Both front wiper blades also tore at the lower end. I suspect that's where the most drag and stress happen during the swipe.

Replaced with Rain-X Expert Fit sizes 18 and 26.

For the fronts you lift up on the plastic rectangular piece around the top-center blade frame until it hinges upwards. You then manipulate the wiper blade assembly out of the hooked arm.

Only difference with the new wipers is that there's a hole in the wiper's metal hump where the arm attaches. Probably there to accept an adapter for other vehicles.

 

I swear, some wiper replacements seem to require three hands plus a degree in 3-D design. Sunlight is one of the main enemies of wiper blades, so IMO hours of usage is just about a match with sunlight for blade failure.

 

Yes, it's amazing how many times I've been perplexed trying to remove a wiper blade. Once it's off, I'm like "Ooh, yeeaaah, now it makes sense." Before that, it was like trying to solve a Japanese puzzle box.

Oddly enough, the original rear blade on my 2003 didn't need to be replaced until 2017 or 2018, and it was parked outside in the L.A. sun for 13 years. In my case, I believe moving to a road salt climate was the deathblow for it. Even these new Rain-X front wipers leave a smudged line on the glass where they stop before returning to home position. I've cleaned them, the glass, tried coating it with WD-40 and using some specialty glass cleaners. Doesn't seem to matter. I think the glass is coated with something sticky. Oh, and the new rear blade I put on the 2003 ended up tearing sometime in 2020. Garbage products.

 

I've tried Rain-X and various others. In most cases I (reluctantly) find the OEM blades work the best.

 

Well, the original blades on the 2021 were also starting to leave faint stop marks after about the second year, but they easily came off during a touch-free carwash. These new Rain-X ones may be infused with the same product they sell to prevent the windows from fogging up. As I and others here have stated, that particular product ended up creating a major fogging nightmare that still hasn't gone away completely.

The double-line smudge is from after the car was washed, and after I had wiped it with a paper towel, both wet and dry. What the hell is on the glass or within the rubber blades? And it's like that on the far left of the window where the other blade stops near the pillar. I may have to go back to Nissan blades, because these Rain-Xs are getting worse. The last thing I used on the windshield at about the same time I got new front wipers was made by Chemical Guys. Maybe it's just like the Rain-X product.

 

I have always used the Nissan blades because they work really well. Recently, after 11 years of using Nissan blades, I switched to Michellin Guardian from costco. They had a streak from day one. Going back to Nissan blades next time around.

 

The OEM blades should be refillable. The trick would be finding a Nissan dealer willing to just order the inserts for you. Unfortunately, most dealers these days just want to sell an entire new blade instead of messing with inserts.

When dealing with aftermarket blades, I usually stick with Bosch ICON blades. They are a little more expensive but last a very long time. After trying Rain-X, Trico, Michelin, Goodyear, Peak, Anco, etc. it seems I always end up back with OEM blades (or new OEM Inserts if available) or the Bosch blades.

 

I saved my original wiper frames just in case I ever wanted to use them again with a refill. I think I looked at Bosch at Autozone but they didn't have the sizes in stock for the '21 Murano.

A tiny bit of Chemcial Guys on a paper towel wiped away those stop smudges instantly. Since a wet/dry paper towel did nothing, I'm inclined to think something viscous is coating the Rain-X blades. I know it's rubber and oil-based anyway, but I think it may be treated with some chemical.

 

I saw a new wiper at Wally's, Scrubblade, so I bought a set. The cutout in the packaging reveals a dual-blade with a 1/4" space between them. I was thinking it would create a better sweeping away of the water, and perhaps not be so stiff that it would leave a stop mark on the glass. Unfortunately, once I got it home I noticed it has a much higher profile center area than Nissan's and Rain-X's, plus the name "Scrubblade" faces the cabin, so I'd always have to be looking at the wording, which I hate. Bringing them back tomorrow...

 

I believe the driver side blade is supposed to be a 26.

 

Yeah, those Bosch wipers are the GOAT.

Speaking of wipers, anyone elses rear wiper stick on first speed? Mine will do half a cycle and then stop. I need to put it to second speed to get it to move again and have to time it so I can have it stop at the bottom of the cycle.

 

OEM or Bosch for me. I've not had great performance from other blades. Unfortunately good ones are $$.

 

In the attached photo (original blade, Rain-X and Scrubblade) I think part of the problem with the Rain-X is that it's not pre-shaped for the specific Murano glass. I see the blade skip and hang a lot around the lower area even when there's lots of water on the glass. The OEM is nicely curved, and even the Scrubblade has a curvature that would probably conform to the glass more evenly, whereas the more straight Rain-X blade is being compressed mainly in the center and creating lighter contact on the outer ends, which makes the blade bounce. I originally bought the 23" for the driver side to stop the "thud-unk" noise when the blade initially sweeps and then returns to home position. It was very loud and annoying, so I thought a slightly shorter blade might create less drag and have less noise. It didn't make a difference.

 

I use exclusively Rain-X wiper blades of the design of the lower blade above. Never had them go bad prematurely, and I live in south central Texas.

 

Well, the Rain-X blades haven't left smudges since that last event, but they do still skip-bounce along the bottom four inches on the main sweep, and are fine on the return sweep. Since I bought those blades during a drought period in my area, it's possible heat and lack of use made the blades' rubber sweat off some chemicals that coated them and made them smudge on the next few uses until washing the car.

 

While at Autozone today I noticed some new blades from RainX that are supposed to be very quiet. I think the loud thud when the 2021's wipers are in motion may be due to the beam design (the old ones were just as noisy). It's very loud in both directions right at the end of each pass. Maybe weight has something to do with it. Another 2003 comparison... The '03 blades never made this much racket. I also wonder if it's the wiper arm sub-assembly (where the motor and linkages are located) that's doing it. When I lift one blade to clean the windshield I notice the other blade arm moves, so it may be weak bushings or the way it's unified that's contributing to the noise.

I looked at a few different Bosch types, too. Not liking that most have a raised center mounting area. I like the sleek design of the original blade housing. The current RainX blades are very similar, but still extend a bit higher than the originals. I'd go back to using the conventional style if it weren't for one end of the '03's blade coming off during a serious storm in 2018 and causing the metal retaining claw to score the windshield after only a few passes.

Has anyone tried the Acoustix?

 

I have had bad luck with RainX. Just installed Bosch on my 328ix and they are working well. They sit a bit higher than OEM but no problem.

 

Sorry to bump this. I'm looking to replace my rear wipers and saw these Rain-X ones you used. How are they compared to OEM?

 

The rear replacement wiper from Rain-X works great. No problems.

The front Rain-X wipers work fine, but I do get a stop-smudge from time to time if I haven't used them in a while. No squeaking or anything overly bad.