Wiper blades

Try giving the windscreen a really good clean.

I found the best solution is to buy good quality ones. The cheapo plastic ones always don't work, my LC uses the ones with the steel strip reinforcement.
Genuine ones also work, but man -I just can't pay that much for a wiper blade!

Yes, good quality ones, got these from a large discount chain, they weren't that cheap.. Middle of the road price wise.. Just thought i heard of an easy fix, as in a quick wipe down the blade with something... Any way, I'll experiment.. Or replace... Thanks all. Cheers

Hi Odog

I used to have that issue with the cheap ones from auto stores. I now only used genuine blades, yes they may be dear, but work perfect and last for years.


Cheers



Stephen

Odog
Have found that scrub the screen with window cleaner using grade 0000 steel wool will help quite a lot.
then clean as normal and wipers should be smoother , no matter what type of blade.
I do this at least once a month and give screen a "touch up " in between with rainX.
the steel wool removes all fine grime and oily residues that causes the blades to become sticky, and the rainX fills all the tiny chips and imperfections on the windscreen, thus helping the blades travel over a smoother surface
Cheers
Flighty

Hi Odog,

I have had my Wiper Troubles over the years and the most annoying was Wiper Squeak. I tried all sorts of remedies including all those mentioned above (Except the steel wool) and more including expensive blades such as silicon (the worst) without finding a permanent solution. Then, in searching the internet I found an American wiper blade manufacturer who said that the remedy was to use Natural Rubber blades, not synthetic. (can't find the link now) That solved the problem straight off and I have had perfect wiper action ever since. I think the rubber blades are less durable though so they are replaced annually. It's a small cost for the benefit.
The Natural Rubber blades are a little more expensive than standard synthetic blade but still reasonable from Super Cheap and less expensive than some of their fancy Ring-a-Ding ones.

Perhaps more to your point, shuddering of the blades can be caused by incorrect blade alignment...... they should lean backwards just a little in BOTH directions, flopping over at the reversal of travel. If they don't flop-over they WILL shudder! You may achieve good results by replacing the blade supporting mechanism. That is the whole assembly attached to the wiper arm. They are not all that expensive. The 'Beam-type Assembly is less likely to shudder due to its more rigid construction, see here.

There is also some useful advice on this website.

Try rubbing fine wetn'dry sandpaper along the edges of the blades, I used to rejuvenate old wipers this way when I was young and poor but I also think this will also work for new blades that shudder.
Keep us posted if this works.

Found this exchange very helpful given I need at my next service to get them replaced.

Just use either ajax or jiff cream clenser and rub the wiper blades both sides and the problem will go away till next time.

Odog
Firstly the mechanism of the wiper blade must be such that the blade always trails in both directions of travel.
I have also found that rubber blades will last a lot longer with the occasional wipe with a rag soaked with Armor All Protectant. It can also assist with the noisy operation.

Hope this helps.
Athol

In my previous life when I worked for ford, they had a special tool to fit to the wiper arm end to check the arm was level to the wind screen. After taking off the wiper blade assembly from the arm and fitting the special tool to the end of the arm the rod went side ways across the screen .then you had to bend the end of the arm with two spanners till it was level with the glass this insured the blade flopped each way correctly and stopped the shudder. Or you could just put a ruler across the top of the arm at the end (right angle) to see that the ruler was level with the screen if not adjust with two spanners. holding arm and twisting with the other.

Gary

Talking about steel wool on the windscreen ,

wouldn't you just love to throttle the little bastrads that scratch every window on suburban trains.

What drives their tiny brains to destroy a huge piece of glass by scratching their name into it?

If anyone is interested in forming some vigilante groups to rid us of these mongrels please let me know.

Bob

Are you using detergent in the wiper bottle, as some can make the glass grip the wiper blade.
I use the little satchel from the dealer, cleans the bugs of the windscreen with ease.

I bought a set of Bosch ones from Windscreens Obrien at the inflated cost of $80. They are fantastic.

Interesting to read that people have had bad experiences with Silicone wiper blades. I had a pair in Saudi Arabia for 10 years in that heat without any problems. Windshield surface temperatures 90+ C in summer and muddy rain in the winter. Rubber ones last one season, maximum.

Flipping the blades periodically [when possible] so they don't take a directional set and won't flip on the opposite stroke helps.

Clean the screen well with a bit of truck wash or similar then polish screen with Mr Sheen furniture polish will reduce friction between screen and wiper blade. It also acts almost as well as RainX in shedding water. Extra good on solar panels to stop dust and crud sticking.

You could try giving the screen a good clean and then applying "Rain-x". Causes rain to bead and run off so it may well also work as a lubricant.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/130936486258?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=107&chn=ps

I've found that the calcium in the water, town or tap, leaves a residue on the glass when it evaporates off, and over time builds up and interfears with the smooth operation of the wipers.

I switched to silicone blades many years ago, but these "Hate"the calcium on the glass and tend to grab and stick at the slightest buildup, whereas the rubber ones glide over and smear.

Now, at least twice a year, I clean my windows, and outside mirrors with cleaning vinegar and a razor blade, gently scraping the glass to "break"the deposits off. You can feel the difference on the glass as you complete a section. when you start, the glass feels rough, but as you finish, you notice it feels smooth under the blade edge. Clean first horizontally the vertically and the diagonally.

after this an application of RainX, and at 80 Kph you don't need to use the wipers at all. Airflow pushes the water on the screen up and off, as it balls up because it has nothing to adhere to.

Also, change the water in your washer bottle to your own mix, using your choice of windscreen cleaner concentrate and distilled water from the supermarket. Don't use the tap water, as you are only adding calcium again.

Hi Odog.
I use car polish on all the windows, directions on the bottle says not to but been using for years, takes off all the calcium from the water, removes grime, smoothes any scratches etc allowing a smooth bed for the wipers.
Cheers Graeme.

Thanks everyone for replies, gave the windscreen a polish with a wadding of crome polish, wiped the blades down with amour all wipes, heaps of black stuff came off, then finally, topped up the washer bottle with rain X... Seemed heaps better, see how long it lasts.. Thanks again.. Odog

The Mr. Sheen applied after a good, extra thorough, clean has done the job - we had awfully squeaking blades and, even with a totally dry screen, the bloody things were silent.
Bravo!
Nats.