🔧 Front Windshield Wiper Blades - Replacement

Replacing the front wiper blades on your Explorer is a quick maintenance job. Fresh blades restore visibility in rain and help prevent streaking, skipping, and chatter. This is a simple DIY task with no special scan tool or battery disconnect needed.

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

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Turn the ignition off before lifting the wiper arms.
• Keep the wiper arms from snapping back onto the glass; they can crack the windshield.
• Use a towel or piece of cardboard on the glass while swapping blades. Small slip, big damage.
• No battery disconnect is required.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Clean towel
• Safety glasses
• Gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front wiper blades - Driver: 28", Passenger: 20" - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on a level surface and set the parking brake.
• Turn the ignition off and make sure the wipers are fully at rest.
• Place a towel on the windshield near the arm you are working on.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift the driver-side wiper arm

• Use your hand to gently lift the driver-side wiper arm away from the windshield.
• Set a towel under the arm so it cannot strike the glass.
• Lift slowly and keep control.

Step 2: Remove the old driver-side blade

• Use your hand to press the small release tab on the wiper blade connector.
• Slide the blade downward and off the arm hook.
• Dispose of the old blade.

Step 3: Install the new driver-side blade

• Use your hand to slide the new 28-inch front wiper blade onto the arm hook.
• Push until you hear or feel it click into place.
• Pull lightly on the blade to confirm it is locked.

Step 4: Repeat for the passenger side

• Use your hand to lift the passenger-side wiper arm with a towel under it.
• Remove the old blade using the release tab.
• Install the new 20-inch front wiper blade until it clicks.
• Confirm the blade is secure with a gentle tug.

Step 5: Lower the wiper arms carefully

• Use both hands to guide each arm back to the windshield slowly.
• Do not let the arm snap down.

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✅ After Repair

• Turn the ignition on and test the wipers on low and high speed.
• Spray washer fluid and make sure both blades sweep cleanly.
• Check for streaks, skipping, or loose fitment.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $60-$120 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $25-$50 (parts only)

You Save: $35-$70 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.2-0.5 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.