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After several years of using Bosch wiper blades, I have switched back to the stock Porsche blades with silicone inserts (thanks Petza for finding those). They're great and I much prefer the stock look.
My question is a dumb one. I am a pack rat and have kept all of the take-offs from most of my cars over the years. When I was looking for my old wiper blades, I found TWO sets that are almost identical. One set is from my '09 997.2 and one set is from my wife's Mercedes. They are the same size, same manufacturer and are interchangeable. The only difference, is that one set has a driver's side blade with a wind-deflector (a little air-foil mounted on top).
So, my question is, does the airfoil blade belong on the Porsche or does it belong to another car?
Question about the orientation of the driver’s side, wiper blade wind-deflector, as seen in Ironman’s photo. The blade can be installed so that the wind-deflector is in the front or the rear of the wiper. Ironman’s deflector is in front. The blade on our car (which was last changed at the Porsche dealer when the car was serviced) has the wind-deflector at the rear of the wiper. Which way is correct?
My interpretation of the design is that the "deflector" is intended to place more downforce on the blade at speed so that it maintains better contact with the glass when in operation. I don't think it's intended to actually deflect the air.
If that interpretation is correct, the blade as installed on my car is correct.
Great answer Ironman, I’m going to go with the thinking man from Boise over some anomalous, “when will this day be over” Porsche tech. I’m on my way right now to the garage to flip the wiper around.
After several years of using Bosch wiper blades, I have switched back to the stock Porsche blades with silicone inserts (thanks Petza for finding those). They're great and I much prefer the stock look.
You sir, are an influencer. Emailed my parts fellow at the dealership soon after reading your post. I will pickup a pair of original Porsche blades later today.
All told, I have been putting off returning to stock wiper blades for quite some time. I even used Bosch replacements on my previous 911's as well. It was simply a cost effective option, before - thanks Petza!
Petza actually posted a link to silicone inserts--they weren't Porsche brand, so they were actually affordable. If you do a search, I'll bet the PN will pop up.
As for the dealership putting the blade on backwards so the air foil faces the wrong way, thats just funny. Clearly, the boy who did that failed high school physics.
The writing on the wiper blade is probably upside down when the blade is installed incorrectly also.
The inserts you want are the PIAA silicone ones in the proper length and purchase the pouch with the PIAA window prep treatment and follow the online or YouTube instructions for prepping the window before installing the blades. Using the silicone inserts in the OEM blades is the best combination as the blades are properly shaped to the car, but the silicone inserts work much better than the rubber.
I installed the PIAA inserts about 3 months ago and they work flawlessly. I couldn't find a passenger side holder that had the OEM bend in it for the curve in the glass. This is a perfect solution. That said, my drivers side doesn't have the wing.... So now I may have to source that.
Well, I had made the wrong choice and installed the Mercedes frames on my car because the finish on them was in better shape. Now that I know the winged blade is for the Porsche, I have a new project. Time to put them in the blasting cabinet and then repaint them before I swap them out.
Replaced the Bosch set with 22" factory blades (Part #: 996-628-901-08). To my surprise, the good-ole Bosch #3397001582 blades (OE fitment for 996/997) were 22"/21" driver/passenger. Again, I have been using Bosch replacement for years and I only now noticed the two lengths. First time I bought a set for my back-then 996, my only concern was the passenger blade was curved like the original.
Moving forward, when it comes time to replace the rubber with PIAA refills... do those refills simply slide into the blades and held in place by the small notch in the rubber/silicon? Last I used wiper refills were on my 71 Challenger that had wipers with a retaining clip on the "last" clamp. No clip on these modern blades
Replaced the Bosch set with 22" factory blades (Part #: 996-628-901-08). To my surprise, the good-ole Bosch #3397001582 blades (OE fitment for 996/997) were 22"/21" driver/passenger. Again, I have been using Bosch replacement for years and I only now noticed the two lengths. First time I bought a set for my back-then 996, my only concern was the passenger blade was curved like the original.
Moving forward, when it comes time to replace the rubber with PIAA refills... do those refills simply slide into the blades and held in place by the small notch in the rubber/silicon? Last I used wiper refills were on my 71 Challenger that had wipers with a retaining clip on the "last" clamp. No clip on these modern blades
Yep, slide right into the factory wiper the same way.
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997.2 Wiper Question
