What to Do about Refilling Wipers with 650mm/6mm Rubbers

Russ on 17/04/2025 - 12:58
Last edited 17/04/2025 - 16:01 by 1 other user

I have a 10-year-old Honda Jazz which needs new wiper refills. On my other car, I just buy these refills from BigW for $15 and fit them myself.

But those refills are too short for the Honda. It has one wiper that is 26" (650mm) long, and the wiper frames only take 6mm-wide refills.

I've looked through Supercheap, Repco and Autobarn websites, it appears that there are no 6mm-wide refills that are longer than 610mm. They do have complete replacement wipers, but they cost at least twice as much, and this being a bargain website, I'm hoping someone can point me to a cheaper/better option.

I believe my options are as follows:

  1. Suck it up and buy the more expensive complete wipers.

  2. Somehow find and buy replacement frames (the part of the wiper that holds the refills) that will take 650x10mm refills, which are more readily available. So far, all the frames and complete wipers I can find only take 6mm refills.

  3. Buy wiper refills of unknown quality from eBay or AliExpress, and live with the current (bad) wipers until the new refills arrive in a couple of weeks. And if I do, do I need refills with end clips? A lot seem to just be an extrusion that has been cut to length. The current refills have a shaped end to lock them into position, and I know I'll probably need to transfer the metal rails from my old refill to the new refill.

I should add that the current refills were fitted by a mechanic when my car was serviced, and I'm not happy with them, they have started to squeak loudly when wiping unless it's really heavy rain.

My preference is #2, but I've found it difficult to find out what refills are needed for any replacement wipers/frames, that information is never listed. The easily-available replacement wipers (Bosch, Sakura) all seem to have 6mm-wide refills, so in the longer term I'm no better off than continuing to use my existing wipers.

I have no experience with beam and hybrid wipers. Are these refillable, and are there any that take inexpensive, easily-obtainable refills in 650mm length?

Automotive Car Honda Wiper Blades

Comments

  • MS Paint on 17/04/2025 - 13:04
    +3

    Just pony up and get Bosch aerotwin replacements. Every time you use your wipers you will appreciate spending the extra.

    Looks like you need BBA650 and BBA350.

    • Russ on 17/04/2025 - 13:09

      you will appreciate spending the extra.

      At $50 per blade, I really doubt that. I've been happy with refills every time previously, it's just the latest one that has squeaked.

      • Gdsamp on 17/04/2025 - 13:23
        +1

        Nope you just don't know hwhat you're missing. getem the bosch

      • MS Paint on 17/04/2025 - 13:28
        +2

        Up to you. Your loss. All the best with your decision.

      • Blazing147 on 17/04/2025 - 13:54

        The sets are usually cheaper. Set A140S might work for you but do check yourself.

      • MS Paint on 17/04/2025 - 15:10
        +1

        Just saw SCA have 25% off for 2 items so can get both for $75. Bargain.

  • ode1online on 17/04/2025 - 13:34

    I got my wipers from https://wipersdirect.com.au/
    Perfect fit for my Honda HR-V and am very happy with them.
    One of those pages that always has a discount going
    probably cost you $60 to $70 for a complete set delivered

  • johno3456 on 17/04/2025 - 13:54
    +2

    Ebay has worked for me in the past, 6mm / 26" for use with wire supports.
    Recently I bought 6mm from Supercheap, Tridon I think, marked as $20 but sells at $10.

    • Russ on 18/04/2025 - 23:13

      Thanks, I ended up buying refills from eBay, $20 for 10 refills, but I'll have to re-use the existing metal rails. Should be no problem, the rails are still shiny, so I suspect they're stainless steel.

      Recently I bought 6mm from Supercheap, Tridon I think, marked as $20 but sells at $10.

      That might have been a stock run-out. I've bought 6mm refills locally before, but now I can't find them anywhere that are longer than 24", other than eBay/Amazon/AliExpress. Unless I buy a complete wiper, and many complete wipers have the 6mm rubber! Do modern cars not use wipers longer than 24"? Or perhaps Supercheap/AutoBarn/Repco want to force everyone to buy complete wipers, as higher cost = more profit.

  • mapax on 17/04/2025 - 14:15
    +2

    Michelin 26” at Bunnings was 8.99 last week but back to $18.99 now; still better than $50 if money is too tight for the Bosch.

  • Protractor on 17/04/2025 - 15:18

    Poke around herre as well>
    https://runautoparts.com.au/bosch-aerotwin-wiper-blades-600-…

  • Ocker on 17/04/2025 - 16:05
    -3

    OP probably also shops around for the cheapest retread tyres - don't understand why people try to save a couple of bucks on what is a safety item.

    • Russ on 17/04/2025 - 17:44
      -1

      That's the weakest strawman argument I've seen in a long time. I'm fitting what the car manufacturer fitted, so your safety argument just evaporated. Wiper refills work just as well as complete wiper replacements, the only difference is that complete wipers are more expensive because you're throwing away the frame every time, which is both more expensive and a complete waste of the frame (a steel frame in many cases).

      If I follow your logic, I shouldn't buy tyres at all, I should buy complete wheels with rim included. And no, I've never bought retreads or second-hand tyres.

      • Ocker on 17/04/2025 - 18:44

        Based on the OP confusion as to what wipers to buy, he would probably need guidance with what size rims to buy for the tyres.

    • Nugs on 18/04/2025 - 06:09

      "retread tyres - don't understand why people try to save a couple of bucks on what is a safety item."
      retreads, you mean budget race tyres? Soft compound with a tread pattern ripped off from old style brand name tyres = cheap grip. I pretty much used retreads exclusively to get through my pizza delivering student years.
      Also it may surprise you to learn, many trucks use retreads
      .

  • altomic on 19/04/2025 - 09:04
    +1

    Aliexpress

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