The only direct purpose of car wipers is to ensure good visibility and visibility in difficult weather conditions. Until recently, their design was quite complex. It used special articulated rocker arms, which failed quite often and quickly. Serious damage to traditional wipers was often caused not only by minor mechanical impacts, but even by strong winds or by their operation while the vehicle was moving at high speed. Today there is a completely worthy alternative to the bulky, fragile and rather capricious traditional design - frameless elements.
Advantages of frameless mechanisms
Compared to traditionally designed car wipers, such models have a number of advantages.
- high levels of wear resistance and durability;
- tighter fit to the windshield of the car and a larger surface area;
- efficient operation when driving at high speed.
In addition, thanks to their design features, frameless car wipers are not afraid of severe frosts that cause icing. Every car owner, at least once in his life, has encountered a situation where on a winter morning he has to literally tear off frozen wipers from the windshield, and then spend a long time scraping off the ice that has formed overnight. With frameless structures such problems do not arise. Moreover, German frameless wipers (Bosch, for example) have a built-in heating system.
However, the built-in heating wire is not inherent only in the products of this company, but also in many brands of wipers from other manufacturers. In addition, some frameless windshield cleaning devices also have an additional function of spraying water, in addition to the standard car washer. But, again, all these functions make the cost of the device an order of magnitude higher than that of its analogues (about 50-100 US dollars per pair).
Main design features
Modern frameless car wipers are a spoiler design, in a plastic casing of which two metal guides are placed that hold a special rubber brush.
The convenience of the elements we are considering also lies in the fact that the cleaning rubber can be easily replaced with a new one. And although frameless wipers are noticeably more expensive than their traditional “brothers,” they quickly pay for themselves due to their strength and durability.
Painting
So, you have become comfortable with dismantling and installing the wiper arm and adjusted the clamp. Temperature changes, wind, dirt, moisture, icing and solar ultraviolet damage damage paint. The all-metal leash, without a plastic casing, is painted at the factory.
To remove old paint, the removed leader is “etched” in a solvent such as 646, which removes layers of even old paint from the surface. Some solvent reagents do not evaporate immediately but act as a softening agent. After an hour of waiting, the softened paint is removed with a knife. The cleaned leash is washed in another solvent.
For a high-quality, truly strong coating, the leash is degreased. When performing this action, also degrease the brushes - they are covered (and soaked) with oil residues, for example, oil residues accidentally spilled in puddles. Degreasing the leash is carried out at room temperature - it is advisable to do this outside the house in the summer, with little wind.
The primer will hide scuffs and scratches on the product. Make sure there is no thick or loose oxide film on the leash. After the primer has dried, apply the outer coat. Some car enthusiasts use powder or spray paint. When applying layer by layer, wait until the previous layer is completely dry. Once you've finished painting, assemble and reinstall the wipers.
Adjustment Tips
- Before disassembling the wipers, turn off the on-board power supply by removing one of the terminals from the battery.
- Do not over-tighten the spring. A spring that is too tight will quickly wear out the rubber bands. Overstretching will cause them to become useless - even with new parts.
- If repairing a weakened spring is impossible, install a new one. The diameter of the coils of the new spring should approximately coincide with the dimensions of the old one.
- Replace old brushes with new ones if they are completely worn out. Restoring worn and cracked rubber bands is impossible. Brushes that are chipped, despite working well, will also soon be damaged.
- Do not mix up the removed leashes when reinstalling them: the right one is different from the left one.
In the next video you will see the installation of a spring in the wiper arm.
Which car are suitable for frameless wipers?
There is an opinion that such mechanisms lack universality. To some extent this is true. However, today manufacturers offer consumers such a wide range of automotive accessories of this type that they can be easily selected for absolutely any make and model of car. Answer the question: “Frameless wipers: which ones are better?” definitely impossible. Some people prefer the most laconic designs, while others like “panoramic” ones, and even those equipped with a heating or spraying system. But the main thing that needs to be taken into account when choosing this type of car wipers is their compatibility with a specific car model. Since these devices are quite expensive, when purchasing them it would be a good idea to ask the seller which products are suitable for a particular brand.
Final point
The content of the publication is purely informational and does not pretend to be professional advice. It is recommended that you seek advice from certified technicians or mechanics if specific questions are raised related to the update topic discussed here.
The main function of windshield wiper blades is, of course, the systematic and proper cleaning of car windows from various types of dirt and precipitation. Over time, they wear out and cease to perform their function one hundred percent. Some experts recommend changing your car's windshield wipers at least once a year. Where to start?
Installation
Often, along with the question about frameless wipers (which one is better to choose), the car owner has another problem: is it possible to install such structures on their own?
- firstly, many parts and elements of frameless wipers, including fasteners, are small in size and have a fairly high degree of fragility;
- secondly, if the devices are equipped with a heating system, it is necessary not only to have at least basic knowledge in the field of electrical engineering, but also to know the intricacies of car design.
True, contacting a service center or service station almost always means losing a certain amount of time, nerves and, of course, money. So it's up to you.
Instructions
First of all, to turn on the wipers on your car, you need to start the ignition. Start by slightly moving the lever upward. It will return to its original position - but that’s how it should be. To speed up or slow down the operation of the wiper on the glass, you need to move the lever down or up. Many windshield wipers are equipped with an automatic control device.
You can start it by simply moving the lever up. Then the automatic circuit will begin to operate. A special rain sensor instantly recognizes water on the glass. Accordingly, the device will automatically adjust its speed, and you won’t have to constantly pull the handle.
It is better to use the automatic mode more often, and then even splashes that accidentally fall on the glass will be removed as quickly as possible. If manual mode is used, the lever must be moved forward and held in this position. As a rule, the windshield wiper then operates automatically based on this command. By holding the lever for a longer or shorter time, you increase or decrease the number of brush strokes per unit of time. Exact instructions on how to do this are given in the instructions.
Cleaning
Before changing frameless wipers or installing new ones, you must thoroughly clean their mountings and the windshield of the car from dirt and dust. To do this, you can take a regular rag soaked in a warm soapy solution, but it is better to use a stream of water or compressed air. True, such cleaning may require much more space to accommodate the necessary equipment. However, to clean (or rather, blow out) the wiper mounts, it is quite possible to use cans of compressed air, which are used to remove dust from computer cases and laptops.
Removing old brushes
After the wiper mounts are cleaned, you can begin dismantling the old ones. To do this, you need to take the following steps:
- unscrew the mounting pins;
- carefully remove the brush body;
- remove the rubber plugs of the bolts;
- unscrew the bolts.
In this case, the bolts should be unscrewed with the utmost care, since in the vast majority of cases they are connected directly to the motor that sets the structure in motion. Once this mechanism is damaged, the best frameless wipers simply won’t work! It is also necessary to take care of the safety of the sealing washers. Without them, installation can be very problematic.
Installing new ones
Now you can begin installing new wipers. If they are equipped with a heating system, you will need to open the hood and route electrical cords through the mountings and into the engine compartment.
The wires of the wiper heating system themselves are connected to the terminal of the glass heating system. It is important to return the special protective rubber casing or cap to its place after connection.
Then you can proceed directly to the installation of the wipers themselves. The algorithm of actions will be as follows:
- laying a new rubber gasket under the base of the wiper;
- attaching the base of the new element to a tetrahedral pin;
- sealing the connection using a washer removed earlier when dismantling the old wiper;
- screwing in the housing mounting bolt.
The same operations should be performed with the second wiper. Then you need to check the functionality of the installed brushes.
Replacing rubber bands on frameless wipers
There is an opinion among motorists that frameless car brushes are disposable.
- we determine the lower end of the mechanism;
- Using a screwdriver, very carefully pry up and remove the retaining cap;
- pull the rubber brush towards you;
- insert a new rubber band;
- return the retaining plug to its place.
Thus, wiper blades (frameless designs) can be changed an unlimited number of times.
Which brushes are best to choose for your car?
When choosing these elements for a car, any car owner strives to get the most optimal combination of price/quality parameters. Traditional hinged wipers are cheaper than their frameless counterparts, but in return the latter provide much higher reliability and durability.
So, we found out what frameless car wipers are, discussed their advantages and disadvantages, and shared with you recommendations regarding the features of installing this type of structure and replacing them in case of malfunction. Good luck!
Home page » How to install a frameless car windshield wiper?
For a long time, the car windshield wiper had a traditional design - a thin rubber strip on an elastic metal frame. In turn, the frame was attached to a metal bracket through a spring support, which was bolted to a pivot pin. The pivot pin was driven by an electric motor via a pair of long levers. There is no doubt that car windshield wipers have been upgraded from time to time. However, the effect of such devices still left much to be desired. And so, a frameless wiper appeared - a radically new system.
General recommendations
To determine whether your windshield wiper blades need to be replaced, you need to inspect them for damage. As rubber ages, it loses its ductility and cannot perform its intended purpose well. If the operation of the wipers on your car leads to the appearance of streaks on the windshield, we advise you to think about buying new blades and then replacing them.
It is necessary to understand that replacing wipers means replacing only a small component of the windshield wiper. Car wipers are made of three main elements:
- the lower arm, which starts from the base of the windshield;
- a metal holder that is connected to the lower arm;
- brush made of rubber.
It is the brush that wipes the windshield. This item is a consumable item, so it is replaced quite often.
By the way, you can replace the wiper rubber bands, but not the entire blade. Read more about this in our article for those who do not want to overpay - https://avtopub.com/kak-snyat-i-zamenit-dvorniki-shhetki-stekloochistitelya/
Before removing the windshield wiper blades, it is necessary to purchase suitable replacement elements in advance. This is not difficult to do - you just need to measure the dimensions of the previously installed brushes using a tape measure. Another option is to remove the wipers and take them to an auto shop.
Remember that in most cases the sizes of the right and left windshield wipers are different.
As a rule, the cost of windshield wiper blades ranges from 200-700 rubles. Sometimes they may cost more, but this is true for original products.
Frameless car windshield wipers
Recently developed, a new style of windshield wiper blade provides even pressure across the entire surface of the car's windshield.
Since the blade does not have attachment points, the wiper operates more evenly, which eliminates premature wear of individual areas of the working scrapers.
However, the main advantage of a frameless windshield wiper becomes apparent in winter weather.
Design and branded execution
The design eliminates the formation of ice between the metal frame and the rubber scraper, so the wipers continue to work (clean) successfully regardless of the degree of icing.
Frameless wiper in detail: 1 – spring steel; 2 – buckle; 3 – aerodynamic design; 4 – edge cover; 5 – clip; 6 – connector (adapter) to the lever of the movement mechanism; 7 – rubber scraper
Until recently, frameless car windshield wipers were accessories for high-end cars like Mercedes. This is now standard equipment found on many modern cars.
A number of companies offer frameless car windshield wiper blades:
Therefore, if your vehicle uses outdated glass cleaning systems, upgrading the equipment is a smart solution.
Let's consider the option of installing new frameless car windshield wiper blades to replace outdated accessories.
Frameless car windshield wiper blades
For example, consider the installation procedure for products that supplies the market with several types of frameless automobile windshield wipers:
Standard - ordinary cleaning brushes suitable for replacing the original equipment of any car. High-quality frameless brushes that match the style and characteristics of the original brushes.
Hybrid - blades that combine the best characteristics of frameless windshield wiper designs with the best characteristics of traditional frame systems.
Winter - wipers for car windshields, specially designed for use in winter. Eight pressure points help effectively remove snow and ice from your windshield.
Beam - this version of car frameless windshield wiper blades is distinguished by the fact that the design has an infinite number of pressure points on the wiper, which ensures better contact with the windshield.
Rear – modification of windshield wiper blades for installation on the rear window. Provide safe visibility of reverse gear in all driving conditions.
Step-by-step update instructions
First of all, you should get rid of old structures. To do this you will need to do the following:
- Separate the windshield wiper arm from the windshield and hold it perpendicular to the windshield. Care must be taken when moving the lever. This element is held in place by strong springs and in the event of a rebound, there is a risk of damage to the windshield.
- Remove the old windshield wiper blade. To do this, find the hinge where the rubber strip comes into contact with the metal reinforcement. At this point on the hinge there is a small tab or plug. By pressing this element, the fixation of the windshield wiper blade is removed.
- Proceed to install the new accessory.
Installing a frameless car windshield wiper
Everything is simple here. Take the product in your left palm and use a screwdriver on the back side in the central part of the rocker to open the contact pocket cover.
On the back side of the rocker, carefully use a screwdriver to pry the cover of the seat pocket by the edge and lift it in the direction indicated by the arrow
Next, with the open pocket, the rocker arm must be “planted” on the hook of the windshield wiper lever. To do this, fold the pocket lid as far as it will go, position the windshield wiper rocker arm vertically parallel to the lever and place it on the lever.
The procedure for “attaching” the rocker arm of a newly installed frameless wiper onto the lever of the windshield cleaning mechanism. The cover of the landing pocket is open all the way
At the next stage, all that remains is to press the rocker arm to the body of the lever - align both parts symmetrically on the same line and, using slight pressure from your thumb, snap the cover of the seat pocket into place.
The final stage is the installation of a new frameless car windshield cleaning system. Fixing the rocker arm on the lever by snapping the cover of the seat pocket with light finger pressure
This is one of the landing options when the supporting element is a windshield wiper arm with a bend (hook) at the end.
In addition to this option, there is also another where a side cylindrical pin is used instead of an end hook.
Variation of installation on another adapter. In this case, the support arm of the windshield cleaning mechanism is used, on which the connecting device is a side pin
In this case, frameless wipers with an adapter of a slightly different configuration are used. And the installation of a new brush is carried out by attaching the rocker arm through the side holes.
Checking the quality of wipers
To check the functioning of the system, turn on the newly installed frameless wipers. If you notice the scrapers slipping, carefully adjust them until they fit.
This is all. Replacing your car's windshield wipers with new frameless ones will provide a clearer view of the road while driving.
Types of windshield wiper mounts - Automotive windshield wipers
Several types of mounts are currently used to install windshield wiper blades on a car. One of the reasons for this, in our opinion, is the desire of automakers to earn additional income from original spare parts, although it is worth noting that some types of fastenings can actually significantly reduce the aerodynamic resistance of the brushes.
History of wiper mounts
Until 1999, most cars in the world were produced with standard wiper mounts - the so-called “hook”. This type of fastening remains the most common today. However, it was in 1999 that Ford equipped its Taurus with a new mount. Almost all automakers followed the example and began equipping their cars with various “tricky” fastenings. Japanese manufacturers refrained from such steps for the longest time, however, modern models from such concerns as Nissan, Honda, Mazda and a number of others are already equipped with other types of brush mounting, different from the usual “hook”.
To solve the problem of compatibility of different types of fasteners, manufacturers of car windshield wiper blades took two different paths.
- production of windshield wiper kits with special types of fastening for specific vehicles. This is the path chosen by companies such as BOSCH and Valeo. The advantages of this approach include the compactness of the mounts and the ability to take into account the curvature of windshields of specific car models. The downside is that there is a very large assortment of brushes, which complicates the selection and increases the cost of wipers.
- production of brushes with universal adapters, when a set of special adapters for several types of fastening is supplied with the brush. Companies such as SWF and Champion have followed this path. The advantages of this development path include the greater versatility of the brushes and ease of selection to the car. The disadvantages are worse aerodynamics compared to specialized mounts and installation complexity.
"Hook" or "Hook", "U-HOOK", "J-HOOK"
The most common and oldest type of fastening. It is often denoted by the letter "U"
Attention! There are several sizes of "hook". For passenger cars, the most common are 9x3 and 9x4
Although there are other sizes.
"Side pin" or "Side pin"
Sometimes this type of fastening is also called “Pin in Arm”. Found on some Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot models, as well as on cars manufactured since 2005, such as BMW 3, Volvo S40, VW Jetta and Passat.
"Side mounting" or "Side mounting"
A not very common type of fastening, used in a number of Renault models and American-made cars.
"Pinch tab" or "Side clamp"
A common type of fastening among European manufacturers, it is used in some Audi, Fiat, Saab cars, and in a number of Mercedes-Benz and Opel models.
"Bayonet arm" or "Bayonet lock"
Mainly used in Renault and Saab cars. There are also modifications of this mount with two holes for trucks.
In addition, there are special types of mounts for rear windshield wipers.
