How To Select And Install New Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers are some of the most basic pieces of equipment on our automobiles, but they’re vital to your safety on the road. We’ve all been guilty of failing to replace our tattered old wipers at one time or another, and it’s then that we see just how important they are. The braking system might be the only one that is more important for driver safety. When a sprinkle turns to a downpour as you travel down the highway, your windshield wipers can save your life.

How They Work

Windshield wipers have been around almost as long as automobiles. Beginning as simple, hand-cranked devices in 1903, a variety of systems have come and gone throughout the years. Their basic principles have remained largely the same, though, and they’re as simple as they are effective.

The wipers in your car are powered by a small motor and gear assembly that’s linked to rods which cause the blades to pivot across the windshield. The blades themselves typically consist of a metal frame that uses a series of branching arms to apply even pressure across the length of a rubber strip.

As anyone who lives in a colder region can tell you, this even pressure is required for the blades to remove water without streaking. If snow or ice forms around the arms, the pressure can become uneven and cause the wipers to become significantly less effective.

As our automobiles have evolved, so too have our windshield wipers. Rain-sensing wipers have been around for decades, but only recently have the systems become reliable enough to become common features in modern cars. These systems typically utilize reflected infrared light to determine whether or not the windshield’s glass is wet and, if it is, automatically activate the wipers.

 

Types of Wipers

If you’ve shopped for new windshield wipers lately, you know that there are a surprising number of options for such seemingly simple accessories. The most common types are the traditional, frame-style wipers. These wipers work in ways described above, using a branching metal framework as a mount for the rubber blades.

A solution to the cold-weather problems of frame-style wipers is to encase the framework in a rubber shell. These winter blades are a bit more obtrusive in terms of their bulky look, and they’re not as aerodynamic as regular wipers, but they’re quite good at getting your wipers through a tough winter.

Finally, there are premium, beam-style wipers. These are more expensive than traditional blades, but they’re still popular options due to their sleeker looks and their manufacturers’ claims of longer lifespans. Beam-style wipers replace the metal framework used by traditional wipers with a spring-steel band that provides the pressure required to keep the blades in even contact with the windshield.

How to Find the Right Wipers for Your Car

Walking down this aisle can be a daunting experience, but it’s not as bad as it seems. Your new wipers simply need to match the length specified in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, and they need to have a mount that’s compatible with the mounts on your wipers.
Conveniently, any automotive supply store will have a book or, in some cases, an electronic or touchscreen display that will help you find windshield wipers that are compatible with your automobile. Simply look up the make, model and year to find a listing of the blades that will work for you.

That doesn’t make it any easier to choose between the different types and brands. Fortunately, it’s hard to go wrong. If you’re looking for a fast and affordable fix, traditional wipers will do. If you expect to see snow or ice in your area soon, you may wish to opt for encased winter blades. If you’re looking to spend a bit extra for a better look and a longer effective lifespan, a set of premium blades might be worth the added cost.

How to Install Your New Wipers

The service intervals for wiper blades are typically between six months and a year, depending upon their quality and effectiveness. This should basically be done during any tune up. When they do need replacing, it’s recommended that you replace them both at the same time – if one needs replacing, the other won’t be far behind.

Your new windshield wipers will come with instructions that detail the process of removing your old windshield wipers and mounting the new ones. Of the three most common types of mounts – the J hook, the bayonet and the side post – only the side post requires the use of a screwdriver. You won’t need any tools at all to replace wiper arms mounted using the J hook or the bayonet.

If you run into any difficulty, feel free to ask the salesperson at the store where you purchased the blades to install them for you. Be sure to pay attention while they’re at work – replacing your own windshield wipers can be a very quick process once you’ve learned how to do it.

As you can see, windshield wipers are more than just bits of rubber. The technologies involved in their operation has been advancing for over a century, and they’re more effective now than they’ve ever been. They may be the most overlooked equipment on our automobiles, but they’re also among the most important.