How to change wipers on a car: video and photo instructions

Car windshield wipers, or more simply “windshield wipers,” are used to remove snow from the windshield in winter, and rain and dirt the rest of the time. They have to be changed quite often because they have a rather limited resource.

Of course, this can be done for you with pleasure at a car repair shop. But it’s so simple that you can easily do it yourself. In addition, replacing wipers is the same for all cars without exception. Now we’ll look at how to do it yourself correctly.

How often should wipers be changed?

No one will give you a definite answer, but on average about 1–2 times a year. Many car enthusiasts start replacing only when they are unhappy with the unproductiveness of their work. The service life is influenced by many factors:

use of chemicals in car washes;
negative temperature effects;
price factor;
quality of windshield wipers;
in winter, the road is covered with salt, sand, etc. and this has a destructive effect.

As a result of all these influences, the rubber quickly “hardens”, and accordingly, the fit is significantly reduced. This is also affected by the condition of the hinges (applies to frame wipers).

When the glass is cleared with only 3-4 strokes, and the wiper operating area on the glass becomes clearly visible, it means it’s time to change it. This problem does not exist with brushes with a wear indicator (special paint is applied). When its color changes, it means replacement is necessary. Approximately such a check should be done once a year.

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Causes of wear

Replacement can occur for various reasons. As a result of dust, sand, dirt, as well as careless use, it often causes wear:

lever mounting.
janitor
rubber brushes.

A windshield wiper that clears the view on the windshield is an essential element for driving a car safely.

Work in harsh conditions

They work not only on rainy days, but also when using liquid to clean windows and remove stains on glass.

He gets wet with the liquids of different ingredients.

When washing a car, the body is dried and waxed to protect the paintwork, but the wiper itself is not as protected.

Wipers and mounts are very susceptible to components

Step-by-step replacement instructions

Replacing wipers always does not mean a complete replacement, but only a component of it. They always consist of 3 main elements:

metal holder connected to the lower arm;
the lower arm extends from the glass;
the rubber brush itself.

The brush is a consumable item that needs to be changed frequently. Their cost ranges from 300–700 rubles. Original products will cost more. First you need to determine which wipers are best for you.

The assortment is quite rich, models from different brands: frame, frameless, hybrid. All of them, of course, have both positive and negative qualities. Therefore, it is best to follow only the recommendations of the car manufacturer, and not advice on the market. They give precise parameters and even describe specific brands, indicating the exact catalog number.

Some manufacturers that produce these products immediately indicate the applicable model and make of the machine. So that even a person with little knowledge can understand which machine a specific part is applicable to.

If this option does not suit you, then select similar installed ones, if, of course, you are satisfied with their quality of work.

Take measurements before going to the store. Because for most cars they are individual and it is necessary to measure both wipers. If you find it difficult to determine the type yourself, then carefully remove the old brushes. Just remember to place a cloth under the wiper arms so that the glass does not come into contact with the metal.

How to choose the right brushes

Decide on the design

There are three designs of wipers: frame, frameless and hybrid. To choose the right ones, you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each. Next, you should start from your requirements and, of course, your wallet.

Frame wipers

amazon.com
Traditional and most common design. It consists of three rocker arms connected to each other by a system of movable hinges. Thanks to their design, they evenly distribute the downforce from the spring-loaded wiper arms and perfectly follow the curve of the glass, ensuring high-quality cleaning of the entire surface. The most affordable.

The weak point of frame brushes is the hinges. Over time, they become loose or, conversely, jam due to accumulated dirt and perform their duties worse. In winter, the situation is significantly aggravated by snow and ice getting into the hinges, which reduce the effectiveness of the windshield wiper to nothing.

Frameless wipers

amazon.com
A more modern version of brushes. Despite the name, they still have a frame, but simplified to a minimum. The movable rocker system is replaced here with an elastic metal plate to which a rubber band is attached.

The outer part of the brush has an aerodynamic shape for additional pressure against the glass by the oncoming air flow. Due to the absence of moving parts and lower height, frameless brushes are practically silent and do not freeze in winter. A more expensive option.

Unlike frame brushes, frameless brushes are not universal. They are made to fit a given glass curve and fit certain cars. They do an excellent job of cleaning straight glass, but on curved glass they may not adhere well to the edges. Also, due to the large windage, frameless brushes rise above the glass when moving at high speed.

Hybrid wipers

amazon.com
The most advanced design that combines the advantages of the two previous options. Essentially, these are brushes with a classic frame based on miniature movable rocker arms, which are protected from external influences using a wing cover. Hybrid brushes clearly follow the curvature of the glass, and at the same time they are not subject to contamination and freezing of the hinges.

The main and only drawback of this design is the high price of the brushes. Compared to frameless ones, they are twice as expensive, and compared to conventional frame ones - three times or more.

Measure the length

The next most important parameter of brushes after design is their length. It must comply with the car manufacturer's recommendations. A brush that is too short will reduce the area to clean the glass, which in turn will impair visibility. The long one will press weaker against the glass and will not be able to completely remove the film of water from it in one pass. This will also reduce visibility.

In order not to be mistaken with the size, measure the length of the installed brushes using a tape measure or remove one of them and use it as a sample when purchasing. Brush sizes are usually indicated in millimeters and inches. Everything is clear with millimeters, but to convert to inches you need to divide the length in centimeters by 2.54. For example, 55 cm / 2.54 = 22 inches.

On some cars, the brushes may have different lengths. If you are not sure that yours are the same, it is better to measure both at once to be on the safe side.

In principle, you can buy brushes that are a little longer than the standard ones, but it’s important not to overdo it. It is better to try them on on the spot, otherwise after installation it will turn out that the wipers will cling to each other or touch the body.

Specify the type of fastening

heynershop.co.uk
And the last criterion in choosing blades is the type of latch with which they are attached to the wiper arms. The most common option is an ordinary hook. Due to the lack of standardization, different latches are used on different cars, therefore, in addition to the hook, there are about a dozen other fasteners in use.

heynershop.co.uk

The good news is that wiper manufacturers almost always include several adapters that allow you to install blades on leashes with different types of mounts. When purchasing, make sure that the selected brushes have a corresponding adapter, since some of them are designed for a specific model and are not equipped with additional adapters.

If the necessary adapters are not included in the kit, you can remove them from the old brushes and replace them with new ones.

Owners of station wagons, hatchbacks and other cars with a windshield wiper on the rear window need to separately check the type of fastening of the rear wiper blades. It is often different from the latches that are used on the windshield.

Removing old wipers

Modern cars are most often equipped with a “hook” mount. Its dismantling and installation is quite simple:

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Inspect the mounting location, find the latch and open it.
If you find rust, then you can treat it at the joints with WD-40 liquid for better removal.
You need to carefully move the lever away from the glass and put it in its extreme position. It is lifted, holding the fastening, to the metal holder of the wipers. And they always bring it to a stable position (towards the hood). Be sure to raise the lever all the way to prevent the spring from being released.
In the place where the brush blade is combined with the holder there is a plastic plug. It holds the blade, press it and disconnect the brush. There is no need to stand on ceremony, she has already done her job.
Sometimes, to replace some models, you will need to slightly change the position of the flags; they are the ones that hold it in place.
We replace the windshield wipers, insert them into the holder and turn the rubber element until the hook takes its place. We secure it and return the entire wiper to its original position.
We carry out similar actions with the second windshield wiper. At the end, it’s worth checking whether the right and left wipers correspond to their places.

The main thing here is to prevent the pressure spring from acting on the glass, so be careful. And for insurance, always place a thick cloth on the glass. If the car has another type of mount: Pushbutton, Sidepin, Pinchtab, Pushbutton, etc. then with some ingenuity you can figure them out too.

Sometimes instructions for dismantling and installation are included with the packaging of new brushes. This helps to understand how to install them, even with a less common mount. The process of installing new windshield wipers is a reverse process and should not cause any problems. An exception can only be for universal adapters.

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They are produced by well-known brands. They are applicable even for cars of previous generations. If you can’t do it, ask more experienced friends for help, they will help. Or to a service station, where they can serve you and instruct you at the same time. And next time it will be more successful.

Precautionary measures

Let's do the preparatory work and think about how to change the hook-mounted wipers on our car.

Take a closer look at the spare parts before removing them.
Check where and how they are attached.

Many car owners, after disassembling, cannot return it to its original condition.

Some brushes have a stopper and the direction of the fastener may be different.

With the wrong direction, installation may not be possible, and if installed, the hook will wear off and wear out quickly.

Look at where that metal piece stops and what its direction is.

Tips for use

Before use, it is advisable to treat them with soapy water.
Monitor the quality of liquids with which the brush comes into contact during its operation, use them only in accordance with the instructions.
Rinse frequently with water to remove large dirt particles.
Lubricate the hinge joints periodically.
Prolonged exposure to frost and sun will shorten its service life. And therefore, in the summer, when parking for a long time, it is better to cover the car or at least cover the windshield. And in winter, the car should be in the garage.
Wash your windshield more often; this service is free at many gas stations.
If the glass is covered with ice, do not use windshield wipers; it is better to clean it manually with a special scraper.
In cold weather, during long periods of inactivity, you need to raise the wipers so that they do not freeze.
Try to buy brushes only from well-known manufacturers, they will pay for themselves.
It is not recommended to use windshield wipers without windshield washer.

These tips will help many beginners save money. After all, simple car maintenance work can be done on your own. This is both more pleasant and more reliable sometimes. We wish you to see the road equally well in any weather. Safe and clear road!

Preparing for replacement

If you have at least one of the symptoms described above, you need to replace the wipers on your car. You don't need to go to a car service center for this. You can do it yourself if you follow simple instructions. But even before starting work, you need to prepare everything you need:

Measure the dimensions of the windshield wiper blades. In older models they are most often the same, but in new ones the driver's side is always slightly larger than the passenger side. This is done to improve visibility. You need to measure either the total length of the cleaning part or the elastic band.
If there is a suspicion that the elements of the wrong size are installed, it is better to clarify which ones should be used. This information will be given in any car store: the catalogs have all the necessary data.
When you need to save money, you should not buy a complete brush, but one rubber band. This will cost much less, but you need to remember that installing just this part is much more difficult and you should be careful not to damage the edge during installation.

When purchasing, choose products from well-known companies with a good reputation. Do not take the cheapest options, as their quality always leaves much to be desired. You can consult with experienced drivers or read advice on thematic forums. There are these for almost every car model.

In what cases is it necessary to replace wipers?

During operation, wipers quickly become unusable and lose their ability to perform their functions efficiently.

Signs that indicate when your windshield wiper needs to be replaced:

Signs of wear	Causes	How to fix
Longitudinal stripes appeared on the glass fiber	1 – the edge of the tape is worn;	1 – replacement of the windshield wiper;
2 – debris sticking to the rubber tape	2 – wipe the rim of the elastic bands.
Not all areas of glass are cleaned	The tape becomes deformed under the influence of external factors and cannot completely clean the profile	Replacing the rubber blade
Jumping brush and vertical stripes on glass	Occurs when the fastening is loose	Check the serviceability of the fastening or change the brush
Broken rubber or play in the brush frame	The edge working surface is not installed correctly	Replacing the wiper or adjusting the optimal angle
Cloudy windshield	The windshield washer fluid is of poor quality, the brush does not fit tightly to the glass	Check the quality of the washing liquid or change parts

If the metal base that holds the entire structure is bent, the entire windshield wiper must be replaced.

Installation

It’s easy to install a new wiper in place of the old one, the main thing is that the brush must go through all the attachment points, just like the previous one. The short and long cleaners are placed in the appropriate places.

Replacing the frame cleaner:

A characteristic click will indicate correct installation.

The second brush and rear wiper are also replaced.

On older car models, there are T-shaped mounts; they are removed using a flat-head screwdriver; some mounts are secured with screws.

Replacing the frameless glass cleaner:

The process of replacing rubber bands on a frameless cleaner is very simple; to do this, remove the side plastic plugs and take out the rubber band, which is held by two metal plates. The main thing is not to break the metal base.

This is what the rubber bands of a frameless cleaner look like:

Replacing rubber bands on hybrid wipers:

The hybrid model has a protective cover that prevents water and debris from entering the structure.

Use pliers to remove the steel components.
Take out the old rubber band.
Thread a new rubber band through each fastener until it stops; they should fit into the second groove in the rubber.
Push the steel guides into the first groove of the rubber band; the slots of the steel part should remain on the stop side.
Check the tightness of the elastic band.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing windshield wipers can be seen in the video.