How to change wipers on a car: step-by-step replacement process

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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How to remove wipers completely

To conveniently dismantle the cleaners, you will need access to the engine compartment. Open the lid - now you can see the entire wiper lever. It is attached using a bolt connection. As a rule, during operation, moisture and dirt accumulate in this place, so the nut and bolt may become sour. To facilitate dismantling, use WD-40 (read about how to make WD 40 with your own hands).

When the nut comes off, unscrew it. Now you need to pull the lever off the bolt. This is very difficult: you need to additionally use a key to pry the holder off from all sides. The repairman must not overdo it and break the holder rod.

We recommend that you maintain regular windshield wiper maintenance and use high-quality components to ensure driving safety.

Rear wiper blade - how does it function?

• Rear wiper blade - how does it function?
• 1. We study the causes of wear on the rear wiper blade
• 2. Design features of automobile windshield wipers and their blades
• 3. Let's get acquainted with the general rules that you need to know when starting to replace the windshield wiper blade
• 4. Removing the rear windshield wiper blade: how to avoid getting hurt or scratching the glass?
• 5. Installing the rear wiper blade: doing everything right

A car is an expensive pleasure. And this is not at all connected with its market value, but with the need to periodically replace all consumables and parts. This even applies to windshield wipers, or wipers, as we used to call them. After all, the constant interaction of windshield wiper blades with dust, dirt and water leads to their wear. And in a worn-out state, they are as useless as milk from a goat. Well, driving a car with dirty windows is the same as driving with your eyes closed.

So car owners have to go to a special store and buy wiper blades. Fortunately, at least their replacement can be done without outside help and expensive professionals. So today we decided to help you in a similar situation and tell you how to replace the rear wiper blade.

We study the causes of rear wiper blade wear

If a car is used regularly and under a variety of weather conditions, as well as on sections of the road of varying complexity and pollution, over time even its main “organ” - the engine - wears out. Therefore, wear of the rear windshield wiper blade should not surprise you, especially since they always have to interact with external conditions. What role do windshield wipers play on a car?

The immediate task of these devices is to provide a good view of the space in front and behind the vehicle. In turn, this factor is directly related to road safety. So the windshield wipers, just like the seat belt, are the most important elements of the car that save the life of the driver.

Why do we turn to the rear windshield wiper and not the front ones? If you are an experienced car owner, you have probably noted more than once that it is the rear wiper blade that wears out faster, which is why it has to be replaced more often. And since the rear and front windshield wiper blades are attached almost identically, a description of the process of replacing one will help you successfully cope with replacing the other.

A variety of reasons can lead to wear of the described parts. This is mainly due to the aerodynamic features of the car. While driving, the wind blows dust and dirt off the windshield. Even raindrops can fly off of it on their own. At the same time, all this is carried back and settles on the rear window. Also, dust constantly flies here from under the wheels of the car, and particles of fuel and lubricants from the exhaust pipe settle. So it turns out that the rear wiper has to work two or even three times more intensely than its front brothers. And the driver is forced to change the rear windshield wiper blades from time to time.

Design features of automobile windshield wipers and their blades

In order to be able to easily deal with rear wiper blades, it is undoubtedly necessary to understand the features of their design. To do this, we will look at examples of the most common windshield wiper blades. Their main details are:

1. Assembly for attaching brushes to wiring. This part on almost all modern brushes is made removable. Thanks to this, the fastening unit is almost universal. Compatibility with fastenings of various types of leashes is ensured thanks to a special adapter that fits onto a pin at the base of the brush. Different manufacturers produce different forms of adapters. By the way, the reliability of the connection depends on the shape of the adapter.

2. Rocker arm pressure block (pressure system). The most classic version of the pressure block is a system of rocker arms articulated with each other. The number of these rocker arms may vary slightly, but usually they are presented in a set of no less than three and no more than six pieces. This number directly depends on the length installed on the brush holder, and most often amounts to five.

Toyota Rav4 rear wiper blade replacement

I hope my video will be useful.

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.

Useful tips

As you can see, the issue of replacing wipers is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. It is important to choose the right solution based on the type of fastening, as well as the size. By the way, size also plays an important role.

You can often see in catalogs that wipers of different sizes (both longer and shorter) can be installed on a particular car. So, it is necessary to take into account the fact that brushes can be framed or frameless. Each option has both its pros and cons. At the same time, frame wipers look more modern and are widely in demand today.

However, you should not settle for the largest length option from the permissible sizes in the catalog, since in practice it is often not possible to achieve a tight fit of the blade to the glass along the entire length. The result is that there are omissions, squeaks may appear during operation, such brushes rub worse at the edges, etc.

Let us also add that sometimes replacing wipers even with the highest quality new products does not produce results. This happens when there are defects in the wiper arms (leads) or the windshield itself has defects and scratches. If in the first case the problem can be solved by adjustments, replacing springs or the entire lever, then in the second you need to work with glass.

We also recommend reading the article on how to polish a car windshield. From this article you will learn when and why you need to polish your windshield, in which cases polishing your windshield is the right solution, and how to properly polish your windshield yourself.

Scratches inevitably appear during operation and can be quite deep if the wipers often work “dry” and fine abrasive, sand, etc. actively gets on the glass. Also, in the case of replacing the windshield, a solution may not be of the highest quality.

In turn, individually or in combination, these factors lead to the fact that the wipers cannot properly remove dirt from the surface, and streaks remain. The solution in this situation is professional polishing of the windshield or its complete replacement with a high-quality analogue.

Only in this case, installing new wipers or replacing brushes will allow you to get the best result. If the glass is defective, then no wipers can completely correct the situation.

Removing old wipers

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

1. Inspect the mounting location, find the latch and open it.
2. If you find rust, then you can treat it at the joints with WD-40 liquid for better removal.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

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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.

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.

What are wipers and when should they be changed?

Windshield wipers are a device in which a metal arm is connected to a rubber wiper surface . The wiper blade is secured to the lever with a special holder with a plastic plug. They come in two varieties: framed and frameless.

Frame brushes have moving parts called rocker arms. They hold the cleaning surface on the windshield. The fundamental disadvantage of such “wipers” is the presence of hinged joints, which are vulnerable to the ingress of snow and ice, which disables the wipers. In addition, the rubber brush often does not adhere tightly to the glass, which makes its work ineffective.

Wiper frame design

Frameless wipers have a spring instead of rocker arms, which presses the blade to the surface of the windshield. Such windshield wipers look more organic in appearance, clean the glass better and do not wear out so quickly. You can recognize them by the characteristic curve of their shape. Windshield wipers of this type are installed on most modern cars and have the following advantages:

• They look much better.
• Can be used on glass of any curvature;
• They do not impair the aerodynamic properties of the body.
• Less sensitive to icing.
• Does not interfere with visibility when folded

  Frameless design wiper

At the same time, it is not possible to replace only the rubber part in such “wipers”; you will have to change the whole thing. Often, a frameless windshield wiper needs to be selected for a specific car model based on the length of the blade and the curvature of the windshield.

Tips for use

1. Before use, it is advisable to treat them with soapy water.
2. Monitor the quality of liquids with which the brush comes into contact during its operation, use them only in accordance with the instructions.
3. Rinse frequently with water to remove large dirt particles.
4. Lubricate the hinge joints periodically.
5. 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.
6. Wash your windshield more often; this service is free at many gas stations.
7. If the glass is covered with ice, do not use windshield wipers; it is better to clean it manually with a special scraper.
8. In cold weather, during long periods of inactivity, you need to raise the wipers so that they do not freeze.
9. Try to buy brushes only from well-known manufacturers, they will pay for themselves.
10. It is not recommended to use windshield wipers without windshield washer.

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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!

Replacing wipers. Selection, installation, types of fastenings

“He can’t even replace the windshield wipers himself” is a very offensive assessment of a motorist’s skills.
But replacing windshield wiper blades is not as simple as it seems, and sometimes causes difficulties even for experienced drivers. We tell you how to choose and change wipers yourself without breaking the mounts, glass and fingers. But first you need to buy wipers. When choosing new windshield wiper blades, you need to consider three factors: their length, type of fastening and design (seasonality). Let's start with the last one.

Wiper design

Structurally, wipers are divided into three main types: frame (divided into summer and winter), frameless and hybrid. The frame brush is pressed against the glass by a metal frame made of articulated rocker arms. The hybrid wiper is additionally equipped with a streamlined plastic housing that reduces noise at high speed and protects the hinges from dirt and snow. Instead of a bulky iron frame, the frameless brush is pressed against the glass by an elastic steel plate hidden inside - it ensures precise fit of the blade to the surface. We talked in detail about the differences, pros and cons of different wiper designs in a separate article.

The design also dictates the seasonality of the brushes. Classic frame wipers are summer (and the most affordable); frame brushes covered with a rubber cover - winter ones, well protected from snow and ice (we also wrote about them separately); and frameless and hybrid wipers are classified as all-season or universal, which can be used year-round.

Wiper length

Windshield wiper blades differ in length, because the sizes of car windows are different - compare the windshield of a Mazda Demio and a Toyota Land Cruiser. But even on a single car, the left and right windshield wipers are different: the driver’s windshield wiper on most modern cars is longer. That is, you will need two brushes of different sizes.

To find out the length of the wipers, you can simply go to the car and measure them with a tape measure, but there is no guarantee that the old wipers were sized correctly. Therefore, it is better to check the length of the brushes in the selection catalogs. In the header of the section with wipers on the Hyperauto website there is a selector that will help you determine the length of the blades based on the car model.

Do not deviate from the manufacturer's recommended sizes. Longer windshield wipers, which motorists sometimes install to increase the glass cleaning area, will press less well along the edges and will begin to leave streaks on the glass.

Preparing for replacement

Before replacing the brushes you need to prepare something. First of all, the wipers themselves - unpack them and install the necessary adapters. Most brushes are universal, suitable for cars with different types of wiper mountings - for this purpose, several adapters are included with the brush. The most popular adapter for the classic “hook” mount is usually already installed out of the box - it’s great if it suits you. But if your car has a rarer mount, you will have to find a suitable one among the included adapters and install it instead of the standard one.

Also, do not forget to remove the plastic shipping covers from the blades of the wipers - the reason for the most curious complaints about “bad” wipers (in these covers, the brushes hardly clean the glass, causing confusion among drivers). Not all wipers have plastic covers - their availability depends on the specific model.

Before replacing the blades, you need to check that the wiper arms (leads) bend freely from the glass by hand and are fixed in a vertical position. On some cars, the edge of the hood prevents them from being lifted. To free up the wipers, set them to winter mode (see article on winter wipers) or “catch” them in the up position when operating. To do this, turn on the ignition and activate the windshield wiper. When the brushes swing, turn off the ignition so that they remain in the up position. The wipers can now be freely bent away from the glass. In modern cars, the same actions are performed by a special service mode of the windshield wiper, which is activated by holding the wiper lever in the MIST position for several seconds.

Service mode of wipers on Toyota Camry

After this, we begin dismantling the old wipers. What exactly needs to be done depends on the type of fastening.

J-Hook Mount

“Hook” (Hook/J-Hook/U-Hook) is the oldest and most common type of windshield wiper mounting. It is designated by the Latin letters J or U due to the similar shape of the tip of the leash. There are different options for J-Hook dimensions, the most popular: 9x3 mm (standard hook for most Japanese cars) and 9x4 mm (wide hook - used, for example, on Nissan Juke). There are also 8x3 and 12x4 mm hooks.

BerKyT-015 › Blog › CHANGING WIPER BLADES. HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAR WIPERS?

A question arose about replacing the windshield wiper blades, which I am going to replace myself. Many of my subscribers and acquaintances from the site helped with advice. Special thanks to the user 124Merin for providing me with the article, which in my opinion is very useful when in doubt about the choice. I, in turn, would like to provide it to you.

Autumn. Dampness. Rainy days. Bad visibility.

This associative series can be continued for a long time. Each of us knows the pros and cons of this golden time, and we all experience this time of year in our own way. While cold weather can still be dealt with somehow, things are more complicated with poor visibility. Of course, you can turn on the fog lights and wipers, which will remove drops of rain or fog. Yes, then it is so, but as practice shows, not everyone has effective wipers and, in fact, high-quality windshield wiper blades. Usually no one pays attention to their condition, believing that everything is fine with them and nothing can happen to the wipers or brushes. But as soon as it comes to the need to clear the windshield or rear window from drops of rain, dust, insects or snow, it turns out that the wipers either do not work or work but are of little use. As a result, you have to stop and manually wipe the glass. Maybe for some this is a solution and, in principle, it will work well with dust and insects, but if, for example, it is raining heavily or, worse, snowing? What then? In short, whatever you say, the wipers must be in good condition, and the windshield wiper blades must effectively clean the glass from any dirt and moisture. Without this, you will not go far, you will have to either stop or risk your life and travel almost blindly, endangering not only your life, but also the lives of other road users.

In short, I think you understand that windshield wiper blades play an important role, now let's talk about how to choose them correctly and what you need to pay attention to when choosing car wipers. But before that, a few words about how to understand that it is necessary to replace windshield wipers or wiper blades.

How to change windshield wiper blades

Car windshield wipers, commonly referred to as “windshield wipers,” are one of the consumable parts of all cars. They serve to remove water and dirt from the surface of the windshield, and sometimes also the rear window, that interfere with visibility. Since blades from different cars are not fundamentally different from each other, replacing windshield wipers is done the same way for all cars. Let's look at how to change them with your own hands.