Which side should frameless wipers be placed on?

Windshield wipers in a car (popularly called “windshield wipers”) are consumables that will require replacement over time. Despite the fact that this part is inconspicuous and does not have any special external data, it performs one of the main functions in bad weather conditions.

Having good windshield wipers in your car gives you confidence behind the wheel even when driving in snow or rain. If this part needs to be replaced, you can do it yourself without going to the auto center. You just need to strictly adhere to some rules...

Types of windshield wipers

Probably, not everyone has thought about how the working edge of the wiper tape is evenly attached to the glass. But it was the technical solution to this issue that caused the appearance of several types of brushes. We will describe them following the chronological order of design changes.

Frame wipers

As you can see, there is nothing particularly complicated in the design, but the mobility of the frame’s rocker arms when the wiper is operating depends on how tightly the rubber band will fit - the car glass is by no means flat, and the blade should “repeat” its shape when the wiper is operating.

At the same time, the mobility of the rocker arm hinges should not be excessive in the direction transverse to the movement of the brush, otherwise the wiper will “lie” on its side and scratch the glass with its frame. In general, the edge of the rubber band should be perpendicular to the glass - if it does not “smooth” it, but “goes to scuff”, then the “rubber” sound will be terrible, and the dirt will leave streaks on the glass. The rubber band is held on the rocker arms by steel plates, which must have sufficient elasticity and resistance to corrosion. Replacing rubber bands on frame wipers is a simple task, but it requires some skill. You just need to pull out the elastic band along with the plates, and, having tucked the plates into the new tape, thread them into the grips on the frame

Pay attention immediately to which longitudinal groove on the elastic the plates are tucked into - the remaining grooves (folds) serve to collect dirt and ensure the elasticity of the working edge

Winter frame wipers

For such wipers, silicone rubber bands are produced that remain flexible in the cold; sometimes they are called winter rubber bands for wipers. The frame brushes themselves are also available in a winter version - with a casing that covers the frame hinges from icing. The fact that the frame brushes, when covered with ice, no longer press against the glass, is their main drawback. As practice has shown, the hopes placed on the winter version of the wipers were not justified - despite the high cost, these wipers do not lack the disadvantages inherent in their “summer” counterparts.

Frameless wipers

As you can see from the photo, such brushes do not have moving parts. The adherence of such wipers to the glass is ensured by an elastic metal tape, which is the actual basis.

Frameless wipers

The big disadvantage of these brushes is that they do not adhere well to the most curved glass and do a good job of cleaning only if they are tailored to a specific glass shape, that is, they are not universal. Cheap Chinese products are practically not cleaned at all. The companies that produce them especially focus on the fact that frameless wipers have good aerodynamics and adhere well to the glass at high speeds. But their most important advantage is the absence of hinges, which can lose mobility when icing. Replacement rubber bands for AVS frameless wipers look like this:

Replacement rubber bands for wipers

When replacing them, it is important not to “break” the base – the metal plate. Violation of its shape will cause a loose fit of the brush to the glass, and even if you buy good “branded” rubber bands for wipers (Bosch, for example), the glass will not be cleaned properly, and the wiper itself will have to be simply thrown away

Hybrid wipers

Essentially, these are frame winter brushes, but they have a protective cover, divided into parts. The most expensive models are equipped with such wipers on the assembly line. The rocker arm joints in them are protected from direct water, but the casing joints freeze. Even though such brushes are not completely free from “diseases” characteristic of conventional frame products, their creation is still an undoubted step forward. The biggest disadvantage is their high cost - prices start at 400 rubles. Replacing rubber bands on hybrid wipers is done in almost the same way as on conventional frame wipers. You can see how the rubber bands for Denso hybrid wipers are changed. The video demonstrates in sufficient detail how to remove the old rubber band from the wiper and install a new one.

Advantages of frameless mechanisms

Compared to traditionally designed car wipers, such models have a number of advantages.

The main advantages that frameless wipers can boast of, when compared with devices of traditional design, are the following:

high levels of wear resistance and durability;
tighter fit to the windshield of the car and a larger surface area;
efficient operation when driving at high speed.

In addition, thanks to their design features, frameless car wipers are not afraid of severe frosts that cause icing. Every car owner, at least once in his life, has encountered a situation where on a winter morning he has to literally tear off frozen wipers from the windshield, and then spend a long time scraping off the ice that has formed overnight. With frameless structures such problems do not arise. Moreover, German frameless wipers (Bosch, for example) have a built-in heating system.

However, the built-in heating wire is not inherent only in the products of this company, but also in many brands of wipers from other manufacturers. In addition, some frameless windshield cleaning devices also have an additional function of spraying water, in addition to the standard car washer. But, again, all these functions make the cost of the device an order of magnitude higher than that of its analogues (about 50-100 US dollars per pair).

Replacement indicator

Today, modern wiper models are equipped with a special mark that allows you to determine when the windshield wiper blades need to be replaced. Most often, such products have a special mark in the form of a square or circle on the body of the model itself. It is usually applied with special paint, so when installing such a cleaner, first remove the protective film from it.

As a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation and bad weather conditions, the paint will change color, which will indicate the need to replace the wiper. In this case, such an indicator will not respond to mechanical damage and cleaning liquids.

Signs of Wiper Blade Wear

Specific signs will help you understand whether your windshield wiper blades need to be replaced. Pay attention to the following points:

During cleaning, stripes and dirty stains appear on the glass;
large unrefined areas;
the appearance of vertical and narrow stripes on glass.

Replacing windshield wiper blades yourself is quite quick. Many car owners are afraid of breaking something, and in vain. In fact, it is very easy to remove and replace the wipers yourself. You will only need a little free time and a minimum amount of knowledge and skills.

Replacing windshield wiper blades involves removing the old products and installing new ones. A very important replacement rule is to buy a product model that is ideal for your car. After all, very often different “wipers” differ in length. Be sure to take this parameter into account when purchasing.

Types of windshield wiper mounts - Automotive windshield wipers

Several types of mounts are currently used to install windshield wiper blades on a car. One of the reasons for this, in our opinion, is the desire of automakers to earn additional income from original spare parts, although it is worth noting that some types of fastenings can actually significantly reduce the aerodynamic resistance of the brushes.

History of wiper mounts

Until 1999, most cars in the world were produced with standard wiper mounts - the so-called “hook”. This type of fastening remains the most common today. However, it was in 1999 that Ford equipped its Taurus with a new mount. Almost all automakers followed the example and began equipping their cars with various “tricky” fastenings. Japanese manufacturers refrained from such steps for the longest time, however, modern models from such concerns as Nissan, Honda, Mazda and a number of others are already equipped with other types of brush mounting, different from the usual “hook”.

To solve the problem of compatibility of different types of fasteners, manufacturers of car windshield wiper blades took two different paths.

production of windshield wiper kits with special types of fastening for specific vehicles. This is the path chosen by companies such as BOSCH and Valeo. The advantages of this approach include the compactness of the mounts and the ability to take into account the curvature of windshields of specific car models. The downside is that there is a very large assortment of brushes, which complicates the selection and increases the cost of wipers.
production of brushes with universal adapters, when a set of special adapters for several types of fastening is supplied with the brush. Companies such as SWF and Champion have followed this path. The advantages of this development path include the greater versatility of the brushes and ease of selection to the car. The disadvantages are worse aerodynamics compared to specialized mounts and installation complexity.

"Hook" or "Hook", "U-HOOK", "J-HOOK"

The most common and oldest type of fastening. It is often denoted by the letter "U"

Attention! There are several sizes of "hook". For passenger cars, the most common are 9x3 and 9x4

Although there are other sizes.

"Side pin" or "Side pin"

Sometimes this type of fastening is also called “Pin in Arm”. Found on some Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot models, as well as on cars manufactured since 2005, such as BMW 3, Volvo S40, VW Jetta and Passat.

"Side mounting" or "Side mounting"

A not very common type of fastening, used in a number of Renault models and American-made cars.

"Pinch tab" or "Side clamp"

A common type of fastening among European manufacturers, it is used in some Audi, Fiat, Saab cars, and in a number of Mercedes-Benz and Opel models.

"Bayonet arm" or "Bayonet lock"

Mainly used in Renault and Saab cars. There are also modifications of this mount with two holes for trucks.

In addition, there are special types of mounts for rear windshield wipers.

Replacing the rear wiper blade

There are car models for which it is very important to install rear wipers. This will help you quite successfully park backwards and steer out of difficult and unpredictable situations. In this case, replacing the brushes will be slightly different from the instructions for replacing the front models. Here things are more complicated, because all the cars are quite different, so the approach to them will also be different. But for convenience, let's look at the general instructions.

Replacing the rear window wiper blade has the following features:

Each rear wiper has a fastening nut. Find the protective element above it and lift it up.

Now, using a 10mm wrench, very carefully unscrew the nut. Turn the tool and pull it towards you. In fact, this procedure is quite simple to perform. And now you can safely remove the windshield wiper itself.
Next, use a screwdriver to loosen the lock and replace the old device with a new one, as described in the previous case. When buying rear windshield wiper blades, be sure to pay attention to the bend of the product itself, because the quality of the cleaning itself will fully depend on this.

Instructions

First of all, to turn on the wipers on your car, you need to start the ignition. Start by slightly moving the lever upward. It will return to its original position - but that’s how it should be. To speed up or slow down the operation of the wiper on the glass, you need to move the lever down or up. Many windshield wipers are equipped with an automatic control device.

You can start it by simply moving the lever up. Then the automatic circuit will begin to operate. A special rain sensor instantly recognizes water on the glass. Accordingly, the device will automatically adjust its speed, and you won’t have to constantly pull the handle.

It is better to use the automatic mode more often, and then even splashes that accidentally fall on the glass will be removed as quickly as possible. If manual mode is used, the lever must be moved forward and held in this position. As a rule, the windshield wiper then operates automatically based on this command. By holding the lever for a longer or shorter time, you increase or decrease the number of brush strokes per unit of time. Exact instructions on how to do this are given in the instructions.

Which brushes are best to choose for your car?

When choosing these elements for a car, any car owner strives to get the most optimal combination of price/quality parameters. Traditional hinged wipers are cheaper than their frameless counterparts, but in return the latter provide much higher reliability and durability.

In addition, modern designs are also reusable - you just need to replace the cleaning gum, following the tips given above. And thanks to our article and the step-by-step instructions contained in it, installing or replacing frameless wipers becomes quite simple. And this process can be carried out not only by a qualified car service specialist, but also by the car owner himself.

So, we found out what frameless car wipers are, discussed their advantages and disadvantages, and shared with you recommendations regarding the features of installing this type of structure and replacing them in case of malfunction. Good luck!

Painting

So, you have become comfortable with dismantling and installing the wiper arm and adjusted the clamp. Temperature changes, wind, dirt, moisture, icing and solar ultraviolet damage damage paint. The all-metal leash, without a plastic casing, is painted at the factory.

To remove old paint, the removed leader is “etched” in a solvent such as 646, which removes layers of even old paint from the surface. Some solvent reagents do not evaporate immediately but act as a softening agent. After an hour of waiting, the softened paint is removed with a knife. The cleaned leash is washed in another solvent.

For a high-quality, truly strong coating, the leash is degreased. When performing this action, also degrease the brushes - they are covered (and soaked) with oil residues, for example, oil residues accidentally spilled in puddles. Degreasing the leash is carried out at room temperature - it is advisable to do this outside the house in the summer, with little wind.

The primer will hide scuffs and scratches on the product. Make sure there is no thick or loose oxide film on the leash. After the primer has dried, apply the outer coat. Some car enthusiasts use powder or spray paint. When applying layer by layer, wait until the previous layer is completely dry. Once you've finished painting, assemble and reinstall the wipers.

Adjustment Tips

Before disassembling the wipers, turn off the on-board power supply by removing one of the terminals from the battery.
Do not over-tighten the spring. A spring that is too tight will quickly wear out the rubber bands. Overstretching will cause them to become useless - even with new parts.
If repairing a weakened spring is impossible, install a new one. The diameter of the coils of the new spring should approximately coincide with the dimensions of the old one.
Replace old brushes with new ones if they are completely worn out. Restoring worn and cracked rubber bands is impossible. Brushes that are chipped, despite working well, will also soon be damaged.
Do not mix up the removed leashes when reinstalling them: the right one is different from the left one.

In the next video you will see the installation of a spring in the wiper arm.

Main design features

Modern frameless car wipers are a spoiler design, in a plastic casing of which two metal guides are placed that hold a special rubber brush.

This design eliminates the need to create an entire system of hinges and rocker arms. Which, in turn, makes such wipers much less capricious and much more durable. There are quite a few form factors of such car accessories. Like traditional wipers, frameless wipers can be used in pairs or, conversely, form a single console, the working surface of which covers almost the entire area of the car windshield.

The convenience of the elements we are considering also lies in the fact that the cleaning rubber can be easily replaced with a new one. And although frameless wipers are noticeably more expensive than their traditional “brothers,” they quickly pay for themselves due to their strength and durability.

Replacing frameless wiper blades

If to replace classic frame windshield wipers you can do without any tools at all, then with frameless products the situation is somewhat different. Although such a wiper also consists of three elements (lever, pressure plate and rubber band), its structure is much more complex. But this does not mean that to replace frame wipers you need to go to a service station - with due diligence, installation and dismantling work can be done yourself, which will allow you to save a significant amount of money.

It is best to carry out the replacement in an equipped garage. The only tools you need are a few screwdrivers and a container of water to wash the wiper parts. It is clear that at sub-zero temperatures such repairs should be carried out in a heated room.

Before replacing the rubber band on frameless wipers, you need to wash the windshield and thoroughly clean the wiper mounts, on which a lot of dirt can accumulate. For this, warm water is useful, preferably with the addition of any detergent. Even liquid soap will do. Sometimes it is not possible to clean the wiper mounts in this way; in this case, you can try using cans filled with compressed air (they are used for blowing out laptops and desktop PCs).

Now you can begin dismantling the worn brushes. This is done in the following order:

unscrew the pins that secure the windshield wiper body to the car; carefully, with little effort, remove the wiper housing; remove the rubber plugs protecting the bolts; we unscrew them, showing maximum caution - the bolts on one side hold the wipers, and on the other, the drive motors. Any careless movement may cause the windshield wipers to become inoperable; When unscrewing the bolts, do not forget about the sealing washers - they are easy to lose, and without them it will not be possible to ensure the required tightness of the connection; install new wipers

If you want to install heated products, the task becomes somewhat more complicated. You will additionally need to provide power to the heating system, that is, conduct electrical wiring into the engine compartment, but in such a way as to prevent them from coming into contact with other components of the car; If you managed to run the wiring into the engine compartment, the wires should be attached to the contacts of the heated glass system. Usually the connection point is protected by a special rubber cap, which needs to be moved, and after connecting with a wire, put in place; put a new rubber band on the base of the wiper; the base, in turn, is placed on a tetrahedral pin; install the sealing washer and carefully screw in the fastening bolt; We perform a similar operation in the same order with another wiper.

It remains to check whether we did everything correctly, for which we simply turn on the wipers.

Many drivers do not even realize that the described algorithm is not always applicable. If the problem lies only in worn brushes, it is not at all necessary to change the entire brush. On frameless wipers, it is quite possible to change only the rubber strip, which will allow you to save a little. This is done like this:

remove the fixing cap using a screwdriver;
pull the rubber band towards you - it should come off easily;
install a pre-purchased new rubber band of the same size;
We install the clamp-plug in the wrong place.

That is, the rubber band of frameless wipers is a consumable that can be changed an unlimited number of times.

If you tried to dismantle the old brushes, but nothing worked, it is better to leave this idea, since you can simply break the mechanism, which will cost you a tidy sum. In this case, it is better to ask a professional to do this work. Of course, under your supervision and having gained the necessary experience, you will be able to perform this procedure yourself in the future.

Installation

Often, along with the question about frameless wipers (which one is better to choose), the car owner has another problem: is it possible to install such structures on their own?

Of course, the installation of expensive models equipped, for example, with a heating system, is best entrusted to highly qualified specialists who have not only deep theoretical knowledge and rich practical experience, but also an arsenal of all the necessary equipment and tools:

firstly, many parts and elements of frameless wipers, including fasteners, are small in size and have a fairly high degree of fragility;
secondly, if the devices are equipped with a heating system, it is necessary not only to have at least basic knowledge in the field of electrical engineering, but also to know the intricacies of car design.

True, contacting a service center or service station almost always means losing a certain amount of time, nerves and, of course, money. So it's up to you.

Recommendations for extending the service life of wipers

The windshield in modern cars is made in such a way as to minimize its aerodynamic resistance. Ideally, it should be horizontal to the ground, but in this case the driver will not be able to see the road in front of him. So the angle of inclination of the glass is still far from zero. This means that it will take on the flow of oncoming air, which only at first glance seems transparent. The dust and other solid particles present in it are the main enemy of windshield wiper blades. It is they who, when the rubber bands come into contact with the glass, act on the brushes, leading to their wear. It is impossible to completely eradicate this factor, but extending the service life of wipers is a completely feasible task.

Here are a few easy-to-follow recommendations that can significantly increase the interval between replacement of wiper blades:

cleanliness is the key to health. This common phrase also applies to the windshield, and we have already explained why. If you see that after a long trip it is covered with a thick layer of dust, do not rush to turn on the wipers. It is better to clean the glass manually, using a bucket with a rag or watering it with a hose. Remember that the main task of wipers is to ensure good visibility in bad weather. In dry weather, you should turn on the wipers only as a last resort, and only simultaneously with the water supply. Otherwise, you will not only catastrophically reduce the service life of the rubber bands, but you risk damaging the engine, because it will be much more difficult for it to turn the wipers when dry. In any case, carefully monitor the fluid level in the glass washer reservoir, and if it is less than half full, be sure to top it up to the upper mark. Remember that you cannot fill with ordinary water in winter - it will freeze and damage the mechanisms and parts of the windshield washer.
Do not allow the wipers to turn on if there is ice on the glass - this can quickly damage the rubber blades. In winter, freezing temperatures make them hard and brittle, and exposure to snow and ice will cause the rubber lip to wear out prematurely. So if you see frost on the glass in the morning, don’t rush to get behind the wheel. Thoroughly clean the surface of the windshield with a special scraper or brush. Remember that it is enough to turn on the windshield wiper once if there is ice, frost or dry snow on the window so that defects form on the rubber band, making it impossible to completely clean the glass;
The wipers themselves also need periodic cleaning. Working hard during bad weather, they diligently remove all dirt from the surface of the windshield. Some of them flow down along with the water, but some accumulate on the elastic bands, worsening their elasticity. As a result, the fit of the wipers will be incomplete, and gaps will appear that impair visibility during rain. Dirty brushes increase the coefficient of friction, which again affects faster wear of the rubber edge. They need to be cleaned at least once a month, and twice as often in the autumn-spring period, characterized by an abundance of dirt. Cleaning can be done with paper towels or a rag soaked in water, but it is advisable to supplement the visual assessment of the quality of wiping with a manual one by running your fingertips along the blade of the rubber band - it should be perfectly even and smooth.

By following these recommendations, you can double the service life of your wipers, up to 20-24 months. True, this indicator is greatly influenced by the climatic conditions characteristic of a given area, but in any case, if you carefully care for the brushes and glass, the result will surprise you.

How to install a frameless car windshield wiper?

Home page » How to install a frameless car windshield wiper?

For a long time, the car windshield wiper had a traditional design - a thin rubber strip on an elastic metal frame. In turn, the frame was attached to a metal bracket through a spring support, which was bolted to a pivot pin. The pivot pin was driven by an electric motor via a pair of long levers. There is no doubt that car windshield wipers have been upgraded from time to time. However, the effect of such devices still left much to be desired. And so, a frameless wiper appeared - a radically new system.

Types of fastenings and features of brush replacement

Today's foreign cars have brushes with a “hook” type of fastener ( Hook

). The same type is extremely common in the domestic auto industry, but in smaller quantities. The hook sizes are often 9x4, but some companies may have a smaller width, like Audi. But the Honda Civic 4D also adds a decorative cap with a special ribbon.

On the movable removable part where the brush is located, there is a groove that must be inserted into this hook until it clicks. Remember the size. Hooks come in 9×3 and 9×4.

Pin in Arm Option

, also called Side Pin

, began to appear after 2005. Such fasteners are widely used by BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW and others. There is a round hole on the movable part. On the main mechanism there is a metal pin and a bumper that prevents the brush from turning. Fasten until it clicks.

By the way, the same VW, as well as Volvo, Renault and Ford use the Push Button

. This is the simplest removal scheme, since you just need to press the button and pull the wiper up to remove the wiper blades yourself.

The base uses something like a telescopic guide. The principle is similar to the latches of children's backpacks, only instead of pressing the side edges, you need to press the “button”, and then safely remove the brush. The reverse process is even simpler, you don’t even need to press anywhere, just bring it to a click.

Pin Lock

– a type of brush-car coupling, developed after 2008 and actively used by Audi, Renault and Seat. The method is extremely similar to the previous one, with the exception of the lock on the latter.

There are also less common fasteners like Bayonet

, typical for Renault Logan and Megan. You need to install an element with a brush on the fixed pin. A special groove is provided for this. The structure is held very firmly.

How to install a wiper blade quickly and painlessly? First you need to know that this should be done every 30 thousand mileage, but if the weather is sunny and you are satisfied with the quality of cleaning, leave it as is. If you want to exchange for new ones, then be sure to look for branded ones, not universal ones. The quality is much higher.

As soon as you are ready to change it, cover the windshield with a blanket or an old blanket. If suddenly the spring “plays” and the cleaner hits the triplex, the latter will most likely survive.

If the number of swings is higher, you have problems.

If you don’t know at all what exactly you need, ask a consultant in the store, just choose among smart salespeople over 40 who already have experience in car repairs. They will certainly help with the selection, tell you how to easily remove the metal frame of the windshield wiper and how to change the tires correctly.

We also do not recommend stocking up on a large number of rubber brushes, because, oddly enough, they have their own expiration date. Yes, and rubber can deteriorate if stored improperly in an excessively warm or cold room. Modern models have special additives and additives so as not to “tan” in the cold, but you should not completely trust chemistry. Check your windshield wipers regularly.

Such a small part as a windshield wiper performs one of the important functions in a car, because it belongs to active safety systems.

It provides good visibility in all weather conditions, helping to avoid an accident.

ATTENTION! A completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption has been found! Don't believe me? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also didn’t believe it until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline! To avoid unpleasant situations on the road, you need to monitor the condition of the windshield wiper blades and correct problems in a timely manner.

To avoid unpleasant situations on the road, you need to monitor the condition of the windshield wiper blades and correct problems in a timely manner.

conclusions

So, why do you need to replace your windshield wiper blades? Toyota or any other car model needs this procedure regularly. Such actions can reduce the risk of traffic accidents in bad weather. Experts recommend replacing them once a year or immediately after you notice that the wipers have begun to perform their duties poorly.

Changing windshield wiper blades for the front and rear windows is very simple. In the first case, you just need to follow the general instructions. And in the second, take into account the individual characteristics of your “iron friend”. It will be a little more difficult to cope with frameless products, but nothing is impossible here. A little patience, effort and caution - and you will quickly complete the task. Change your wipers regularly and you will be able to fully enjoy driving your car in any weather conditions.

Final point

The content of the publication is purely informational and does not pretend to be professional advice. It is recommended that you seek advice from certified technicians or mechanics if specific questions are raised related to the update topic discussed here.

BRIEFING

Zetsila - publication of materials that are interesting and useful for society. News of technologies, research, experiments on a global scale. Social multi-thematic information - media .

Source