With the arrival of the autumn-winter period, every conscious motorist who is concerned about his safety, who loves his car and cleanliness, thinks about the need to replace wipers. Modern wipers, although they have an almost perfect design, are still subject to wear and tear, like everything else in this world. Until recently, the concept of “wipers” was reduced to simple device, consisting of brackets and rocker arms, which produced cleaning of average quality, were not expensive and did not last long. They were replaced by more advanced frameless wiper blades, and a little later by hybrid “brothers” that lasted longer and coped with the task better. But, unfortunately, you have to pay for quality; the price of these brushes is several times, or even tens of times higher than the cost of simple ones. frame brushes. Consequently, a dilemma arose about what to do: buy cheap wipers more often or buy expensive ones, but less often? Fortunately, a solution was found and it consists in not completely changing the frameless brushes, but only the cleaning edge (blade). This significantly reduced the cost of using “frameless” and further increased their popularity.
Rubber bands on windshield wipers windshield change with my own hands millions of motorists. This operation seems lengthy and difficult only at first glance. In fact, anyone can handle it.
1 Wipers – 3 types with one purpose
Which many motorists call wipers, are of great importance for the driver. These little devices provide safe driving vehicle in unfavorable weather conditions. They wash away lumps of dirt, stuck insects, and water streaks from the windshield, making the view of the road in the rain normal. Wipers are divided into three types:
- frameless;
- frame;
- hybrid.
The first are products with a body cast from modern plastic materials. There are metal plates installed inside it. Resistance is mounted between them new element. Frameless brushes are made individually for cars different models. These wipers clearly follow the geometry front glass cars.
Previously they were made of metal. Nowadays plastic is increasingly used for their manufacture. Similar products can be seen on all modern domestic and old Soviet cars. They are universal, consisting of a clamp plate with special clamping devices, hinges, rocker arms, supports, adapter and elastic band. Hybrid wipers are made in a plastic housing and have supports and rocker arms. Essentially, they are a combination of the types of brushes described above. Hybrid designs are expensive. But they are considered the most durable and modern.
The main functional element of wipers different types are rubber bands. They do the main job of cleaning the windshield. For this reason, such elements quickly fail and require replacement. Next, we will describe in detail the preparation and disassembly procedures. various types brushes so that you can put a new rubber band on them without much difficulty.
2 Frame structures – we repair them ourselves
The easiest way is to change the rubber bands on any wipers frame type. In most cases, this procedure does not lead to violations operational indicators brushes. Replacing rubber bands on frame devices begins with their dismantling. We turn on the wipers, catch the moment when they reach the highest position (the middle of their work cycle), and turn off the ignition. The brushes are exactly what we need. Let's start removing them.
We stand next to the driver's side glass and carefully remove the wiper, turning it 2-3 times counterclockwise. Sometimes it will be enough to turn the product 90° and lift it up (not in all models). We do the same with the second brush. We dismantle it from the passenger side.
Next, remove the spoiler covers from the wiper and pull off the old rubber band. We install a new element in its place. In words it is simple, but in practice it is quite the opposite. The rubber band is pulled very tightly onto the guide. Some craftsmen lubricate the structure with soap. But this doesn’t always help. Auto experts advise not to suffer, but simply disassemble the wiper:
- We dismantle one of the guides. We leave the second one in the brush.
- We pull a new one rubber element onto the guide remaining in the structure. Now it will be much easier to do this. But, nevertheless, there is no need to rush. The part may break if handled carelessly.
- We place the second guide on top. After this, we straighten the new rubber band and install the spoiler covers back.
All that remains is to mount the brush in its place.
3 Frameless and hybrid wipers - how to install an elastic band?
Frameless and hybrid products have brushes of different lengths. One of them will be long, the second will be short. Let's start with the first one. We take a long product and find plugs on its edges. Lightly move the elastic band left and right. We need to remove the plug from the fixed side. We perform the procedure with a thin screwdriver. We use it to hook the plug we need and pull it out. There should be a lock underneath it. It holds the elastic in the desired position.
Bend the clamp 2–4 mm using pliers. After such actions, the old element will come out of its place without any problems. We insert a new product. Note! The elastic band should be selected strictly according to size. Then she will easily become a brush. After installing the new part, tighten the latch and mount the plug back. Using the same scheme, you can replace the rubber band on a short windshield wiper blade.
But there is a small nuance here. The new rubber element will be longer than required. No problem. We mount it to its entire length, clamp the latch, and then cut off the excess part with a sharp knife. We cut to the very end of the wiper. Don't forget to put the plug in place.
You can see for yourself that installing new rubber bands is not difficult at all. To do this, you need a simple tool (screwdriver, knife, pliers) and a little patience. Replace the rubber bands yourself and you will save a considerable amount on purchasing new wipers. Please remember that experts do not recommend installing new rubber products on some brushes more than three times. This is due to the fact that the main design of the wipers requires periodic replacement due to its operational wear. Good luck!
Comfortable driving means not only speed and pleasant driving, but also the ability to react to the slightest changes in the situation, excellent visibility regardless of external factors. This is possible when all car systems work without problems and complaints, but it costs, for example, such a small thing as a wiper back door If you stop tightly adhering to the glass, the driver immediately loses almost 30% of the view of the car’s invisibility zones, which means that driving safety in this case begins to decline sharply.
What to give preference
Oddly enough, but for those who have just become the owner of a car, regardless of whether it smells like factory paint or the car has already undergone more than one repair, experienced car enthusiasts are advised to almost immediately replace the standard wipers with frameless ones. At the same time, the arguments of advisers most often say that this is the most the best option wipers.
Of course, with regard to old cars they are right; here it is better to immediately replace not only the wipers. But for owners of new cars, it’s better to start with really high quality. Feature of the demon frame wipers there is a lack of a metal frame in their design, which ensures a rigid fit of the windshield wiper blade to the glass surface.
This excessive rigidity is largely the reason rapid wear cutting edge, it wears out quickly, especially when passing the turning point, when the rubber band must change direction.
How frameless wipers work
The design of frameless wipers really does not have a rigid metal frame and several spring-loaded fastening elements; all these structures are replaced by a simple, but ingeniously designed part - a plastic holder with a guide and a spoiler. The plastic frame, in the grooves of which a silicone or rubber-graphite wiper blade is placed, perfectly follows the shape of the windshield, fitting evenly along the entire length.
The shape of the frame is made in the form of a spoiler, providing additional use wind force for the wiper to fit. And the soft wiper material of frameless wipers does an excellent job at any time of the year.
When should you change your wipers?
The situation with the timing of replacement of this element is different. Yes, for ordinary frame models Recommended replacement is once a year, and it is recommended to carry out replacement during seasonal service when moving from winter mode for summer. However, as practice shows, for motorists whose annual mileage is 25,000 km or more, such replacement is carried out much more often, usually in autumn and spring.
With frameless models, things are somewhat different, soft material, elastic plastic spoiler without special labor care for 2 seasons for cars with low mileage and garage conditions parking and 1.5 seasons for cars with high mileage.
Often in winter, when the windshield is covered with a layer of ice, careless handling of the glass cleaning system causes the cutting edge of the frame wipers to fail, and accidentally turning them on on frozen glass leads to best case scenario to tears of hard rubber or its delamination.
For frameless models, this phenomenon is quite rare., because the elastic holder clearly reacts to all obstacles in its path and simply rises, preventing the silicone insert from deforming.
Is it profitable to change rubber bands on wipers?
Replacement Supplies in a car - the process is quite specific and creative. Changing a filter, oil or wiper turns a car enthusiast into a real auto mechanic. Using frameless wipers at all times positive qualities still connected with the process of replacing them in the future. And here modern technologies They offer two main options:
- Complete replacement of frameless wipers;
- Replacing only the rubber blade with frameless wipers.
Both of the above options have a right to exist. For the first, this means the opportunity to get a used, but fully functional set of wipers, which can be installed at any time and which can still be used for some time.
Besides, complete replacement does not require any additional tools or materials, just open the package, select the clamp required for installation and attach it to the holder.
You will find a detailed description of replacing wipers in this video:
But in the case of installing replaceable rubber bands for frameless wipers, this process becomes creative look. In order to replace the rubber band you need to:
- Select the required size according to length;
- It is advisable to choose an elastic band from the same manufacturer as the wiper itself;
- Dismantle the wipers and then disassemble them;
- Cut the length of the elastic to size and install it in place;
- Reassemble the structure in reverse order.
And although all this looks rather cumbersome, after replacing the rubber on one pair of wipers, experience allows you to do this regularly.
Tip: to replace the rubber band in a frameless wiper, it is recommended to treat the spoiler body itself and the installation sites with a special aerosol lubricant with silicone to soften the plastic to make installation of the rubber even easier.
Price of frameless wipers and replacement rubber bands
Comparing the price of the consumables themselves and the services for replacing them, the difference in cost will be very noticeable. The price of frameless wipers will be 2-2.5 times more expensive than the rubber bands themselves, however, the cost of a simple replacement will be lower, but replacing the rubber bands will still be cheaper. Judge for yourself: good quality wipers cost around a thousand rubles (the same Bosch in the well-known Auchan costs 800 rubles apiece), but replacement rubber bands for them can be found for several hundred.
Self-replacement of frameless wiper rubber bands
Before replacing wipers, you should carefully inspect those that are already installed. If the replacement is complete, then when choosing a model that is suitable in length, be sure to make sure that the kit includes fasteners for the appropriate model.
- The replacement must begin by pulling out the holders and placing a fabric folded in several layers or a thick notebook on the glass. Quite often, a poorly secured holder that slips will break the windshield, so such a safety device is quite justified.
- Carefully, without tension, the plastic retainer of the wiper becomes obsolete and the structure is removed from the holder. The holder can be carefully lowered onto the windshield.
- A lock suitable for this model is installed on the unpacked new wiper. The wiper is easily inserted into the holder and is secured in position with a latch. After this, the protective strip is removed from the elastic band. The cloth is removed from the glass and the windshield wiper is installed in place.
Another feature of this type of product is that some manufacturers select it according to the operating season, so before changing the rubber bands on frameless wipers, you need to make sure that these are suitable “summer” or “winter” or “all-season” rubber bands.
Let's sum it up
The cost of a set of frameless wipers depends on several factors, mainly the brand recognition of the manufacturer and the make of the car.
Kit for budget foreign car can cost from 1100 to 1400 rubles, at the same time, replacement elastic bands will cost from 350 to 500 rubles for a pair 50 cm long.
Replacing wipers yourself frameless model is not a big problem and can be produced independently as in the form ready-made kit, and by replacing only the rubber bands, so with minimal skill you can, spending a little time, save a significant amount.
Windshield wipers are easy to replace, but just as you can change the rubber band on a windshield wiper yourself, you can temporarily avoid buying new blades. Considering the fact that a suspension of small debris, sand and small particles of dirt, to which salt particles are added in winter, constantly hangs over the road, the rubber bands on the wipers quickly wear out and require replacement.
How to change the rubber on a wiper? It’s very simple, it’s an extremely easy manipulation. Main Before starting work on replacing the rubber, decide on the type of brush design installed on the car.
Types of windshield wiper designs
There are currently three types of wipers installed on cars:
- frame;
- hybrid;
- frameless.
The design of frame wipers consists of:
- adapter;
- "rocker";
- hinges;
- supports;
- pressure plate with clamps;
- rubber bands.
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Frameless design The windshield wiper includes a molded plastic body into which metal plates are fused, between which an elastic band is clamped. This type of wiper is distinguished by its price (increasingly) and lack of versatility. Frameless wipers are produced individually for each car model, since the cast body must perfectly match the geometry of the windshield.
Hybrid wipers The rocker arms and supports were borrowed from frame brushes, and the plastic housing was borrowed from frameless brushes. This is the most advanced and expensive type of windshield wipers, and at the same time the most durable.
Change the rubber band in the windshield wiper without damaging it performance characteristics only possible on a frame structure. Replacing rubber blades with frameless and hybrid wipers requires certain training and qualifications from the driver. Such a replacement is made only in cases where it is not possible to purchase a new set of wipers.
Rubber replacement procedure
To replace the rubber band, you will need a screwdriver with a thin, but not sharp, wide blade and pliers.
Having removed the wiper from the leash, use a screwdriver to carefully bend the clamps located at the edges of the pressure plate rubber band. It is necessary to squeeze it carefully and to the minimum required angle, only so that the elastic band can freely come out of the wiper. It is better to do the final bending of the clamps with pliers, since they have a wider grip and are less likely to damage the clamps.
After the tape is removed from the support clamps, plates are removed from it, which hold the shape of the elastic in a curved state. It is necessary to remember the direction of the bends of the plates so as not to mix them up during assembly. Otherwise, the rubber will not press against the windshield, and the wiper repair will need to be done again.
Samples are made in the plates, into which the grooves of the rubber band should fit. Occasionally situations arise when the width of the recess is less than the thickness of the groove. In this situation, it is necessary to expand the sample using a thin needle file.
Car owners very often have various problems associated with minor malfunctions of the most common elements. Take, for example, windshield wipers. This small detail has a huge impact on driving safety. Moreover, it is not recommended to start driving with poorly functioning wipers. In bad weather, insects flying towards you on the highway and other similar situations, you cannot do without wipers. If the windshield is filled with water or dirt, visibility is sharply reduced. And this in turn can lead to an accident. If you want to avoid this difficult situation, then monitor the condition of your wipers. Many motorists change rubber brushes when they begin to “smudge.” Some people prefer to buy original spare parts, others are satisfied with cheaper analogues. But the question comes down primarily to the quality of the rubber bands on the wipers themselves. And replacing them is much cheaper than buying them new part.
Where to start replacing rubber bands on wipers?
If you decide to change the rubber bands on your wipers, then first decide on the manufacturer. It is best to purchase models famous brands, which have proven themselves well. But many car enthusiasts recommend certain companies that differ high quality at a relatively low price. The cost of these spare parts is low in any case. For example, well-known Denso will cost significantly more expensive models from Masuma, although their quality is approximately the same.
Anyone who doesn’t know how to replace the rubber on their windshield wipers should start small - dismantling the brush itself. To do this, you need to turn on the windshield wipers and wait until the middle of the cycle, when the wipers themselves reach their highest position. At this moment (you need to catch him in time), turn off the ignition. And then your wipers will stop in the selected position.
After this, the wiper must be carefully separated from the windshield. Do not force it, it may bend or break.
Stand on the driver's side and grasp the brush. It needs to be turned counterclockwise several times, after which it will be removed from the wiper. On some models, it is enough to turn the brush 90 degrees and pull up. There are models where the rubber brush is attached using a plastic clamp, which must be carefully squeezed out. A similar procedure must be carried out with the second brush, standing on the front passenger side.
Removing the wiper blade with hook type fastening
Removing the wiper blade with button type fastening
Removing the windshield wiper blade with the side pin fastening
Removing the wiper blade with side clamp type fastening
Removing the wiper blade with Bayonet type fastening
Removing the wiper blade with pin type fastening
Removing the wiper blade with a claw-type mount
Removing the side-mounted wiper blade
Removing a wiper blade with a top lock type fastening
Replacing the rubber bands themselves with complete disassembly of the brush may seem like a lengthy procedure, but in reality it will take you no more than twenty minutes. But the savings will be noticeable.
How to replace rubber on wipers
What should be done:
- remove both side plugs from the brush;
- remove the rubber spoiler pads;
- remove (pull off) the old elastic band.
After this, a problem arises with installing a new rubber band. Someone manages to carefully insert it in place of the old one. But this is very difficult to do, since the rubber clings to the guides and does not glide very well. You can try applying soap to increase slip, but this method doesn't help everyone. If you don't want to tire yourself of slowly pulling the rubber band onto the brush, then simply disassemble it.
It is enough to remove one (any) metal guide. After this, the new rubber band must be placed on the guide that remains in the brush. This is not difficult to do, but make sure that the elastic does not break. Then insert the second guide into it and carefully straighten the elastic. Job is done. You just need to return the spoilers to their place and secure the structure with side plugs. Be sure to check the secure fixation of all elements, since the wipers bear a significant load during bad weather: rain, snowfall and even strong wind. It will be very problematic to purchase one plug for the brush separately.
How to change rubber bands on frameless wipers
You need to start with a long brush. Take it in your hands and look carefully. You will notice two caps along the edges. And you need to remove exactly the one that holds the elastic band. It’s easy to find out the correct plug: just move the rubber band left/right. If you see that one of the sides is motionless, then you need to remove this particular plug. To do this, you will need a simple flat-head screwdriver that can be used to pry off the plug without damaging it. If you are not mistaken, then under the plug there is a rubber band retainer.
Now you need to bend it three to four millimeters so that it releases the old elastic band. We get rid of the worn-out part and insert a new one in its place. If it is too tight, you can lubricate the rubber band with soap, which will make the work much easier and increase glide. The size of the elastic band should match the base; you won’t have to cut anything. Be sure to press the clamp back to secure the new rubber brush piece. After this, replace the plug. The first part of the work is finished.
Replacing rubber bands on frameless wipers also involves working with a short brush. The beginning of the actions coincides with those already described. You will need to figure out which side the latch is on. Then remove the plug, bend the clamp and remove the old rubber band.
But then some small difficulties await you. The fact is that the new elastic band will be longer than the one that was before. What to do in this situation? Insert the rubber band as far as possible, then press the lock back. After this, use a sharp knife to cut the elastic band to the very end of the brush.
Problem solved. All that remains is to put the plug back in place.
Many people perceive information better from video master classes. If you want to learn how to replace rubber bands on windshield wipers in a video, then carefully follow the actions of the experts. They use the most common tools that can be found in every garage and even in every home. Plus, you don't need any special skills to replace the brushes on your car. Even a person who is not very familiar with its device can do this.
But still, experts advise changing the rubber bands no more than two or three times on the same wipers. After all, the main structure also wears out and requires replacement.
How to replace rubber bands on wipers: video
