Video of replacing rubber bands on frame wipers. How to change rubber bands on frameless wipers: video instructions and advice from professionals

04/25/2019 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.

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.

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 the brushes use an elastic band with a width of not 6, but 8 millimeters.

Windshield wipers are very easy to replace, but since you can replace the rubber bands on the wipers yourself, you can avoid buying new blades. Considering that a lot of debris, small particles of dirt and sand are constantly hovering over the road, to which salt is added in winter, the rubber bands on the wipers wear out a lot and need to be replaced. The rubber bands are very easy to change. The main thing is to decide on the type of brush design that is installed on the car.

How to change rubber bands on windshield wipers - windshield wiper design

There are currently 3 types of wipers in use:

frameless;
frame;
hybrid.

Frameless wipers

They consist of a molded plastic body with fused metal plates, between which an elastic band is installed. This type of wipers is more expensive and they are not universal. Frameless wipers are made individually for each car model.

Frame wipers

They were most widely used on domestic and Soviet cars. Until recently, all structural parts were made of metal, but now manufacturers are switching to plastic en masse.

Frame wipers consist of:

supports;
rocker arms;
hinges;
adapter;
elastic bands;
pressure plate.

Hybrid wipers

They use supports and rocker arms from frame brushes, and a plastic body from frameless brushes. Hybrid wipers are very expensive and at the same time the most durable.

Varieties

You should check the condition of replacement rubber bands for car wipers from time to time. If the car brushes are of high quality, then they can last about two to three years, although it all depends on the manufacturer. It is recommended to replace them every year.

There are several types of car wipers:

frameless;
frame;
combined.

Frameless models

A set of frameless structures consists of a brush and a special pressure plate. The disadvantage of the product is its lack of versatility. To ensure the correct clamping force, wipers must be selected correctly. If we talk about a design without a frame, then such elements are purchased for a specific car model, that is, they cannot be purchased at every car store.

Frameless products are all-season, and are also easy to maintain. For example, almost everyone can figure out how to change the rubber band on frameless wipers. To do this, just get a flat screwdriver, scissors, and pliers. Then you need to remove the brush, disassemble it, dismantle the old tape and install a new one in its place.

Frame brushes

The frame variety of cleaners is notable for the fact that it ensures fairly tight contact of the rubber band with the surface of the glass, but in the cold the unit will not work until it warms up. As a rule, frame rubbers clean glass more effectively, but they often creak and can leave mechanical damage.

Combined type

Hybrid brushes (combined) are a completely different matter. You can guess that these products have all the advantages of frameless and frame models and are deprived of their disadvantages. They are all-season and do not freeze, and are also characterized by a long service life. However, the cost of hybrid wipers often scares many car enthusiasts.

The procedure for replacing rubber bands on wipers

Prepare pliers and a wide-blade screwdriver.

Remove the wiper from its leash. Using a screwdriver, carefully bend the rubber band clamps. Bend it to the minimum angle so that the rubber slips out of the wiper. Do the final bending with pliers. The fact is that their grip is wider, and the likelihood of damage to the clamps is reduced.
After removing the tape from the clamps of the support, remove the plates from it that hold the elastic in a bent state. Remember the direction of the bends of the plates so as not to confuse them. If you install them the other way around, the rubber will not press against the glass, and the wipers will have to be disassembled again.
The plates have recesses into which rubber band grooves fit. A situation is possible when the thickness of the groove is greater than the width of the opening. In this case, take a thin file and expand the selection.
Insert the rubber band into the fasteners. It should pass the clamps freely. Please note that strong play in the rocker arms is not allowed, otherwise the new tape will quickly wear out.

How to protect your windshield wiper blades from premature wear

Do not leave the car in areas exposed to direct sunlight. If this cannot be avoided, then lift the blades from the windshield.
In winter, to prevent the blades from freezing to the glass, raise the leashes and do not lower them until the car warms up. If the wipers are frozen, do not tear them off by force - the glass should thaw along with them.
Heavily soiled glass with branches and leaves must first be cleaned and wiped with a cloth so that solid particles do not get under the rubber band.
When choosing wipers, avoid dubious cheap fakes. Give preference only to trusted or well-known manufacturing companies. These products are of good quality and made from reliable materials.
Silicone rubber bands have worked well. They are durable and elastic.

When carrying out such repairs, keep in mind that the quality of cleaning the windshield will depend on how you perform the work. If the new rubber band misses some areas of the glass, then you can repeat the experiment with replacement, but it is better to buy a new set of windshield wipers. Please note that the cost of several rubber bands damaged by poor quality replacements will outweigh the cost of new wipers.

Car owners very often have various problems associated with minor malfunctions of the most common elements. Take, for example, windshield wipers. This small detail has a huge impact on driving safety. Moreover, it is not recommended to start driving with poorly functioning wipers. In bad weather, insects flying towards you on the highway and other similar situations, you cannot do without wipers. If the windshield is filled with water or dirt, visibility is sharply reduced. And this in turn can lead to an accident. If you want to avoid this difficult situation, then monitor the condition of your wipers. Many motorists change rubber brushes when they begin to “smudge.” Some people prefer to buy original spare parts, others are satisfied with cheaper analogues. But the question comes down primarily to the quality of the rubber bands on the wipers themselves. And replacing them is much cheaper than buying a new part.

Recommendations for use

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

Do not use brushes on a dry surface, especially when the glass is heavily soiled or when it is covered with ice.
Regularly clean and wash in water to rid the wipers of sand and other accumulated dirt.
If during operation the windshield wipers extend beyond the edge of the windshield, it is necessary to urgently adjust the arms.
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.
There is no need to dilute concentrated windshield washer with large amounts of water in winter.
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.
Do not turn on the wipers until the windshield is warm.

Where to start replacing rubber bands on wipers?

If you decide to change the rubber bands on your wipers, then first decide on the manufacturer. It is best to purchase models from well-known brands that have proven themselves well. But many car enthusiasts recommend certain companies that are of high quality at a relatively low price. The cost of these spare parts is low in any case. For example, well-known Denso will cost significantly more than Masuma models, although their quality is approximately the same.

Anyone who doesn’t know how to replace the rubber on wipers should start small - removing the blade itself

. To do this, you need to turn on the windshield wipers and wait until the middle of the cycle, when the wipers themselves reach their highest position. At this moment (you need to catch him in time), turn off the ignition. And then your wipers will stop in the selected position.

After this, the wiper must be carefully separated from the windshield. Do not force it, it may bend or break.

Stand on the driver's side and grasp the brush. It needs to be turned counterclockwise several times, after which it will be removed from the wiper. On some models, it is enough to turn the brush 90 degrees and pull up. There are models where the rubber brush is attached using a plastic clamp, which must be carefully squeezed out. A similar procedure must be carried out with the second brush, standing on the front passenger side.

Removing the wiper blade with hook type fastening

Removing the wiper blade with button type fastening

Removing the windshield wiper blade with the side pin fastening

Removing the wiper blade with side clamp type fastening

Removing the wiper blade with Bayonet type fastening

Removing the wiper blade with pin type fastening

Removing the wiper blade with a claw-type mount

Removing the side-mounted wiper blade

Removing a wiper blade with a top lock type fastening

Replacing the rubber bands themselves with complete disassembly of the brush may seem like a lengthy procedure, but in reality it will take you no more than twenty minutes. But the savings will be noticeable.

Main signs of starter malfunction

Despite the fact that the starter is a fairly reliable device, it can also break. Some breakdowns may have symptoms identical to other faults, but there is still something in common when the electric motor malfunctions.

The main symptoms of starter malfunctions:

The solenoid relay does not click (does not operate) and the armature does not rotate.

Battery discharge (complete or partial) or failure;
Oxidation of battery terminals and tips connected to it;
The terminals or tips connected to both the starter itself and the battery have come loose;
Lack of contact on the terminal bolts, caused by a break in the wires connecting the ignition switch and starter;
Short circuit, break or breakdown of the solenoid relay windings to ground.

When the electric motor starts and the solenoid relay is operational, the armature rotates slowly or does not rotate at all.

The contact on the terminal bolts of the solenoid relay is broken;
High wear of brushes or their jamming;
Burning or overheating of the collector plates;
Breakdown of the stator winding caused by insulation failure or interturn short circuit;
Damage to the insulating layer of the positive brush holder;
Short circuit of collector plates caused by insulation failure;

The armature of a running starter rotates, but the crankshaft does not spin.

Overrunning clutch slipping;
Mechanical damage to the freewheel (buffer spring, underwater ring);
The starter drive fork is flying out or damaged;
Difficulty in moving the drive along the thread on the anchor shaft.

After starting the engine, the starter continues to operate.

Drive fork jamming;
Damage to the ignition switch spring;
Jamming of the solenoid relay or starter drive contacts on the anchor shaft;
Damage or stretching of the springs that return the solenoid relay or overrunning clutch;
Solenoid relay jammed;
Warping of the electromagnetic motor caused by unscrewing its fastenings to the internal combustion engine.

Increased noise when the starter is running.

Increased wear of individual parts of the armature (necks and bushings);
Violation of the integrity of the starter housing at the drive location;
Mechanical damage to the teeth of the flywheel or bendix;
Insufficiently tightened motor mounts;
Contact of the armature with the pole during rotation due to the weakened fastening of the latter inside the unit.

How to replace rubber on wipers

What should be done:

remove both side plugs from the brush;
remove the rubber spoiler pads;
remove (pull off) the old elastic band.

After this, a problem arises with installing a new rubber band. Someone manages to carefully insert it in place of the old one. But this is very difficult to do, since the rubber clings to the guides and does not glide very well. You can try applying soap to increase slip, but this method does not help everyone. If you don't want to tire yourself of slowly pulling the rubber band onto the brush, then simply disassemble it.

It is enough to remove one (any) metal guide. After this, the new rubber band must be placed on the guide that remains in the brush. This is not difficult to do, but make sure that the elastic does not break. Then insert the second guide into it and carefully straighten the elastic. Job is done. You just need to return the spoilers to their place and secure the structure with side plugs. Be sure to check that all elements are securely fastened, since the wipers bear a significant load during bad weather: rain, snowfall and even strong winds. It will be very problematic to purchase one plug for the brush separately.

How to change rubber bands on frameless wipers

You need to start with a long brush. Take it in your hands and look carefully. You will notice two caps along the edges. And you need to remove exactly the one that holds the elastic band. It’s easy to find out the correct plug: just move the rubber band left/right. If you see that one of the sides is motionless, then you need to remove this particular plug. To do this, you will need a simple flat-head screwdriver that can be used to pry off the plug without damaging it. If you are not mistaken, then under the plug there is a rubber band retainer.

Now you need to bend it three to four millimeters so that it releases the old elastic band. We get rid of the worn-out part and insert a new one in its place. If it is too tight, you can lubricate the rubber band with soap, which will make the work much easier and increase glide. The size of the elastic band should match the base; you won’t have to cut anything. Be sure to press the clamp back to secure the new rubber brush piece. After this, replace the plug. The first part of the work is finished.

Replacing rubber bands on frameless wipers also involves working with a short brush. The beginning of the actions coincides with those already described. You will need to figure out which side the latch is on. Then remove the plug, bend the clamp and remove the old rubber band.

But then some small difficulties await you. The fact is that the new elastic band will be longer than the one that was before. What to do in this situation? Insert the rubber band as far as possible, then press the lock back. After this, use a sharp knife to cut the elastic band to the very end of the brush.

Problem solved. All that remains is to put the plug back in place.

Many people perceive information better from video master classes. If you want to learn how to replace rubber bands on windshield wipers in a video, then carefully follow the actions of the experts. They use the most common tools that can be found in every garage and even in every home. Plus, you don't need any special skills to replace the brushes on your car. Even a person who is not very familiar with its device can do this.

But still, experts advise changing the rubber bands no more than two or three times on the same wipers. After all, the main structure also wears out and requires replacement.

How to replace rubber bands on wipers: video

Windshield wiper blades become unusable the fastest because they have to constantly interact with different climatic conditions, as well as dirt and moisture. But when the first signs of a malfunction appear, it is not rational to change the entire mechanism, since it would be more practical to simply replace the rubber bands on the wiper blades. This is not at all difficult to do, and we will talk about this in the article below. However, we want to place a deeper emphasis on how to protect brushes from wear, so that you have to replace them as rarely as possible.

The main function of a windshield wiper is to clean the car's windshield from dirt and moisture that gets on it. On some car models, windshield wipers are even installed on the rear window and headlights. Windshield wiper blades are very important for the safety of the driver and his passengers, which is why this mechanism must always be in good condition.

The process of cleaning glass with windshield wiper blades occurs due to the rocking movements performed by the brushes themselves. Removal of dirt and moisture occurs thanks to special rubber bands that are put on these brushes. They are the main part of the windshield wiper, however, it most often wears out and requires replacement. If you have purchased a new car, then it is necessary to take very good care of its windshield wipers, which will help to significantly extend their service life. After all, replacing brushes every six months is detrimental both morally and financially. In this regard, experienced car enthusiasts advise following a number of recommendations for the correct operation of this mechanism, which help extend its service life:

1.
If you are going to clean the car windshield from dirt, then before doing this you must moisten it with water using a sprayer.
If the water in the tank runs out, you can pour the glass from a bottle or throw some snow on it. Thanks to the water, the movements of the rubber bands on the glass will be smooth, and this will not cause damage.
If this is not done, the sand and dust that are on the glass can leave noticeable scratches on the rubber band, which can later form deep cracks. Of course, if you forget to water the glass once, this will not cause wear on the wiper rubber bands, but if they are constantly misused, the need for replacement may arise very soon.

To prevent the windshield wiper rubber bands from freezing to the glass under the influence of severe frosts in winter, they must be moved away from the glass. And if this has already happened, then under no circumstances should you activate the wipers, as this will most likely cause damage to them. Moreover, even the windshield wiper motor can fail. But the best thing for windshield wiper rubber bands is that the car is left in a heated garage in winter.

During frosts, special attention must be paid to the liquid used in the washer. To prevent it from freezing, it is recommended to fill the tank with anti-freeze instead. Thus, after winter, both the wiper blades and their fluid reservoir will remain in working order.

Not only frost is harmful to windshield wipers, but also very high temperatures, including exposure of the wipers to direct sunlight. As experts note, under the influence of the sun, the service life of these elements is reduced by about half. For this reason, the rubber bands must be constantly removed from the brushes so that they do not have to be replaced after the summer. This procedure will not take much time, and we will introduce you to it a little below.

To lighten the load on your windshield wipers, you can start a very simple habit: wipe the windows while refueling your car or before driving it out of the garage.

If your car has frame wipers, then you need to know that in such a mechanism the hinges most often fail. It is very important not to allow dust to get on them. The hinges must be constantly lubricated with a special product, otherwise they will quickly wear out, which will lead to the need to replace the entire mechanism.

Windshield wipers should not be used to shovel snow. It must be removed by hand or with a scraper, and then the glass can be washed with wipers.

The same applies to the situation when an ice crust forms on the glass. When the windshield wiper rubbers interact with ice, they can become very seriously damaged. As a result, they will no longer be able to provide high-quality glass cleaning.

10.

Be very careful about new wiper blades and be sure to buy quality products. Their service life will also depend on this.

When does it become necessary to replace wipers and how to determine this?

The first sign by which drivers determine the need to replace brushes is the quality of their work. However, it will not always indicate wear of the rubber bands: sometimes the glass remains dirty due to the fact that an oil film forms on it, which the wipers are simply theoretically unable to cope with. The reason may also be due to improper fixation of the windshield wiper mechanism. But let's look in order at a number of the most common signs that will indicate a malfunction of the wipers and the need to replace them (or replace the rubber bands):

After cleaning the glass with wipers, streaks remain on it. Most likely, the rubber bands are scratched or torn. As a result of wear and interaction with dirt, the rubber band may lose its desired shape. In this case, it must be replaced.

If poorly wiped areas remain on the glass, the reason may lie in deformation of the rubber or the wiper support. This often happens due to loss of rubber elasticity. To check how elastic it is, simply bend it away from the glass and release it. If everything is normal, it should easily return to its original state. If this does not happen, it must be soaked in gasoline, washed in soapy water and returned to its place.

If you hear extraneous sounds, such as grinding, when you turn on the wipers, most likely there are cracks in the wiper rubber bands. You can try to restore such a “malfunction” using silicone grease. If this does not help, the rubber bands must be replaced.

If “radial” stripes remain on the glass after using the wipers, it means that dirt or corrosion has accumulated on the rubber bands. Again, gasoline procedures and soaking in warm water will help return them to their normal state.

In general, it is impossible to determine the specific service life of car windshield wiper rubber bands. After all, different cars use different rubber bands, which are made from different types of rubber. If the rubber is natural, it wears out the fastest and has to be changed every six months. If it is artificial, its service life can last up to a year.

What is needed to replace rubber bands on windshield wiper blades?

All you need to replace the rubber bands on your wipers is:

- pliers;

Scissors;

New rubber bands for windshield wiper blades.

While preparing the first three tools will definitely not be difficult for you, many people have problems with buying new rubber bands. This is really not easy to do, because for each car model you need to select your own type of windshield wipers. In addition, brushes must be chosen so that they can combine completely incompatible qualities: flexibility and rigidity, hardness and softness. All this mainly concerns the rubber bands that are put on the wiper blades and which most often need to be replaced.

When choosing new rubber bands, it is very important that they are suitable for your windshield wipers according to the type of fastening.

If the length does not match, it’s okay; if necessary, it can be very easily adjusted. But in any case, it is necessary to pay special attention to the quality of rubber:

- make sure that the product is painted the same color along its entire length;

There should be no bends or distortions on the elastic bands; their shape must fully correspond to the shape of the wiper blade support;

The cleaning side of the rubber bands must be perfectly smooth, without any mechanical damage;

A distinctive feature of high-quality rubber is its softness and elasticity (thanks to these qualities, it will not break from frost and will be less damaged when interacting with sand, dust and ice).

Do not also forget that high-quality products are not cheap. But, as you know, the miser pays twice. So it’s better to leave a large amount in the auto store once and not return there for a whole year, than to buy new rubber bands every month. Often in stores you can find standard rubber bands made of natural or artificial rubber. But recently, quite interesting variations have begun to appear that allow you to decorate a car:

— graphite rubber bands, available only in black;

Silicone, which are available in different colors (white is more common);

With Teflon coating, which are distinguished by the presence of yellow stripes (considered more wear-resistant);

Rubber-granite mixture.

As you can see, you can choose any option for any car. The main thing is that the product is of high quality and is installed correctly. Otherwise, you may need to replace it again in a couple of days.

What is the process of replacing rubber on car windshield wiper blades?

The replacement process is even less complicated than choosing new rubber bands. Every car owner can perform it at home, spending no more than half an hour on the entire procedure:

We raise the levers of the car's wipers, that is, we move them to the sides from the windshield.

We remove old rubber bands from the supports that have already become unusable. Using pliers, it is necessary to remove their fastening on the guide arms of the window brushes. To do this, simply bend the clamps two or three millimeters and take out the elastic band. The main thing is not to overdo it with the clamps, as they are very fragile and can break easily.

The rubber bands are removed along with the ribs on which they are attached during operation. By the way, when buying rubber bands, these ribs may also be included in the kit. In this case, you can throw away the old ones, but if there are no new ones in the kit, you will have to use them.

Compare the new and old rubber bands. They must match each other in size. If the new one is slightly larger, it must be leveled using scissors or a knife.

Insert a new one into the same grooves in which the old rubber band was attached and secure it with clamps. We install the windshield wiper fins in their original place. This completes the replacement. All that remains is to wash the wipers and lubricate the entire mechanism of the device. Thanks to this, the updated wipers will work smoothly and without interruption, ensuring maximum benefit from the new rubber bands and their proper operation.

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Driving a car blindly is appropriate only for participants in some TV show; on city streets, even minor stains of dirt on the windshield can hide, for example, a pedestrian who finds himself directly in the path of a car. Even if we don’t exaggerate, we can say without exaggeration that car wipers, or rather their condition, really affect traffic safety. Even if you see everything, but the glass, clouded with dirt, makes you strain your eyesight, get irritated, resulting in inevitable fatigue, which reduces the speed of your reaction and affects driving safety.

Wipers are a consumable part of a car, but buying new ones is not cheap, but there is a way out - replacing the rubber wiper blades.

Therefore, “windshield wipers” are a consumable item for those who do not want to leave the traffic situation without proper control on their part. But the price for high-quality products is quite high, and many people prefer to change not the wiper itself, but the cleaning tape - the “rubber band”. We will tell you below how to change the rubber band on a windshield wiper, which rubber bands for windshield wipers are best to choose, and also what kind of brushes and tapes are generally available for them.

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.

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

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 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.

Selection of rubber wiper blades

If your car has good, expensive brushes, it doesn’t matter whether they are frame or hybrid, try to buy rubber bands of the same name. That is, for Denso brushes, also buy rubber bands for Denso wipers. The fact is that there is no global standard for these products and the installation dimensions of the fasteners on the brushes may not coincide, say, with the thickness of the elastic band tucked into these fasteners.

Choose replacement rubber blades from the wiper manufacturer of the same name. This way you can avoid unpleasant surprises due to mismatched sizes of the brush and wiper.

True, many manufacturers produce brush bands for different cars; for example, you can purchase domestic rubber bands for Horse wipers. In general, if the “updated” wipers do not clean the glass well, it cannot be said that there is some kind of defect, and you will have to find out which wiper rubber bands are best for your car through experience. Unfortunately, sellers do not always approach such little things conscientiously and may simply sell the wrong product. One car owner who bought rubber bands for Avantech wipers online complained that he was simply given one band with a different marking. One of the issues of “Behind the Wheel” described how the editorial staff selected windshield wipers for cars. So they achieved a positive result by installing wipers from different manufacturers on the left and right, for which they had to purchase two pairs of brushes - they were sold in sets. Sometimes car enthusiasts are interested in whether it is possible to restore the rubber bands on the wipers. A torn wiper rubber, of course, cannot be restored, but thoroughly cleaning it from dirt with a solvent will undoubtedly improve its performance.

I hope we have sorted out the questions regarding how to change rubber bands on wipers. In conclusion, we will present to you the manufacturers (maybe an incomplete list) of the best rubber bands for wipers available on the market: rubber bands for Vag wipers; Denso; Bosch; Avantech; Horse.

Comparison of manufacturers

Today the market offers a very wide range of such products. Many manufacturers are already well known, so the quality and reliability of their products have already been appreciated by Russian consumers.

For example, the Mexican company Anco contour has many positive reviews.

Bosch aero brushes have a slightly lower rating, but this is due to the price. The cost of Mexican products starts from one thousand rubles, and the Bosch brand costs seven hundred rubles.

The Heyner company also produces car wipers. Their hybrid products have the best reviews and consumer ratings. In addition, these brushes are very cheap.

It is recommended to choose hybrid models to replace wipers. They combine durability and excellent user characteristics.

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