Bosch Icon & Valeo Wiper Blades
#121
03-22-2006 | 12:48 PM
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 496
Likes: 0
From: Western Canada, eh
Originally Posted by akrus
Another anoying thing that I noticed with the Valeos was that there was a section of the windshield that wouldn't get cleaned properly. This was extremely annoying as the section was directly in my field of vision, right where the passenger side wiper came over to, in front of my eyes. It seemed as though the glass was 'concave' and when the driver side went over it, there seemed to be an oval spot that wasn't wiped of about 5x3 inches. I don't recall this happening right away upon installation, but it did appear shortly afterwards.
#122
03-22-2006 | 12:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 21,095
Likes: 47
From: Toronto, GTA north
Originally Posted by BbyG35
Yes... this is exactly what my Valeo blades are doing. It was raining harder this morning and it was very annoying to have to look through the area that didn't wipe properly. If I can't improve by adjusting the arm tension... they are coming off!!
Guess I'll order the Bosch.
It's obvious they know more about the amout of curve required, thus the "B" series
#125
03-22-2006 | 07:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 21,095
Likes: 47
From: Toronto, GTA north
#126
03-23-2006 | 10:46 PM
#129
03-23-2006 | 11:25 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 30,341
Likes: 9
From: Cambridge, Ont. Canada
#130
03-24-2006 | 07:28 AM
#131
03-24-2006 | 09:18 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 30,341
Likes: 9
From: Cambridge, Ont. Canada
Originally Posted by whatacar
Took me a second to get it
. Nice. After reading it the first time I thought this was further evidence of a reoccurance of OFS ( on your part, not mine )
Thanks
. Nice. After reading it the first time I thought this was further evidence of a reoccurance of OFS ( on your part, not mine ) Thanks
BTW, Wayne posted this link a while back which you may find very handy at times...I know I do. I've got it in my Favourites Browser.
lol, the worse 'OFS' gets, the more I need it.
INTERNET ACRONYMS
If you have trouble fitting those blades (seriously
), let me know because they can be a bear to push and click on the w/arm properly. C.
Last edited by Msedanman; 03-24-2006 at 09:23 AM.
#133
03-24-2006 | 03:30 PM
Originally Posted by giddyup69
mine's a coupe 
i have the seperation on the passenger blade as posted earlier.
i have the seperation on the passenger blade as posted earlier. I have not installed mine yet and don't know if I even will now. The OE blades are driver 23 1/2" and passenger 17" versus 21 1/2" and 18" respectively when straight for the Valeos.
I'm not looking for less coverage of the glass.
#134
03-25-2006 | 07:45 PM
Guys. Don't get rid of your Valeos yet!
I've been using this type of blade for years now, and there are some things to be aware of.
The blade contact, because of the continuous spring, can be "tweaked" for optimum contact. It only takes about 5 minutes, and you'll love the results.
The non-contact spot is probably just about where the mount is. How do I know this? Well, my suspicion is that because many European cars use a bit more spring tension because of the higher Autobaun speeds, that because the Valeos and Aero-Twin (Icons?) are continuous contact, that the curve of the blade is pushing the middle away from the windshield. The geometry changes slightly on the sweep-return cycle, so that would explain the clean wipe one way and not the other. This would explain why everyone seems to be having the same problem with these things.
I would suggest very carefully bending the wiper back (to reduce the curve), just beyond the wiper arm (about 4-5") and see if that cures the problem. Do this in slow stages, rather than making a sharp bend, and do a wipe between to see the changes. Oh, and take the blade off the wiper arm when you do the tweaking. Remount to see your results.
And do the same to the very end of the passenger side blade.
The Bosch's do this as well, depending on the vehicle application, so this is standard practice with this sort of blade. The rubber spoiler on the Bosch is not as heavy as on the Valeos which I think are built a little better in general (why I'm using Valeo instead of Bosch now ), so they may require less tweaking than the Valeos. It may be the reason that Bosch is now offering 2 different curves to the aftermarket, and selling the Aero-Twins as Icons.
Once you do this, I promise, you'll love your blades! I think I'm going to run out and get the Valeos for the G now as well. Having used standard blades, and Bosch as well as the Valeos, I prefer the Valeos over-all.
You'd spend a couple of hours tweaking the performance of your car in general, so why not spend 5-10 minutes doing the same for your performance wipers?
I've been using this type of blade for years now, and there are some things to be aware of.
The blade contact, because of the continuous spring, can be "tweaked" for optimum contact. It only takes about 5 minutes, and you'll love the results.
The non-contact spot is probably just about where the mount is. How do I know this? Well, my suspicion is that because many European cars use a bit more spring tension because of the higher Autobaun speeds, that because the Valeos and Aero-Twin (Icons?) are continuous contact, that the curve of the blade is pushing the middle away from the windshield. The geometry changes slightly on the sweep-return cycle, so that would explain the clean wipe one way and not the other. This would explain why everyone seems to be having the same problem with these things.
I would suggest very carefully bending the wiper back (to reduce the curve), just beyond the wiper arm (about 4-5") and see if that cures the problem. Do this in slow stages, rather than making a sharp bend, and do a wipe between to see the changes. Oh, and take the blade off the wiper arm when you do the tweaking.
Remount to see your results.And do the same to the very end of the passenger side blade.
The Bosch's do this as well, depending on the vehicle application, so this is standard practice with this sort of blade. The rubber spoiler on the Bosch is not as heavy as on the Valeos which I think are built a little better in general (why I'm using Valeo instead of Bosch now
), so they may require less tweaking than the Valeos. It may be the reason that Bosch is now offering 2 different curves to the aftermarket, and selling the Aero-Twins as Icons.Once you do this, I promise, you'll love your blades! I think I'm going to run out and get the Valeos for the G now as well. Having used standard blades, and Bosch as well as the Valeos, I prefer the Valeos over-all.
You'd spend a couple of hours tweaking the performance of your car in general, so why not spend 5-10 minutes doing the same for your performance wipers?
#135
03-25-2006 | 08:08 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,325
Likes: 4
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Thanks for your input on this CK! Yeah, my guess would be that most of us have limited experience with these 'bracketless' type blades.
To be honest, I still haven't tried my blades yet. I had them on to take the pictures, and then I put my winter blades back on.
It's raining/snowing out right now, so I'll go out and do this right away. I'd guess that I'll have the same issue as the others here, so I'll 'tweak' them and let you all know the results.
To be honest, I still haven't tried my blades yet. I had them on to take the pictures, and then I put my winter blades back on.
It's raining/snowing out right now, so I'll go out and do this right away. I'd guess that I'll have the same issue as the others here, so I'll 'tweak' them and let you all know the results.