Wiper blades are one of the most neglected components in vehicles today. Many blades are cracked, split, torn, worn or in obvious need of replacement otherwise. Others may look okay, but do a lousy job of wiping when put to the test.
Ninety per cent of all driving decisions are based on a clear unobstructed view of the road, which means good visibility is essential – especially during wet weather when vision may be obscured by water, road splash, sleet or snow on the windshield. But good visibility requires wipers which are in good condition.
Natural rubber deteriorates over time.
Halogen-hardened rubber as well as synthetic rubber provides longer life. But eventually all blade materials fall victim to environmental factors. Exposure to sunlight and ozone causes the rubber to age, even if the wipers aren’t used much.
As a set of blades age, they lose much of their flip-over flexibility and they’re not able to wipe off the entire water. They may develop a permanent set or curvature that prevents full contact with the windshield. This tends to be more of a problem on vehicles parked in the sun all day. The sun bakes and hardens the rubber. When the wipers are needed, they streak and chatter because they’ve taken a set and won’t follow the curvature of the windshield. It can be dangerous.
How well the wiper blades perform also depends on the condition of the wiper arms and holders. A blade’s wiping ability is affected by the amount of spring tension on the wiper arm, the number of pressure points or claws that hold the blade, and the design of the blade itself.
If the springs in the arms are weak, the wipers may not be pressed against the glass firmly enough to wipe cleanly. If the blades can be pulled away from the glass with little resistance, it’s time for new arms. Check the tension on the rear wiper arm, too.
You can usually replace wiper blades yourself. Make sure the replacement blade is the same length and claw width as the original. A blade that is too long may create interference problems, while one that is too short may not fit the holder. Always replace your wiper blades at least once in two years.
Today there are big Indian wiper companies who manufacture wiper blades for all cars sold in India. You may also like to buy imported blades from companies like Bosch, but see that these components are not fake.
