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D113%2D955%2D425%2DBSPR

Those would do. The existing ones have been on the car for something like seven years, so I guess it's time... :lol:

BTW, never tried Rain-X. The car doesn't go out in the rain anyway.

I kind of guessed that was the case, just that you didn't want to have nasty old looking rubber on your classic! Rain-X is good to have just in case. I think in the 12 years of ownership, my vw has seen rain 3, maybe 4 times, all of the pop up variety. Never fun driving on oil slick roads with 165s. Oh\, when it comes to wiper blades, that the one small downside of owning an oval - the blade is riveted to the arm - either replace the blade & arm, or drill out the river, find the right profle rubber, replace & rivet - fun.

Mon Aug 04, 2014 11:06 am

I have used this product: http://www.amazon.com/303-Products-30350-Aerospace...protectant

It's called 303 Aerospace Protectant - I have used it on various rubber parts - but not on windshield wipers. They claim its: "everything armor all would like to be, but isn't".

When it comes to windshield rubber, I would say that the wiper is a called a blade for a reason - it is sharp to begin with and if you were to look at a worn blade - the sharp point - like a dull knife would show pitting and a general lack of straightness. Personally - I have no idea how to "sharpen" rubber. It most likely is extruded with a sharp point where the rubber meets the glass. If there is a source for new blades, I would say bite the bullet and just buy a new pair. If your VW is just a weekend, or show car - I would just install the blades for when you are out, and them remove them for storage when it's garaged. Blades can rot just sitting on your glass for long periods.

Sat Aug 09, 2014 4:35 am

I'm usually in my 'thrifty'mode & when the drivers side starts to go a little I swap it to pass side & put new on drivers, the main area anyway. I usea rag with brake fluid just to clean the crud buildup off the rubber, looks almost new & does extend life, my 1.0665 cts worth.

Sat Aug 09, 2014 8:33 am

Near me, I've found that if you ask the counter guys (even at O'Reilly/AutoZone) that they still offer the rubber inserts "only" so you don't need to buy the metal blade assembly every time.

We don't get much rain here, but the sunlight kills all rubber parts here. So that trick is especially useful for cutting inserts down to 11 inches for my flat-window 1971 Convertible wiper insert replacement.

Sat Aug 09, 2014 10:43 am

When the arms and the blade are one piece, like an Oval Window, you either pony up 60 bux to get good ones from Wolfsburg West, or re-rubber them. You can't swap them side for side because the arms are different between the two sides... Take you time, pry them open carefully, re-pinch the new blades in a bench vise so the crimp is even, and away you go- I live where 75-80 inches of rain a year is common, so good wipers are a must...

Sat Aug 09, 2014 7:16 pm

Thank you Dave,

I knew the Samba Elder would have a proper answer.

Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:10 pm

Thanks to all for the responses.