Replacement rear wiper blade not sweeping full area.

[ispern]

I replaced the rear wiper blade on a 2009 Mazda5. It didn't feel right when I bent the assembly back and now the wiper only touches the glass in the middle and not at the ends. Did I break it? I'm hoping I only damaged a spring rather than snapping off a plastic piece.

Thank you,

Jeff P
Melrose, MA

 

[markuszoom5]

I went to the dealer and got the $10 original one, I think it was 10, maybe a little more. but it's worth the ease of install.

 

[torquelover]

Might need to lube up the pivot points on the arm. I have had a few on other vehicles start to corrode a bit hampering pressure on the window.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Read this.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123722806-How-to-Replace-rear-wiper-blade

I hope you kept the OE arm assembly.

 

[thaxman]

I got a big shipment from Tasca Ford/Volvo/Mazda/everybody else, and in it were 3 OEM rear blades. I knew that aftermarket blades don't do the job, so before this I tried to just put the rubber from a replacement in the OE body & that didn't work either.
I found out about Tasca from the Volvo community & saved over other online suppliers with my Mazda parts too. Plus, they bill shipping at cost.

 

[JOE MAMA]

I went to the dealer and got the $10 original one, I think it was 10, maybe a little more. but it's worth the ease of install.

Yup - this is the way to go. The cost of the OEM part isn't bad and certainly not high enough to justify purchasing an aftermarket part.

 

[Silentnoise713]

If I’m not mistaken the $10 replacement is only the insert, not that there's anything wrong with that - I generally recommend reuse what you can!


If I understand the OP correctly, I think he/she replaced the whole wiper assembly with an aftermarket part and in the replacement process, had to bend the arm back to release the clip. The new wiper assembly, most likely aftermarket, does not work well but he/she thinks/questions if this is due to pulling on the arm to release the assembly. Generics are available all over but the aftermarket housing suck and does not distribute the right amount of force needed for our slightly -curvy at the top- rear windshield. I "think" it may help if you bend the two metal inserts/rails to give it more curve.

 

[phunky.buddha]

I've been wanting to replace my entire rear wiper with something larger from another car...