How to replace windshield wiper blades yourself: what you need to know

Car wipers have a great influence on a comfortable ride, especially in the rain. Their work provides good visibility of the roadway due to constant cleaning of the glass, which allows the driver to maintain the car’s suspension while avoiding bumps on the road. And the better the quality of work of the wipers, the safer the car and the driver’s nerves. If the performance of the wipers is unsatisfactory, they need to be replaced.

All rubber parts, namely, the main working element of a car's windshield wiper equipment consists of this material, under constant influence of external factors (temperature changes, ultraviolet radiation from the sun) quickly lose their working properties, the same applies to the rear wiper. Therefore, wiper blades or the product in general should be replaced at least once a year, no matter how much work they have to do during that period.

Installation of frame windshield wipers

Frame glass cleaners are more bulky in appearance, as they consist of a fairly large set of structural elements:

• Pressure plates
• Rocker arms
• Adapter
• Supports
• Hinges
• Blades - rubber bands

The photo below shows this well and clearly

In such wipers, which are gradually becoming a thing of the past, not only the rubber bands are subject to wear, but also the hinges, which fail relatively quickly. Therefore, after 2-3 replacements of a worn blade, you have to change the entire frame structure of the windshield wiper. This is their disadvantage. However, there are also advantages:

• Low cost
• Simplicity of design
• Versatility - interchangeability

Kinds

Most rubber bands today are made from a soft rubber compound based on rubber. However, in addition to such products, the following types are also available for sale today:

• with graphite coating blade;
• silicone (there are variations not only of white, but also of other shades);
• with Teflon coating (you can see yellow stripes on their surface);
• made of rubber-graphite mixture.

Please note that the working edge of the elastic does not creak during operation; its surface is covered with graphite . Therefore, we recommend that you buy just such products. In addition, such elastic bands are resistant to temperature changes and ultraviolet radiation, so they will certainly serve you for a long time.

Wiper rubber profiles

Summer and winter types of rubber bands

Design of frameless wiper blades

Frameless wipers have only an elastic metal plate with fasteners that holds the glass-cleaning rubber band. Devices of this type are not universal, that is, they are designed for a specific car model, the shape of the viewing glass of which they ideally repeat when driving.

The pressure plate in such glass cleaners is held in place by a plastic housing, which transmits force from the drive mechanism. Such wipers are more expensive than frame ones, both in general and in terms of the cost of replacement rubber.

Replacing rubber bands on frameless wipers

All motorists know that windshield wiper blades need to be changed periodically. However, there is an alternative - replacing only the rubber cleaning tape. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method, and when can it be justified? We’ll talk about it in this article.

Why change rubber bands on frameless wipers?

When your windshield wiper blades stop coping with their direct duties of cleaning the windshield and leave streaks and uncleaned areas, you should think about replacing them. However, there is an alternative - replacing the rubber cleaning strip in the wiper. Most often, the main reasons why car owners decide to replace the cleaning tape on a frameless brush, and not the entire wiper, are the following:

• desire to save money - even the cheapest Chinese frameless brushes (of unknown quality) usually cost more than a good cleaning tape;
• rare brush. Rare brush attachment, size, unavailable from suppliers, long delivery times, etc. This is the second most popular reason for replacing rubber bands.

If the brush frame itself is generally suitable for use, has not lost mobility, and the steel element of the brush provides the necessary pressure to the glass, then replacing the rubber band in such a wiper is quite acceptable.

Rubber bands for frameless wipers

Many manufacturers sell replacement rubber bands for windshield wiper blades separately. There are such products in the catalogs of Bosch, Champion, offers its branded replacement elastic band with MARUENU tourmaline, there are replacement bands from Alca, SCT and Horse. Rubber bands are sold in different lengths, individually, in sets of 2 pieces, and some stores have even started selling cleaning tape in rolls by the meter. They will cut off as much as you need.

Elastic bands from Horse Replacement tape SWF

But the choice of manufacturer is not the only important point when choosing an elastic band for a frameless brush.

It is important to pay attention to the profile of the tape and also the width. Most often, frameless brushes use a rectangular profile 6 millimeters wide, but there are other options. There is a profile in the form of a trapezoid; sometimes brushes use an elastic band with a width of not 6, but 8 millimeters

There is a profile in the form of a trapezoid; sometimes the brushes use an elastic band with a width of not 6, but 8 millimeters.

Profile and size of elastic band for frameless wipers

How to disassemble a frameless wiper

Disassembling a frameless brush and changing the rubber band in it is quite simple and you can do everything yourself. To do this you will need:

• flat screwdriver;
• replacement cleaning tape;
• pliers;
• scissors.

Now the actual algorithm for disassembling the wiper and replacing the tape.

1. First of all, you need to remove the old brushes from the machine. On some car models, this may require moving the brush arms to the service/winter position.
2. The next step is to disassemble the brush. To do this, you need to remove the outer plastic plugs that are held on by a latch. The latch is held by a tongue on an elastic steel element that runs along the entire brush. To remove the latch, you need to crawl under the plug from the non-working side of the brush with a flat-head screwdriver. Insert the screwdriver deeper and then remove the plug. In general, the procedure is quite simple and quite doable, but pressing the latch for the first time is quite difficult, it is difficult to feel. How to disassemble a frameless wiper
3. After you have disassembled the wiper, you need to pull out the old tape. It is fixed on one side with a steel tongue. You just need to bend the tab and after that you can easily pull it out. All Disassembled frameless wiper
4. Then everything is in reverse order. That is, insert a new elastic band and, if necessary, cut it to the desired size with scissors.
5. Squeeze the rubber fastening tab.
6. Replace the plugs along the edges of the brush and the brush itself on your car.
7. Don't forget to repeat the same steps with the second brush. The rubber bands of frameless brushes should always be changed in pairs.

bwiper.ru

How to replace rubber bands on windshield wipers in a car

So, the replacement is done like this:

1. The windshield wiper arms must be raised (away from the windshield).
2. Next, you need to stick out the old worn rubber bands. To do this, we find their attachment point to the guide arms and disconnect them using pliers. It is important not to overdo it with the clamps. They need to be bent a few millimeters. Otherwise they may be damaged.
3. Each elastic band is detached along with the edge on which it is located. Some sets include not only elastic bands, but also these ribs. If they are, by all means, use them. If not, use the old ones.
4. The new elastic band must match the size of the old one. Therefore, if necessary, cut it to size.
5. The new part is inserted in place of the old one (into the grooves), after which the mount is fixed. The ribs are installed in their original place.

As they say, words cannot clearly explain this, so we highly recommend watching this video on how to replace rubber bands on wipers

Step-by-step replacement procedure for different types of wipers

Before you change the rubber bands on your wipers, you need to buy them. Autopub recommends choosing products from well-known manufacturers with a good reputation (focus on reviews of real customers on the Internet). It often happens that wiper blades from unpromoted brands are much cheaper than analogues from famous companies, but the quality is sometimes even higher.

The first step is to remove the wiper itself. After this, slowly separate the holder with the brush from the windshield of the car.

Now you need to disconnect the brushes themselves from the metal holders. Dismantling is carried out depending on what type of fastening is used in your car. Below are diagrams for different options:

After dismantling the brushes, you can proceed directly to replacing the rubber on the wipers. We will look at performing this procedure with frameless and framed wiper blades.

Replacing rubber bands on frame wipers

We need to disconnect the plugs located on the sides of the wiper, remove the rubber pads and pull out the worn rubber.

Next you need to install a new element. At this stage, difficulties usually arise, since the new rubber does not want to easily fit into the place of the old part. You can solve the problem by using soap to improve gliding. For those who are especially impatient, we recommend disassembling the wiper to replace the rubber.

To do this you will have to remove one of the metal guides. Next, we put the new element on the guide located in the wiper. The procedure should be performed carefully so as not to tear the elastic. Reinstall the guide and straighten the elastic. Remember to reassemble the brush in reverse order.

Important! All fasteners should be thoroughly checked, since the wipers experience significant stress during operation.

Replacing rubber bands on frameless wipers

First we remove the longer wiper. There are plastic plugs along the edges of the brush. One of them is responsible for fixing the elastic band. In order to understand what kind of plug we need, we move the old rubber band left and right. It is necessary to remove the plug that does not move. We pry it off with a flat screwdriver, but so as not to damage it, the plastic can be quite fragile. A metal rubber band retainer should be hidden under the plug.

It must be bent upward a few millimeters, since otherwise it will not be possible to remove the worn rubber band (see the video at the end of the article for all the details). After this, we throw away the old rubber band and install a new one. Sometimes it is inserted easily, sometimes it is better to use soap. Very often the elastic band is slightly longer than the wiper itself. In this case, it must be cut to the required size. After this, we clamp the metal clamp so that the elastic does not fall out. The final stage is installing the plug in its rightful place. We carry out similar work with a short brush.

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How to choose rubber bands for windshield wipers

• First of all, it must be straight, without bends or distortions.
• There should be no burrs or torn areas on the cleaning side of the gum.
• They should be soft and elastic, which most likely means that they will not tan too much in the cold
• The size of the wipers must meet the requirements of your family, or a slight deviation downward is acceptable.

Ideally, you should purchase two pairs of windshield wipers or rubber bands, one for winter driving - frost-resistant, the other for the warm season.

How to change the rubber on a wiper? Simple and fast ways

Windshield wipers are easy to replace, just like changing the rubber band on a windshield wiper

you can do it yourself, you can temporarily refuse to buy new brushes. Considering the fact that a suspension of small debris, sand and small particles of dirt, to which salt particles are added in winter, constantly hangs over the road, the rubber bands on the wipers quickly wear out and require replacement.

How to change the rubber on a wiper? It’s very simple, it’s an extremely easy manipulation. Main

Before starting work on replacing the rubber, decide on the type of brush design installed on the car.

Frame brushes

They are most widely used on Soviet and domestically assembled cars. Until recently, all structural parts were made of metal, but after the mid-2000s, windshield wiper manufacturers switched to plastic and materials based on it.

• hinges
• supports
• pressure plate with clamps

Frameless design

The windshield wiper includes a molded plastic body into which metal plates are fused, between which an elastic band is clamped. This type of wiper is distinguished by its price (increasingly) and lack of versatility. Frameless wipers are produced individually for each car model, since the cast body must perfectly match the geometry of the windshield.

Hybrid wipers

The rocker arms and supports were borrowed from frame brushes, and the plastic housing was borrowed from frameless brushes. This is the most advanced and expensive type of windshield wipers, and at the same time the most durable.

Changing the rubber band in a windshield wiper without compromising its performance characteristics is possible only on a frame structure. Replacing rubber blades on frameless and hybrid wipers requires certain training and qualifications from the driver. Such a replacement is made only in cases where it is not possible to purchase a new set of wipers.

Rubber replacement procedure

To replace the rubber band, you will need a screwdriver with a thin, but not sharp, wide blade and pliers.

Having removed the wiper from the leash, use a screwdriver to carefully bend the rubber band clamps located at the edges of the pressure plate. It is necessary to squeeze it carefully and to the minimum required angle, only so that the elastic band can freely come out of the wiper. It is better to do the final bending of the clamps with pliers, since they have a wider grip and, therefore, are less likely to damage the clamps.

After the tape is removed from the support clamps, plates are removed from it, which hold the shape of the elastic in a curved state. It is necessary to remember the direction of the bends of the plates so as not to mix them up during assembly. Otherwise, the rubber will not press against the windshield, and the wiper repair will need to be done again.

Samples are made in the plates

. into which the grooves of the rubber band should fit. Occasionally situations arise when the width of the recess is less than the thickness of the groove. In this situation, it is necessary to expand the sample using a thin needle file.

A new rubber band is inserted into the clamps

. The tape should pass the clamps freely, but without strong play in the rocker arms, the presence of which can lead to rapid wear of the new tape.

When repairing windshield wipers, you should take into account the fact that the quality of cleaning the windshield will depend on how to change the rubber band on the wiper. If the new rubber band leaves the area untouched by cleaning, you can repeat the replacement experiment, but it is best to buy a new set of windshield wipers, since the cost of several rubber bands damaged by poor-quality replacement may cover the cost of new wipers.

In Minsk, on Nekrasova, I bought graphite rubber bands for wipers 1#036 pieces.

The old ones worked for half a year, and with the frosts they stopped cleaning as before in one or two strokes.

With a slight movement of your fingers, place the spring plates in the new rubber band and insert them into place

Now let's admire how we got our hands dirty with graphite

We dispose of waste in accordance with the law

VW Golf IV AZD 1.6 2001 black (from Essex, UK) | Audi80 B4 2.0 ABK 1994 black. (sold and went to Vitebsk)

RF Moscow South-Western Administrative District, Republic of Belarus Grodno.

Types of wiper blade mounts

Hook or Hook

This is the oldest and most universal mount. It is usually denoted by the letter "U". The sizes of the “hook” can vary, the most common are 9x3 and 9x4. Although there are others: for example, some Audi models have very small hooks, and the American Subaru Tribeca B9 has a 12*4 “truck” class hook on the driver’s brush. On Honda Civic 4D/5D of the first years of production, the hook is supplemented with a special profile on the leash, the holding element is additionally covered with a decorative cap.

Side pin

The names “Pin in Arm” are also found. This mount is found on cars produced since 2005: BMW 3, Volvo S40, VW Jetta and Passat, as well as on some Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot models.

Push button

This mount is very widespread and is used in Volvo, Renault, Ford, Citroen, VW cars.

Pin lock

The “Pin lock” mount is used in Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Seat cars.

Side mounting

This type of fastening is not very common and is used in a number of Renault cars. Previously, this mount was also used in American-made cars.

Pinch tab

This type of fastening is very common among European manufacturers and is used in modern Audi, Fiat, Saab cars, as well as in some Mercedes-Benz and Opel models

Bayonet lock or Bayonet arm

The bayonet lock mount is used mainly in Renault cars after 2004 and Saab. There are modifications of this mount with two holes for fastening with screws; they are used for trucks.

Top lock

This type of fastening is not very common and is used in a number of BMW 5 and 6 Series cars.

Claw or Claw

This type of fastening is not very common and is used in Audi A6 cars.

Universal adapter BOSCH Aerotwin Multi-Clip

The universal Multi-Clip adapter was developed by BOSCH engineers in 2009. This adapter fits:

• Side pin
• Push button
• Top lock
• Pinch tab

Please note that this adapter is NOT suitable for hook mounting.

Recommendations for use

If you follow some recommendations, you can not only ensure proper operation of the wipers, but also extend their service life:

1. Do not use brushes on a dry surface, especially when the glass is heavily soiled or when it is covered with ice.
2. Regularly clean and wash in water to rid the wipers of sand and other accumulated dirt.
3. If during operation the windshield wipers extend beyond the edge of the windshield, it is necessary to urgently adjust the arms.
4. If the glass or wiper blades become oily, degrease them with a 10% soda solution and then rinse thoroughly with water. Or you can use a special cleaning car shampoo that does not contain protective components. Under no circumstances should gasoline or any solvents be used.
5. There is no need to dilute concentrated windshield washer with large amounts of water in winter.
6. You need to remove snow and clear ice from glass with a brush, and not wait until the stove melts it. The melted water will then freeze on the brushes.
7. Do not turn on the wipers until the windshield is warm.

How to keep your windshield wipers from wearing out quickly

• Before you start cleaning the windshield, you must first moisten it with water from the sprayer. If the barrel is empty, you can use a plastic bottle or snow. The movement of rubber bands on dry glass can cause damage. There is a lot of dust and sand on the windshield, especially on the rear window. When a dry rubber band passes over them, abrasions and cracks may form on its surface. Of course, this does not happen after just one time, but it is a fact.
• From time to time the wiper needs to be lubricated or washed with water. And this applies not only to the mechanism, but also the rubber band must sometimes receive a share of lubricant.
• In winter, special care is required. If you leave the car for an indefinite period of time in the open air (not in a warm garage), then it is necessary to move the wipers away from the windshield. In severe frosts, the rubber bands freeze to the glass. And if at this time you need to use the car, then do not even think about turning on the glass cleaning. This can lead to premature wear of the motor and brushes.
• When cold weather sets in, it is necessary to replace the washer fluid with antifreeze. This will not only preserve your wipers for a few more seasons, but will also save your fluid reservoir. Since ordinary liquid freezes and causes the tank to crack.
• High air temperatures and direct sunlight on brushes reduce their service life by half. If you don’t want to buy new brushes after the summer, don’t be lazy to remove them from your car. The withdrawal procedure will take you a couple of minutes and will save you several hundred rubles.
• You can get into the habit of wiping the glass while refueling your car or every time you use it.
• The most vulnerable part of the (frame) wipers is the hinges. They're worth keeping an eye on. When dust gets on them, they cause corrosion and premature wear. The hinges must be lubricated with any means. Otherwise, the windshield wiper will have to be replaced.
• It is not recommended to use the wiper when there is a layer of snow on the windshield. It is better to sweep it away by hand or with a scraper. And only after that, turn on the wiper to clean the wet glass.
• Do not turn on the wiper when the glass is covered with a layer of ice. Rubbing the rubber bands against the surface will lead to the appearance of cracks and cuts, and this, in turn, will lead to poor cleaning of the front or rear windows.
• Before purchasing new items, pay attention to their condition. Carefully check their surface for damage. Remember, the cheaper the wipers, the worse their quality of work. It’s better to pay once, but drive with normal windshield wipers for more than one year.

If your windshield wipers suddenly stop working at all, that is, they don’t even turn on, this may be the reason.

This concludes our post on how to replace rubber bands on a car’s windshield wipers, please write your comments and suggestions below under this article.

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

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.

The design of frame wipers allows you to more accurately follow the curve of the windshield and orient the rubber blades perpendicular to the surface being cleaned.

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

Winter frame wipers allow you to avoid freezing of structural elements in winter, which is their undoubted advantage.

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 main disadvantage of frameless wipers is their poor adherence to the surface of the windshield, as a result of which the quality of cleaning sharply decreases.

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

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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

Hybrid wipers

Hybrid wipers are undoubtedly a more modern product that provides comfort of use and quality of windshield cleaning, but they are not cheap.

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.