Swapping Wiper Blade Insert

[James77]

Thanks to this forum I found the part number to replace wiper blade insert which has saved me a few quid.

Hoping it's not too fiddly swapping the blade insert. Presume first step get the blades in the service position then remove the whole shooting match (taking care not to ping the exposed arm onto the windscreen likely taking out a chunk). Is it relatively easy to remove the old insert from and thread the new rubber onto the blade?

[ccfcforever1987]

Very easy. I did mine last night.

Get the wipers in the service position, pull the arm up away from the windscreen.
The blades feed in from the top, so at the top under the plastic cover with Volvo stamped on you should feel a little clip (it is tiny) with your nail. Take a look at your refills and you should see it to compare to the ones on the car.
Pull / push the clip towards you and you should hear a click. You will then be able to ease the insert out.
Reverse the process to put the new one in. Push the plastic cover with Volvo stamped on until you hear a click and the new blade will be locked in place.
Repeat for the other wiper. Push the wiper arms back so they rest on the screen and cancel the serivce postion command. All done.

Seems a lot when you write it our but should take all of 5 minutes to do both.

[Georgy]

I did mine this weekend. As above, if you need a video this is the one that I used:
https://youtu.be/3IDB1xOS5UI

I did mine with the wipers in situ, you don’t need to remove the wipers from the car. Also, when the inserts are removed I wiped the rubber washer spray bar with some vinegar to remove any limescale buildup.

[Beer]

Originally Posted by James77

Thanks to this forum I found the part number to replace wiper blade insert which has saved me a few quid.

Hoping it's not too fiddly swapping the blade insert. Presume first step get the blades in the service position then remove the whole shooting match (taking care not to ping the exposed arm onto the windscreen likely taking out a chunk). Is it relatively easy to remove the old insert from and thread the new rubber onto the blade?

Hi James, is there any chance you could share the part numbers please?
I have been looking to change the wipers on my 9 month old XC60, not because they need changing but due to the smearing effect that several others have commented on. There seems to be multiple threads running on wiper blades, covering different models and problems/ solutions.

From what I have gleaned from other threads is that the washer fluid comes out of small holes in the wiper blade, and this makes the blade rather expensive.

https://www.wiperblades.co.uk/volvo-...-wiper-blades#

Or slightly cheaper here

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/valeo...a303-485660335

This is the aqua blade VA303. The version with connectors for heating, VA309 is even more expensive at £127.

As far as I can see there is no other options for blade replacement other than Volvo, which some contributors have described as more expensive and inferior. Others have commented that Valeo make them for Volvo anyway, so you are paying for a Volvo box.

The other option is to replace the rubber which works out substantially cheaper.
One contributor has used Bosch blades

https://www.wiper-blades-refills.co....o-32-70cm.html

But has commented that he had to use WD40 to get them to fit into the original blades. I don’t fancy getting WD on my windscreen and I believe he has now swapped to Bosch blades as well, so the rubbers fit more easily. After the cost of Bosch blades (which seem to be scarce anyway) and rubbers I don’t think he would have saved much, although future replacements will be reasonable.
Another option suggested was rubbers from Heyner, but they don’t offer an option for the latest XC60 variant.

https://heynershop.co.uk/

Maybe I should just spend the money on Valeo aqua blades, these have been reported as stopping the smearing issue, but I just wondered if anyone else has a better option? Thanks

[Greenback78]

I buy spares and equipment from this site https://www.volvoparts.tmsmotorgroup.co.uk/

Always reliable and they have a points system to build up discounts (about 3 quid in my case despite buying a few things!!!)

[Whizzer]

Just replaced wiper blade ‘refills’ from Volvo Parts Trade via eBay for £34.50. Volvo Part no.31693406
Easy to fit without removing wiper from the car.
Place in service mode.
The Volvo logo’s plastic end unclip and pull out complete with blades
New refills come with new plastic end cap.
10 mins to fit.

[neilgorin]

Note that there are two systems on current cars.

Some like the V60 allow you to change just the rubber insert of the blade itself, the bit with the washer jets stays on the arm - these have the little clip at the top and you slide it out. Mine is one of these and frankly I buy cheap cut to length inserts from eBay which cost about £7 and have found them very good.

Some like the V90 have the whole thing as a unit and when you replace the wiper it also replaces the part the water comes out of.

No idea why they are inconsistent, you'd think they were all the same.