🔧 4Runner - Front Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement

You’ll be removing the old front wiper blade assemblies from the wiper arms and snapping on new ones. Fresh blades improve visibility and help prevent windshield streaking and chatter.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.25-0.5 hours

Assumption: Your 4Runner uses the common front sizes Driver 26", Passenger 20".

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🧤 Keep a firm grip on the wiper arm—if it snaps back, it can crack the windshield.
• 🛑 Turn the ignition OFF and remove the key/fob from the vehicle.
• 🧻 Put a towel on the glass under the arm as a safety cushion.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Shop towel
• Painter’s tape

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front wiper blades - Driver: 26", Passenger: 20" - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and make sure the wipers are turned off and parked at the bottom of the windshield.
• Lift the hood (recommended). This gives you more room and helps prevent the wiper arm from contacting the hood edge.
• Lay a shop towel on the windshield where you’ll work.
• Add a small strip of painter’s tape on the glass near each blade location if you want a visual “parked” reference.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift the wiper arm safely

• Use nitrile gloves for grip and to protect your hands.
• Carefully pull the driver-side wiper arm away from the windshield until it stays up.
• Keep the shop towel under the arm as protection.

Step 2: Remove the old wiper blade (J-hook style)

• At the middle of the blade where it connects to the arm, find the small release tab.
• Press the tab with your thumb, then slide the blade down toward the base of the arm to unhook it.
• Once it’s unhooked, rotate the blade slightly and lift it off the arm.
• Tip: Don’t let the bare arm snap back.

Step 3: Install the new wiper blade

• Confirm you have the correct length for the side you’re working on.
• Slide the new blade’s connector onto the wiper arm hook.
• Pull it into place until you hear/feel a click (that click means the lock tab engaged).
• Gently tug on the blade to confirm it’s locked and won’t slide off.

Step 4: Lower the wiper arm back onto the glass

• Use your hand to guide the arm down slowly onto the windshield.
• Remove the shop towel and any painter’s tape.

Step 5: Repeat on the passenger side

• Repeat Steps 1–4 for the passenger-side wiper blade.
• Make sure the passenger blade length matches the part you bought (commonly 20").

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✅ After Repair

• Close the hood securely.
• Spray washer fluid and run the wipers on LOW to confirm smooth, quiet wiping.
• If you see streaks, clean the windshield edge-to-edge and recheck that each blade “clicked” into the arm.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $40-$90 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $20-$45 (parts only)

You Save: $20-$45 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.2-0.4 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.