What makes windscreen wipers 'wipe' smoothly?
Discussion
So when I get in my car after it's been raining and there is still water on the screen when I use the wipers the run smoothy for 2 minutes silently.
For some reason, even though it's still raining after a few minutes the wipers start making noise and and don't wipe so smoothly.
So what will let my wipers run smootly all the time?
Should I just put new wipers on?
For some reason, even though it's still raining after a few minutes the wipers start making noise and and don't wipe so smoothly.
So what will let my wipers run smootly all the time?
Should I just put new wipers on?
You could always try putting some grease on your wiper blades to make them move more smoothly 
All joking aside, I'd say either your wiper blades are crap or your screen is dirty. Try better blades or give the screen a wash with some TFR to get the road grime off it.
Might also be worth having a look at the arms and linkage. Make sure the springs in the arms are strong enough to hold the blade against the screen. Also lift the arms up, give them a shake and check for play where they bolt onto the linkage. The linkage on some cars wears out, Cavalier and Primera for example, and the blade doesn't press against the screen properly.
All joking aside, I'd say either your wiper blades are crap or your screen is dirty. Try better blades or give the screen a wash with some TFR to get the road grime off it.
Might also be worth having a look at the arms and linkage. Make sure the springs in the arms are strong enough to hold the blade against the screen. Also lift the arms up, give them a shake and check for play where they bolt onto the linkage. The linkage on some cars wears out, Cavalier and Primera for example, and the blade doesn't press against the screen properly.
God, I hate this kinda thing. So I've tried loads of different things over the years - glass treatments, different makes of blades, putting treatments onto the blades themselves, etc.
But I've ended up with a solution that works for me on my car at least!
I bought a pair of 'PIAA' Silicone wiper blades. Not cheap at about 50 quid for a pair
However, 18 months later, I can report that they still work like a new pair of blades, give a perfect wipe, never judder or screech across the screen - and the metal parts of the wipers are also still like new (some I've tried start to go rusty quite quickly).
Also, after a few months of use, they start to coat the screen itself with a layer of silicone too. Hence, when it starts to rain now, if I'm doing a decent speed (above about 40 or 50) the water beads up and runs 'upwards' off the glass.
This is great, because it means when I overtake an HGV or something big, when the screen gets flooded with a load of water, it runs away immediately - so in my opinion, this makes my driving experience a bit safer too.
It will be interesting to see just how long they do last - but as I say, at 18 months, they're still as good as new. So I'm happy with my investment
But I've ended up with a solution that works for me on my car at least!
I bought a pair of 'PIAA' Silicone wiper blades. Not cheap at about 50 quid for a pair
However, 18 months later, I can report that they still work like a new pair of blades, give a perfect wipe, never judder or screech across the screen - and the metal parts of the wipers are also still like new (some I've tried start to go rusty quite quickly).
Also, after a few months of use, they start to coat the screen itself with a layer of silicone too. Hence, when it starts to rain now, if I'm doing a decent speed (above about 40 or 50) the water beads up and runs 'upwards' off the glass.
This is great, because it means when I overtake an HGV or something big, when the screen gets flooded with a load of water, it runs away immediately - so in my opinion, this makes my driving experience a bit safer too.
It will be interesting to see just how long they do last - but as I say, at 18 months, they're still as good as new. So I'm happy with my investment
Aye, there's the rub. Rain-X does support Brake, which is pretty much the militant wing of Mumsnet, but some things Brake does are worthwhile (information packs for plod to give to the recently bereaved etc) so I like to imagine my money going to the bits of Brake I approve of. I'd love to use an alternative just in case a penny of mine goes towards some ridiculous lobbying but none of the alternative products work nearly as well in my experience. I'd love to be proven wrong though.
Glassman said:
New wiper blades. It helps if the glass surface is clean and not pitted or contaminated.
I find it helps to periodically wipe the blade with a scourer which keeps the rubber free of any crap too.
I wouldn't - if it's abrasive then it'll ruin the edge of the blade. Use some paper towel soaked in neat screenwash.I find it helps to periodically wipe the blade with a scourer which keeps the rubber free of any crap too.
Monty Python said:
I wouldn't - if it's abrasive then it'll ruin the edge of the blade. Use some paper towel soaked in neat screenwash.
Yeah, that too. But I say wipe as in not allowing it cut into the surface. Driving in London everyday (25k a year) does show in them there wipers; find all sorts stuck to 'em. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff