Front windscreen wipers - New vs refills & Volvo vs BOSCH

[Fibrous]

Here is a How to YT post for fitting refills - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-1qAqiSNv0

[Yelper85]

Originally Posted by Yelper85

Now that's a very interesting idea @Keithandrew and I'll certainly be trying that!

I guess the deterioration is from wiping up and taking the dirt away whereas on the reverse wipe it's pure clean glass.

How long have/did yours last after doing this?

I swapped the inserts round at the weekend. Very simple indeed, you don't even need to take the wiper assembly off the main arm.

Put in service position, lift the wiper off the screen, top of the wiper arm (the end that has Volvo stamped on it), underneath it has an arrow showing where the small holding clip arm is which you pull in the direction of the arrow then pull the clip off. The insert slides out with no effort at all, reverse, clips back on, done.

I've not had the correct weather to test them yet, so I can't say with certainly it's worked, but from the few wipes I did it certainly seemed better and might need to bed in for a while before reaching peak performance.

[Yelper85]

Originally Posted by Fibrous

Here is a How to YT post for fitting refills - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-1qAqiSNv0

You beat me to it!

[Yelper85]

Originally Posted by Yelper85

I've not had the correct weather to test them yet, so I can't say with certainly it's worked, but from the few wipes I did it certainly seemed better and might need to bed in for a while before reaching peak performance.

Asked the wife tonight and she's said they're significantly better already, and that's on a short frosty trip from home to work, so it will be interesting to see the difference on a comparable run (roll on Summer )

[Basill]

Originally Posted by Keithandrew

I took the rubber inserts out and reversed them when fitting back in. It`s like having new . Try it. A no cost fix!!!!

Thank for this tip, mine were starting to judder. I gave them a good wash and reversed them and two weeks in they are still working fine. Hopefully this will extend their life at least through the winter.

[Steampunk]

Originally Posted by Hogster

I've used the refills 3 times now, and they've been easy each time. The end just unclips and you pull out the old blade, then insert the new one. Takes about 2 mins. Mine only unclip one end - the end pointing upwards when they're in the servicing position.

Out of interest, on this topic, does anyone know where you can source replacement refills for the rear wiper? I have the aquablades, so am again looking at the refills.

Good question about the rear wiper. I have just got a V60 with the very same aquablades and am wondering the same thing. I've replaced the front rubbers no problem and although there's no problem with the rear one yet, it's only a matter of time...
Personally, having had a very good look, it would seem to me that you can't just replace the rubber on the rear. Hopefully, because it's a small item compared to the fronts, it won't be too expensive.