🔧 Explorer - Front Wiper Blade Replacement

Replacing the front wiper blades on your Explorer is a quick maintenance job that restores clear visibility in rain. You’ll remove each old blade from the wiper arm and click the new blade into the same connector.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• 🛑 Turn ignition OFF and keep hands clear of the wiper linkage.
• 🛑 Hold the wiper arm firmly; it’s spring-loaded and can snap back.
• 🛑 Lay a towel on the windshield so the metal arm can’t hit the glass.
• 🛑 No battery disconnect required.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• Clean towel
• Flathead screwdriver (small)

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front wiper blades - Driver: 26", Passenger: 22" - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park on level ground and turn the ignition OFF.
• 🧼 Clean the lower windshield edge so you don’t grind dirt into the glass.
• 🧽 Place a clean towel on the windshield under each wiper arm.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Put the wipers in a safe position

• Lift the driver-side wiper arm away from the glass slowly by hand.
• If the arm won’t lift far enough due to the hood, turn the ignition ON, run the wipers once, then turn ignition OFF while they are mid-sweep so you can lift them. Don’t start the engine.

Step 2: Remove the old driver-side blade

• Rotate the wiper blade so it’s perpendicular to the wiper arm.
• Find the small locking tab on the connector where the blade meets the arm.
• Press the tab with your fingers; if it’s stuck, use a flathead screwdriver (small) gently to help push the tab.
• While holding the tab, slide the blade downward (toward the base of the arm) to unhook it from the J-hook.
• Keep one hand on the arm spring.

Step 3: Install the new driver-side blade

• Hook the new 26" blade onto the J-hook at the end of the arm.
• Pull the blade upward until you hear/feel it click into the locked position.
• Gently tug on the blade to confirm it’s locked.

Step 4: Repeat on the passenger side

• Lift the passenger wiper arm carefully and keep the clean towel under it.
• Remove the old blade using the same tab-and-slide method.
• Install the new 22" blade and confirm it clicks and locks.

Step 5: Lower the arms back onto the windshield

• Lower each arm slowly onto the glass by hand.
• Remove the clean towel.

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✅ After Repair

• 🧪 Turn ignition ON and run the front wipers on low speed for 10–20 seconds.
• 💧 Use windshield washer fluid to confirm the blades wipe clean with no skipping.
• 🔎 If you see streaks, clean the windshield and re-check that each blade is fully clicked in.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

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

DIY Cost: $20-$50 (parts only)

You Save: $20-$40 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.