Part number for Bosch "micro edge" wiper blade inserts for 2010 Ranger?

[barrys]

It looks like the wiper blade on my 2010 Ranger is the same as the 1994 one I just sold.
Bosch used to make a "micro edge" wiper blade insert set that was really affordable and worked nicely. But, I can't seem to find any inserts on their parts lookup pages for the Ranger -- only complete blade assemblies.

I see lots of sellers offering these micro-edge refills as a generic item like the 43718:

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-43718-Wiper-Blade-Refill/dp/B000CIMUO4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319078559&sr=8-1

But, I'm not sure if that's the right part for our Rangers.

 

[4x4junkie]

This has been an ongoing frustration of mine for some years now... not one damn store around here still sells inserts that you used to be able to get a pair for $5-10, depending on brand & quality. Now all they want to do is sell you a single whole damn wiper arm assembly for the same price or more than I used to get both rubber inserts for when only the rubber part is what is worn out

I recall there were only 2 fitment requirements: Their length, and their width (normal vs. narrow).
The stock wiper arms on my Ranger used 18 inch "narrow" blades. I doubt the length dimension has changed at all over the years, however if you have non-stock arms, you might need to check what width yours are (if you need, I can try to measure mine, I think the blades on it still are "narrow"). Many times you can bend the arm tabs a bit to fit a narrow blade in a standard arm & vice-versa however.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I've used new ranger blades on everything from my 91 ranger to my 97 ranger to my 05 sport trac. They still all use the same 18" blades.

We've got boxes of blades at work. People buy the ford maintenance protection plan and it covers new wipers with every service so we keep all the good ones instead of chucking them in the trash. I haven't had to buy wipers for anything in the last 6 years lol.

 

[nitrofan1]

The reason inserts aren't sold anymore isn't the stores but the manufacturers of the blades. All of them! I've sold and installed blades for 26 years. Until the "metric" blade came out Anco refills wouldn't fit Trico. Trico wouldn't fit Bosch etc.... The manufacturers decided to stop offering refills to eliminate confusion and bad reps. Once the metric refill came about most any refill would fit any blade.

Well, if you installed a low grade SH**ty refill in a Bosch blade and it didn't perform well Bosch may get a rep that their blades SUCK! So to protect their quality they ALL stopped selling refills.

Done and done.

 

[ronclark]

The Walmarts around here are selling Bosch steels for about 8.00 for the whole assembly

 

[4x4junkie]

The reason inserts aren't sold anymore isn't the stores but the manufacturers of the blades. All of them! I've sold and installed blades for 26 years. Until the "metric" blade came out Anco refills wouldn't fit Trico. Trico wouldn't fit Bosch etc.... The manufacturers decided to stop offering refills to eliminate confusion and bad reps. Once the metric refill came about most any refill would fit any blade.

Well, if you installed a low grade SH**ty refill in a Bosch blade and it didn't perform well Bosch may get a rep that their blades SUCK! So to protect their quality they ALL stopped selling refills.

Done and done.

I would say the insert itself is the actual "blade", and the rest of it is simply a "blade holder", but I guess in their blindness by corporate greed, no one could distinguish the two that way to avoid that issue.
Such a waste too (you'd think those environmentalist whackos out there would have a field day with something like this... All those blade assemblies that wind up in landfills and all the manufacturing expenses and resources consumed because of it ).

Guess I should snap up a good number of what inserts I can to last me for the next decade or so then

 

[shane96ranger]

The 18" Bosch Microedge assemblies are 8 bucks here at AZ. To me it's worth the extra money over the blades. Mine always seem to lose their "spring" after a year or so. My Brother just put some Bosch Microedge assemblies on his Escape (it takes an 18" and a 20") and they work great.

I am equally impressed with the Rain X blades that were on my F150 when I bought it, but they are more money. They also have no "spring" to hold them tight to the windshield, and make a bit of noise going 50mph+ on the freeway. But they do a damn good job keeping the windows clean.

EDIT: Here's what I mean

http://www.amazon.com/Rain-X-Repel-Premium-Bracketless-Wiper/dp/B003V4YUGM/ref=sr_1_7?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1319498945&sr=1-7