LONGER rear wiper arm: XB 2006

[scionson]

Is there only one length of rear wiper blade/arm for the 2006 XB? Has any one found a longer ( say 14") set-up that will fit? Thanks, Larry

[xBHAWK]

Bumping this idea up. What car/box has a blade longer than ours?

[scionson]

Unfortunately, the answer is NO, there is none. I searched a few dealer lots and found no Toyota brand with a longer arm that would fit. After a couple of unhelpful Toyota parts clerks I found one that did some in-depth research (Toyo does not track wipers across models) and came up with one possible longer match. The 2008 xB has a 14" blade/arm available with the same pivot part BUT the rise is shorter and the arc is softer so what it gains in sweep length it loses in its lower resting point. This just happens to be about 2 inches lower than the 06's horizontal resting point, so it's a wash. Even if it worked to clean the third brake light area, the whole assembly from the 08 is required at about $55 before tax. So much for being able to "customize" an obvious functional design flaw. I bumped my head on a similar low "customization" ceiling when I went looking for mud flaps. Toyota does not offer any and the only aftermarket ones (Contura Style A by Highland/Cequent) that listed the 06 xB on the application chart were bogus; did not come close to fitting. I wonder how many of the over 150 models listed for Style A are an actual match? I made my own out of a large truck version that cost about $8 at a big-rig supply store (6 Robblees). Thanks to all who read the initial post and thought about it or wrestled with trying to prove a negative.

[Aurora]

So what's the size of the 2005-06 xB rear wiper blade? My sis needs new one.

[scionson]

Aurora, the xB-1st gen takes a 12" replacement insert. I have never bought one, so am not sure if it is a dealer-only item. The "blade" on the xB, which holds the rubber wiper insert, is not sold separately from the arm assembly and therefore is spendy. Most other manufacturers design the wiper so the owner can buy any one or combination of the three parts. Hopefully your sis only needs a new wiper insert. I would have whoever she buys the part from install it as part of the sale. Even a seemingly simple part like a wiper insert can be tricky at times (or at least so I have found on other vehicles). Maybe Toyo, in reducing aftermarket options for wiper parts, has made the wiper insert simple to install but I would not count on it. Good Luck, Larry.