How To Change Wiper Blades On A Car

The most straightforward way to tell if you need a wiper blade replacement is to check their performance on the road. It is best not to wait till the last moment to change the wiper blades.
Look out for the following warning signs that will indicate if you need to replace your car wiper blades:

• Wiper blades should ideally be noiseless when they clean your windshield. However, if you notice any unusual sound or the blades do not smoothly glide on the glass, it is time for a car wiper blade replacement.

• If the wiper blades are not cleaned and handled properly, their frame may get cracked or disfigured. If the wiper blade frame is disfigured or cracked, it will create a gap between the wiper blades and the windshield.

Due to this gap, the blades will not be able to clean the windshield efficiently. So, if the wiper blade frame is cracked, disfigured, or broken, you need a replacement.

• If there are residue water streaks when the wiper blades clean your windshield, you need to replace them. It happens due to a crack or a split on the rubber refills.
  These cracks or splits may occur while cleaning dirt from the wiper blades and can disrupt the cleaning process.

Wiper blades have 3 parts. These are the lower wiper arm, the metal or plastic part joining the lower arm, and the rubber blade. Therefore, you may not need to change all the wiper blade parts each time.

Only the wiper blades’ damaged, cracked, or broken parts can be changed, and you can continue using the other parts. Usually, only the rubber blade requires a replacement.

Wiper blades are essential to driver and passenger safety, and you cannot afford to delay or ignore the need for a car wiper blade change.

Although it may seem time-consuming if you have never bought car wiper blades on your own, it is a quick and straightforward process.

Keep the following points in mind when buying a new set of wiper blades:

• Wiper blades come in various designs. The wiper blades’ design has a significant impact on their performance. For example, wiper blades having an aerodynamic design minimises their dragging on the windshield. It reduces their wear and tear and the noise produced.

• Wiper blades are present on the car’s exterior. Therefore, they are exposed to direct sunlight and cold. These days, you can get heat-resistant and UV-resistant wiper blades that can easily tackle extreme weather conditions without affecting their performance.

Such wiper blades are durable and last longer, even under difficult weather conditions like frequent snowfall and rain.

• Make a note of the dimensions of your existing wiper blades with the help of a measuring tape. This way, you can buy a perfect fit and not end up with wiper blades of the wrong size and fit.

• Usually, people forget about the curvature of the wiper blades and measure only their length. It will prevent them from buying a set of wiper blades that perfectly match the windshield’s curvature. When measuring the wiper blades, do not forget to measure their curvature.

Wiper blades that fit well on the windshield make complete contact with the windshield. It gives an excellent cleaning experience each time you use the wiper blades.

• If you are unsure which wiper blades will suit your windshield the best, ask for assistance from an expert at the auto parts store. On the other hand, if you’re confident about the make and style of the wiper blades you want, you can comfortably buy them online.

If you do not have the time to take your car to a service centre for installing wiper blades, there is no need to worry. You can easily replace your old and worn-out wiper blades with new ones. All it takes is the right tools, technique, and patience to accomplish the task.
Here are the steps you can follow to do a wiper blade replacement:

• Step 1: Lift the Wiper Arm

The metal arm of the wiper is attached to the car cowl. The first step is to lift the metal arm carefully and delicately to avoid harming the windshield.

Hold the metal arm firmly. If it slips from your hand, it may spring back and crack the entire windshield.

An easy trick to protect the windshield is covering it with a thick cloth. The cloth will protect the windshield from cracks and scratches even if the metal arm slips from your hand.

**- Step 2: Remove the Existing Wiper Blades **

Once you have lifted the metal arm, the next step is to remove the old wiper blades. For this, turn the wiper to make its bottom face in an upward direction.

There are retaining clips near the end of the rubber refills. Look for them and pinch the clips to slide out the refills.

Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to accomplish this task without any difficulty.

- Step 3: Install the New Set of Wiper Blades

Once you have removed the existing set of wiper blades, you are already halfway through the process of car wiper blade change. Next, you must secure the newly bought wiper blades on the metal arm.

Now that you are comfortable with handling the various wiper blade parts, it won’t take you much effort to install the new ones.

Simply slip the new wiper blades into the metal arm from where you removed the old ones.
Once the new blades are set in their place, the clip will click and confirm that the blades are in the right position.

Turn the metal arm back into position to make the blades face downwards.
Delicately and patiently put the metal arm back, and you have successfully changed the wiper blades.

- Step 4: Test the Newly Installed Wiper Blades

Once you have replaced the wiper blades, it is time to check if they have been installed correctly. For this, squirt a little water on the car’s windshield and test your new set of wiper blades.
You have done a fantastic job if the blades clean the windshield properly and there is no unusual sound in the process.

Repeat the process to change the car wiper blades on the other side.
[Pro tip: Instead of throwing away your old wiper blades, you can use them for other purposes, like cleaning glass windows and bathroom mirrors.]

Wiper blades are a small part of a car. But they are essential to your safety when you are behind the wheel. Using damaged wiper blades is an unhealthy practice and may have severe consequences.

• Cracked, worn out, or broken wiper blades cannot clean the windshield properly. A dirty or wet windshield reduces visibility while driving. Driving a car with low visibility can have severe adverse effects on your safety.

• If the wiper blades are damaged, the blades’ metal arm may scratch against the windshield and leave marks and cracks. Replacing a car’s windshield is a costly affair, and it can be avoided by replacing the wiper blades on time. On the other hand, car wiper blades are inexpensive and easy to replace.

As discussed above, damaged or worn-out wiper blades can lead to severe car accidents. But there could be a hundred other factors leading to a mishap. That is why having suitable four-wheeler insurance is always a wise decision. It can save you from the financial suffering of such accidents and other incidents.

Our Tata AIG car insurance policies come with several add-ons that have extensive coverage for car parts and spares. Moreover, you can do car insurance renewal online for our motor insurance policies from your home or office within a few minutes.

Wiper blades are a small but essential part of every car. You must replace old wiper blades when they get damaged or worn out. Damaged wiper blades can become cause for a severe road accident. It is easy and inexpensive to replace wiper blades on your own by following a few simple steps mentioned in this blog.