Most manufacturers claim that car wipers work best for about half a year from...
How to replace worn out car windshield wipers? What do you need to know about replacing wipers?
(photo Moje Auto)
Properly functioning car wipers are an essential element of driving safety. You should pay attention to their efficiency, especially after winter. Lack of good visibility in difficult conditions may even lead to an accident.
In the following entry we discuss the topic of replacing a worn-out car wiper with a new one. When should this be done and what symptoms should we pay attention to when a car wiper is not working properly? How to buy the right wiper model that fits our car model?
What should you know to properly replace car wipers?
We check the size before exchanging car wipers in the vehicle. The list of cars to which individual wipers fit can be found on the back of the wiper packaging - this is also on the packaging of Moje Auto Virage wipers. This way you can easily adjust the appropriate size.
Many cars have a universal U-type mounting and the Moje Auto Virage wiper from the BASIC series is dedicated to them. It is a frameless profiled doormat, with a classic adapter and a plastic cover for the mounting base. My Auto series wipers VIRAGE BASIC fits 75% of car models.
(photo: My Car)
An alternative for our customers are windshield wipers My Auto Virage from the Comfort series. The high quality of the materials from which the wiper is made, i.e. reinforced abrasive rubber, additional metal mounting of the wiper and the fact that it is covered with a rubber spoiler, guarantee quality.
When to replace car wiper blades?
Very often, we remember to replace wipers only when we need them for safer driving, e.g. during heavy rain. However, it is important to regularly check the condition of the windshield wipers in your car. If we notice mechanical damage, such as chipping or crumbling of the rubber from which the wipers are made, we must immediately replace the wipers with new ones.
(photo: My Car)
The second indication that the wipers need to be replaced is a squeaking sound during operation, most likely indicating that the blades collecting water from the windshield are worn out. Remember that new windshield wipers are a small expense, and replacing them with new ones will significantly improve your safety when driving on rainy days.
What should you pay attention to when buying a new wiper?
Before purchasing, it is important to measure worn wipers or check, e.g. in the vehicle's manual. Purchasing and installing wipers that do not fit our car model - if the wipers are too short, our field of vision will be greatly limited, and if we install them that are too long, they may catch on the windshield seal during operation, which will make them noisy and wear out faster.
(photo: My Car)
Wiper wear is the fastest in winter, when we try to force the frozen wipers off the windshield or remove frost from the frozen windshield - using them. Such attempts most often end with them getting damaged and requiring replacement. In such cases, it is best to use a defroster.
When talking about wipers, you should also remember to check the amount of windshield washer fluid, because wipers should not operate on dry windshield. While driving, dirt and sand accumulate on the windshield. Operating wipers on such a windshield without using the washer may scratch it, which in turn may lead to poor visibility while driving, especially at night.
What types of car wipers are there?
Car wipers do not differ from each other only in length. They can be classified into several main types. What are the types of car windshield wipers?
The most traditional solution are skeleton car wipers. As the name suggests, their construction is based on an extensive frame. The wiper mount is located on a metal arm. At its ends there are flexible profiles whose task is to press the wiper blade to the windshield. The pressure points of the blade to the glass are evenly distributed and there are eight of them. Skeletal car wipers are characterized primarily by low prices.
A more modern type are frameless profiled doormats. They do not have a traditional metal frame like skeleton doormats. Instead, frameless wiper solutions use an integrated design. The wiper blade is directly connected to a flexible arm made of durable plastic. For this reason, frameless wipers are also called flat.
The third type of car wipers are hybrid wipers. They combine the features of traditional wipers and frameless wipers. Hybrid models are low-profile wipers. They have a covered blade integrated into the arm.
Which car wipers should you choose?
As you can see, there is a wide range of types of wipers. What should you pay attention to when choosing them, apart from length? What operational features do each type of wiper have?
Standard skeleton wipers are an economical option. Their main advantage is low price. They are distinguished by quite strong construction and easy installation. However, frame wipers also have disadvantages.
First of all, the wiper blade has pressure points, but it does not adhere to the glass uniformly over its entire surface. For this reason, these types of wipers may collect water or snow less efficiently compared to frameless and hybrid wipers, especially at higher speeds, when they may lose pressure. When riding faster, skeleton trips may also start to make noise. Additionally, metal components may rust over time.
Profiled frameless wipers have a much better aerodynamic profile. Due to their design, they are also more discreet and do not stand out from the glass as much as skeleton wipers. Thanks to their structure, they adhere evenly to the glass over the entire surface, which translates into greater effectiveness during operation.
Hybrid wipers are characterized by very effective operation, both when driving on the highway and in urban conditions. They fit evenly over the entire surface and are aerodynamic, so they emit the least noise of all types of wipers. They are also characterized by a discreet design and long durability, which is manifested, among others, by: resistance to corrosion and mechanical damage.
Replacing car wipers follows similar rules to selecting other components. It is better to invest in slightly more expensive but more efficient wipers than to buy cheaper models more often. The benefits of frameless and hybrid wipers are not only greater efficiency and the ability to generate less noise. They are also more resistant to low temperatures. They are easier to separate from frosted glass compared to traditional wipers, which translates into their durability.
Is it worth replacing just the rubber in your wipers?
In theory, you can only replace the rubber in the wiper blade. The process involves dismantling the caps, pulling out the used rubber and inserting a new one.
However, we do not recommend this solution. Why? Firstly, there is a risk of damaging the structure of the entire wiper. It may not work properly. If, for example, the protective caps are damaged, the rubber may start to come out of the blade while driving.
In addition, the rubber is matched to the given type and model of the wiper. A universal solution may have lower efficiency. Another issue is that a set of good quality rubbers is often as expensive as a set of new wipers. Replacing wipers is a simpler process, and the proper operation of the system that drains water from the windows is a matter of safety. It's not worth saving a few zlotys for this reason.
Audio description:
How to replace a worn car wiper?
How to install car wipers? The whole process is not complicated and does not require any tools. Installing the wipers shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
The example of wipers from the Moje Auto series COMFORT pool – we describe the operation of replacing it with a new set.
STEP 1: Raise the wiper arm from the windshield.
To remove the old wiper, after lifting the arm vertically, locate the small latch located on the bottom of the wiper, where it meets the metal arm. Once pressed, use light force to move the wiper towards the bottom of the arm.
(photo: My Car)
STEP 2: Dismantle the old wiper.
Each package of Moje Auto VIRAGE Comfort wipers includes 8 adapters suitable for mounting in 95 percent of vehicles.
STEP 3: Attach the selected adapter suitable for our model to the mounting base of the VIRAGE wiper and attach it to the mounting base.
We place the plastic adapter suitable for our car model in the mounting hook, trying not to push it in completely. This allows us to mount the wiper in the adapter.
(photo: My Car)
STEP 4: Plug the new wiper adapter into the wiper arm mounting.
Once we have placed the wiper in the adapter, we strongly pull the arm up until we hear a click, indicating that the wiper is properly installed.
(photo: My Car)
STEP 5: Lower the wiper onto the windshield.
When replacing the wipers, remember not to disturb the metal mounting arm of the wiper. These arms are pressed against the glass using springs. A collision may cause the metal end of the arm to hit the glass and, consequently, even crack it.
(photo: My Car)
