Choosing the right car wipers
In bad weather (heavy rain, snow), the lion's share of driving safety depends on the quality of the wipers. Experts recommend replacing wipers and wiper blades at least once a year. So what factors should you look for when buying this car part?
Brush length of the wipers
A longer wiper blade than the one provided for your car has insufficient pressure on the glass. Therefore, the cleaning process it performs is less effective than if the wiper blade was shorter. In other words, it will not clean the glass properly.
Type of wipers
The following types of wipers exist:
- hybrid;
- winter wipers;
- frame;
- frame-less.
From the name, framed – are those whose construction is reinforced with a metal frame. Thus, in the winter season it is better to use hybrid or frameless wipers, to avoid freezing of the metal structure, the subsequent loose fit of the wiper to the glass and, as a result, poor cleaning. There is also an option to put on frame products special rubber covers. There are winter wipers with heating, frost-resistant rubber or special non-freezing coating, which is also very important in winter.
The frameless ones do not have such a frame, they consist of a metal plate in a rubber frame with plugs on the sides, which is pressed against the glass and shaped like a spoiler. The absence of a frame – is, in fact, an evolution of the wipers, which is caused by the progress in the automotive industry. This progress has favoured the production of cars with increasingly concave windows. Frame wipers were no longer able to effectively clean them, which naturally led to the creation of a new type of wiper. Frameless wipers are less versatile, as different versions of them are suitable for a particular car model.
Hybrid wipers combine the characteristics of frame and frameless types of this part. Their feature is a fairly low height of the frame inside the casing. They also have the shape of a spoiler and have the effect of an aerodynamic wing. For the production of this type of wipers, improved materials are used, which provides better consumer characteristics (resistance to friction forces, moisture, sunlight, temperature fluctuations, etc.). This is why this product is not cheap, but the cost is fully justified.
Features of the fastening type
There are specific types of wiper mounts that fit exclusively to specific car models, and there are adapted versions that are universal and suitable for any make and model of vehicle. For example, the rear wipers of almost all cars are made by manufacturers for different car models with specific mountings.
The attachment type called «hook» is universal. There are many specific mounts (pin lock, side pin, side mounting, push button). But the good news is that the Bosch Aerotwin universal adapter is available for some of them.
Material of the removable component (brush)
In the old days, this element of a car part was made of rubber. Many people still like such brushes. Today, the aftermarket offers silicone as a material, coated with a modern high-strength polymer material. The choice is yours.
As you can see, all recommendations regarding the choice of wipers are purely individual. It is your right to use a part made of a higher or lower quality material. It's your right to choose a design that you like better, or that you've been used to for a long time. Do you like longer wiper blades? Just be aware of the risks involved.
The only thing is, never buy by eye! The wipers may not fit your car's windscreen by the way they are mounted or the level of bulge in the windscreen.
The only thing is, never buy wipers by eye!
Let your wipers be as reliable and long-lasting as our workshop equipment!
