Wiper Blades - AH Astra??

[VECALAISV8]

Hey guys,

Just doing the wiper blades on the cars, did the VE and they cost me about $60 bucks for the pair but wanna do the AH Astra now (3 years old) and was wondering if anyone put anything other then geniune on?? Holden want $101.75 for the pair which I think is a bit rich?? Is there any alternative? Or do we just have to go with the GM parts? :spew:

[EddieVE06]

I was quoted around the $120 mark for the ah astra we use to have. I'm not sure on non GM but my cousin put different wipers on his alfa i.e. non genuine and they scratched and scrubbed everytime he used them, made a dreadful noise also.

[Fnomna]

Could try replacing just the rubber?
Australian LS1 and Holden Forums (http://www.ls7.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=1223020#post1223020)

[VNV8]

the best wiper blades I have ever used were the ones made by rain-x, when they wore out i replaced with OEM and they started streaking within a couple of months.

[Wonky]

For VE Chev now has some wipers that cost a fraction more initially than the genuine article but replacements from then on are much cheaper. Haven't tried them yet but they couldn't be worse than the genuine ones which only lasted just over 15,000km on my old SSV sedan.

I believe he has them for most cars, but not really sure, so I think there are probably alternatives. He just did the 60,000km service on my wife's AH Astra but it didn't need wipers (just checked the receipt).

[laza007]

Head to autobarn mate. I replaced my wipers about 3 months ago, from memory they were about $35 each ($70 for the pair), reason being is you cant just replace the blades - The whole surrounding plastic bit comes off too.

[Wonky]

The ones I was talking about above that Chev has for VE at least are complete replacement units that allow you to subsequently replace blades only.

[planetdavo]

The ones I was talking about above that Chev has for VE at least are complete replacement units that allow you to subsequently replace blades only.

There are pro's and cons to this (old school) idea.
The pro's are cheaper future replacement costs.
The cons are that the full head replacement style guarantees a complete brand new, nice and tight wiper blade assembly, which in many cases is the actual cause of poor wiper performance, not the age of the "rubber".
"Floppy" blades caused by the continual replacement of inserts only allow the rubbers to "lay over" too much, dramatically reducing wiper performance. Unfortunately, many people just want "cheap".
The VE blade assemblies have had a revision since your early days.

[Roger]

Yep, Astra ones are very dear. Made somewhere in the EU. The VE ones, one side is US, the other is Mexico !

[VECALAISV8]

Thanks to the replies here i have done the Astra (with the Autobarn ones) cost me $70 but i guess its still cheaper then Holden. Holden charged me about $60 for the VE ones, and yes they are made in Mexico....

Also did my mates 2002 Rodeo while we were at it, $8 haha!!

So much for having the pedestrian safe jobbies, but i do agree they work nice. Also got some Holden washer fluid for $3 bought 2 bottles - good stuff :)

[vsclubby355]

Shop around. I got genuine front wipers for the AH for $70.

[planetdavo]

Shop around. I got genuine front wipers for the AH for $70.
At almost $100 trade these days, you realistically need a SERIOUS contact to have any hope of this price genuine.
I'd say someone stuffed up, to your benefit.

[vsclubby355]

At almost $100 trade these days, you realistically need a SERIOUS contact to have any hope of this price genuine.
I'd say someone stuffed up, to your benefit.


I checked prices again. No stuff up. I suppose I was lucky with my contacts

[planetdavo]

I checked prices again. No stuff up. I suppose I was lucky with my contacts
Cool.
Just alerting people to the fact $70 isn't an everyday sort of price.