🔧 Front Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement

Replacing the front wiper blades on your Explorer is a quick maintenance job that keeps visibility clear in rain and spray. The blades unclip from the wiper arms and install by size, so the main job is matching the correct driver and passenger lengths and snapping them in securely.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.2-0.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Keep the ignition off and the wipers in the parked position before starting.
• Hold each wiper arm carefully; if it snaps back without a blade, it can crack the windshield.
• Use a towel on the glass if you need to rest the arm while working.
• No battery disconnect is required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Clean microfiber towel
• Nitrile gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

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

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and switch the ignition off.
• Lift each wiper arm away from the glass one at a time.
• Place a towel on the windshield before releasing a bare arm.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the driver-side blade

• Lift the driver-side wiper arm away from the windshield.
• Press the release tab on the old blade and slide it off the arm.
• Keep the arm under control.

Step 2: Install the new driver-side blade

• Use the matching 26" blade.
• Slide the new blade onto the arm until it clicks and locks.
• Gently tug the blade to make sure it is fully seated.

Step 3: Remove the passenger-side blade

• Lift the passenger-side wiper arm away from the windshield.
• Use the release tab to remove the old blade from the arm.
• Set the old blade aside.

Step 4: Install the new passenger-side blade

• Use the matching 22" blade.
• Slide the new blade onto the arm until it clicks into place.
• Check that the connector is locked before lowering the arm.

Step 5: Test the wipers

• Lower both arms carefully onto the windshield.
• Turn the ignition on and run the wipers with washer fluid.
• Make sure both blades sweep smoothly and do not chatter.

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✅ After Repair

• Confirm both blades clear the full windshield area.
• Check for streaks, skipping, or loose attachment.
• If the blades chatter, clean the glass with glass cleaner and retest.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $60-$130 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $25-$60 (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.