5 best windshield wipers for your car in 2021 | Wirecutter's review

2021-12-10 10:39:40 By : Ms. Echo Han

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We added long-term test instructions on our top choice, Bosch Icon, and added our recommended waterproof windshield treatment, Rain-X Original Glass Water Repellent and Aquapel Glass Treatment as options.

After more than 60 hours of research on wiper blades, searching for user reviews, talking to car service shops in harsh weather areas such as Chicago and Portland, Oregon, and testing top competitors on a few cars, our findings It shows that Bosch Icon is a good choice for most drivers as long as it is suitable for your car. Bosch wipers are recommended by the shops we interviewed more than any other brand, and Icon has always been one of the most highly rated models by users on websites that sell various wipers. It is also one of the highest ratings of any best-selling blade on Amazon, with relatively few complaints.

This beam blade windshield wiper is a reliable choice under any climatic conditions and has always been one of the most highly rated windshield wipers by users.

*At the time of publication, the price was $20.

Of course, the best wiper blade is the one that is suitable for your vehicle and performs well throughout its service life. However, due to the vastly different shapes of windshields, even the best quality blades can have poor performance if they are not suitable (this is evident from the number of negative reviews on almost all popular wipers). Icon is a beam blade wiper. Like other beam blades, it usually works better in snow and icing conditions than traditional bracket-type wipers. This is an excellent choice for year-round use in any climate. It is one of the most highly rated wipers on Amazon, Wal-Mart, Advance Auto Parts and JC Whitney. It has the biggest difference between the five-star and one-star ratings of any best-selling model on Amazon. This is important because many users leave a one-star rating when the wiper is not suitable for their car. This means that more people like them, and fewer people have problems with them. Bottom line? If you find wipers that satisfy you, you may want to continue using them because you know they can work on windshields. But if we want to buy new wipers, we will first choose Bosch Icon.

Our previous first choice was the beam blade wiper. It performed well in our long-term tests and received generally good reviews, but not as high as the Bosch Icon.

*At the time of publication, the price was $16.

Rain-X Latitude is a best-selling product on Amazon and another reliable choice we often use. It has a beam blade like Bosch Icon and the price is similar. Overall, we found that if Latitudes fit your windshield well, they will remain protected from rain and snow and will perform well throughout their life cycle, so you might like them. User reviews show that compared with Bosch Icon, more people have problems with Latitude, and users generally do not rate it highly. In addition, none of the stores we interviewed mentioned Latitude as the wiper they recommend to customers.

This traditional wiper has performed well in our long-term tests and has received very good reviews on Amazon.

*At the time of publication, the price was $11.

This windshield wiper is one of Amazon's best-selling products and has received very good reviews. However, like all bracket type wipers, its performance in winter conditions is not as good as beam blades.

*At the time of publication, the price was $13.

If you want to save a few bucks and don't need the advantage of beam blades in winter conditions, then Valeo 600 and Rain-X Weatherbeater are usually the safe choices for traditional bracket type wipers. The Valeo 600 is another wiper that we have included in long-term multi-vehicle testing, and it performs well for most of our drivers. Rain-X Weatherbeater is one of Amazon's best-selling products, and both wipers have received universal acclaim on the website. But keep in mind that if your car was originally equipped with beam blade wipers, you should replace them with the same type to ensure they fit and provide the same performance-downgrading to a bracket-type wiper is not worth the savings.

Amazon users and a rainy car service shop in Portland, Oregon strongly recommend this wiper. But it is more expensive than similarly designed wipers.

If you don’t mind spending a few bucks more, PIAA silicone wipers are highly recommended and claim to be usable. Travis Decker of Atomic Auto Service in Portland, Oregon told us, “PIAA silicone is the best I have used.” He said that they “last longer and are impregnated with silicone, so they will keep out the wind. Leave a little waterproof film on the glass." However, he admits that they are expensive compared to wipers of similar design. (He usually recommends Bosch blades to customers.) PIAA claims that the service life of silicone blades is "at least 2 times longer than traditional blades." PIAA windshield wipers come in three styles: beam, bracket and hybrid. They have all been highly praised on Amazon, and there are relatively few negative reviews.

Our choice Rain-X Original Glass Water Repellent's best-selling stand-type wiper is the most effective waterproofing treatment for windshields and windows. The price is $6.

The most effective waterproofing treatment for windshields and windows.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publication, the price was $6.

This waterproof windshield treatment is a good complement to the wiper, which can help you see outside the windshield in heavy rain, and make it easier to see the side windows and rear windows. It forms a hydrophobic coating, which makes the water bead and quickly slide off the glass. Rain-X Original Glass Water Repellent is the most effective choice in our test. It has the most reliable positive user reviews and the lowest price, but it needs to be reapplied approximately once a month to maintain its effectiveness.

This beam blade windshield wiper is a reliable choice under any climatic conditions and has always been one of the most highly rated windshield wipers by users.

*At the time of publication, the price was $20.

Our previous first choice was the beam blade wiper. It performed well in our long-term tests and received generally good reviews, but not as high as the Bosch Icon.

*At the time of publication, the price was $16.

This traditional wiper has performed well in our long-term tests and has received very good reviews on Amazon.

*At the time of publication, the price was $11.

This windshield wiper is one of Amazon's best-selling products and has received very good reviews. However, like all bracket type wipers, its performance in winter conditions is not as good as beam blades.

*At the time of publication, the price was $13.

Amazon users and a rainy car service shop in Portland, Oregon strongly recommend this wiper. But it is more expensive than similarly designed wipers.

Since 2005, Ed Grabianowski has been writing articles about the automotive industry for websites such as HowStuffWorks. He wrote about multi-million dollar supercars and drove a $200 Saturn race car in the snow. He said: “I’m not a mechanic, but I’m in charge of basic maintenance work and I’m slowly repairing a classic car (if you think finding wipers for your car is difficult, please try to find them for the 1963 Ford Thunderbird )."

Rik Paul served as the car editor of Consumer Reports for 14 years, where he edited all the auto parts tests for the publication, including, yes, windshield wipers. Before that, he served as a senior feature editor for Motor Trend for nine years, where he wrote a monthly column on car care and maintenance. He made his mark in the field of car maintenance and repair, wrote a DIY repair manual for Haynes Publications, rebuilt the engine starting from the parts in the wooden box, and used a ready-made toolbox to coax several outdated cars on the road and a large number of TLC.

To help us find out which wiper works best, we also talked with other auto writers and experts, interviewed several auto service shops (in Chicago and Portland, where wipers are used extensively), and conducted in-depth research. We have scored user ratings on several websites, and have been continuously testing our paddles and other wipers.

The wiper should be able to smoothly remove water, snow and mud from the windshield without squeaking, chattering, jumping or scratching. If you notice these signs, or if the wiper leaves streaks or hoses, it may be time to replace them with new ones. In long-term testing of our paddles, they usually work normally for about 9 months to a year before showing signs of wear, although this depends on the conditions, the type of wiper and their maintenance. Of course, wipers will have a lot of effect in wetter and snowy areas, but even in the southwest, where you can keep it from raining for months, they will quickly degrade. Constant heat, dryness and sunlight will deteriorate the rubber components; we have even seen wipers that have not been used for a long time must be peeled off the windshield. Therefore, in this case, it is best to run the wiper once a week while spraying the windshield with cleaning fluid.

When we asked the representatives of several repair shops about the problems they saw caused by the wear and care of wipers, the answers were similar and convincing. "I personally see people waiting so long that the blades become old and brittle and damage the windows," said Joe Betancourt Jr., vice president of Joe's Expert Auto in Chicago. "In some cases, the blade will fall off with the backing, and the arm will scratch the glass, leading to expensive and unnecessary repairs."

Pete McAdoo of Honest-1 Auto Care in Portland agreed, "I have seen them fall off, peel off and scratch the glass. Now they have etched traces of wipers on the glass." McAdoo also saw the disintegrated wiper. Hanging on something and damaging the wiper motor: For a long time, even the wiper that vibrates and drags on the windshield will "put pressure on the motor and the connecting rod", thereby shortening its service life. " Replace them regularly," he suggested. Travis Decker of Portland Atomic Auto Service agreed: "Wipers are a cheap insurance" that can withstand more expensive repairs.

If you find a problem with the wiper, please try to clean the rubber blade first. Sometimes this is all you need to use your existing wiper for a few weeks or months. Dip a clean paper towel or cloth in a little water, detergent or rubbing alcohol, and then wipe it along the edge of the blade. In addition, observe carefully and feel for any adhering debris or roughness. The edges should be sharp and smooth, without any nicks, nicks or gaps, and the rubber should be flexible and not cracked or brittle.

In winter, thoroughly scrape off the ice on the windshield before using the wiper, as the ice will wear down the rubber and dull or damage the edges.

Geoff Helzer of Portland's Green Drop Garage said that another common problem he sees is that spray of oily, greasy road dirt forms a thin film on the windshield. He said: “You can use a windshield stripper product to deeply clean the surface of the windshield to remove the film.” It requires some elbow grease, but “has been proven to be very effective in restoring the glass to a new state.”

If cleaning does not help the wiper, it is time to replace it with a new one. And always replace them in pairs, because if one wears out, the other won't fall behind.

Replace the two wipers. Once one blade is worn, the other will not fall behind.

Although many people wait for these signs of problems before buying a new wiper, it is best to proactively replace them before they are needed. Not being able to see clearly in a sudden downpour or heavy snow or ice storm can be a real drag, let alone a danger. Then there is the "cheap insurance" thing-it's best to replace them before they wear out to the extent that they might damage the car.

So, how often should you replace the wiper? The wiper manufacturer and several shops we talked to recommend replacing it every six months. But once a year may be a reasonable time interval for you. In an online survey we conducted, approximately one-quarter of the respondents said that they replaced wipers approximately every 9 to 12 months, and approximately one-fifth of the respondents said they replaced every 12 to 18 months One wiper. Almost as many people (18%) agreed that we summarized their thoughts on this issue, "Wait. Won't the wiper blade last forever?"

Travis Decker of Atomic Auto Service recommends replacing them as needed, but it depends on the climate. "Here, in Oregon, I recommend autumn each year." Joe Betancourt of Joe's Expert Auto said: "In our area (Chicago), due to icing on the windshield, I recommend every 3 to 4 months in winter Replace it once."

If you have trouble remembering to get a new blade, link the task to another regular event. The windshield wiper industry has tried groundhog day as a national "wiper replacement day", so if it works for you, you can use it.

Today's cars have many types of wipers to choose from, including traditional bracket wipers, thin beam wipers, and new hybrid wipers that combine these designs. Each has its own advantages, and the one that suits you best depends on your vehicle, budget, and local climate.

Old-style brackets used frames with multiple contact points to press the blades against the windshield and were usually the cheapest, but they were more susceptible to cold conditions. The metal frame allows snow and icing during winter driving. This buildup can stick to the wiper and cause stains, streaks, or complete inability to remove the windshield. If you are driving a car before the beam blades are popular, you may have to open the window and reach out and apply the wiper to the windshield to clear the ice while driving. The so-called "winter" blades are designed to prevent this from happening; they are basically a stand blade with large rubber boots, covering a metal frame to prevent ice from entering. But since the introduction of beam blades, winter wipers have almost disappeared.

Beam blades use a single curved metal sheet inside the blade to provide tension and contact, and generally work better than bracket-type blades in winter conditions. That's because their stylish design will not allow snow and ice to accumulate on it. However, they can be several dollars more expensive than bracket type wipers. Some manufacturers and experts we consulted told us that the design of beam blades allows them to have better performance and greater durability than bracket blades because they distribute forces evenly along the length of the blade, instead of being connected to the bracket. At the point of contact.

In winter conditions, beam blades generally work better than scaffold blades.

Geoff Helzer of Green Drop Garage said: "We found that the beam blades maintain better contact with the windshield and produce less vibration at lower temperatures."

Luke Perkowski, former senior product manager at Bosch, told us: “The pressure distribution on the beam blades is also better. With brackets, the load path passes through the frame to the paws connected to the blades. The pressure on the paws is greater, which accelerates wear. We can also Design the beams more precisely to create the best curvature for the radius of the windshield to achieve consistent wear and uniform pressure." If the blades fit your car, it sounds great, but again, different windshields have Different curvatures.

However, in terms of durability, our long-term tests did not show a significant difference between beam blades and bracket blades.

The hybrid blades, which have become more and more popular in recent years, have a similar structure to the bracket blades, but the outer shell helps to give them a lower profile and a more aerodynamic shape. This helps make them resistant to snow and icing similar to beam blades.

If your vehicle was originally equipped with bracket blades, you can usually upgrade to beam blades or hybrid alternatives. However, if your car was originally equipped with beam blades, they should be replaced with the same type to ensure they are suitable and provide the same performance.

Our preliminary research on windshield wipers gave us three insights: No wiper has been tested as a reliable barometer recently; it is difficult to obtain hard data on the performance of the wiper; moreover, as long as the wiper is suitable for the windshield and can handle the cold Weather, the performance of most wipers does not seem to be much different during the first few months of use. In fact, Geoff Helzer of Green Drop Garage in Portland, Oregon said: “Honestly, if they are replaced twice a year, almost any brand is enough.” (Of course, we know that most people don’t change wipers often. ; Only 16% of the respondents said that the wipers should be replaced every six to nine months.)

Therefore, we infer that the best way to identify the best wiper for most people is to see which models have received the most positive and least negative feedback from users and professionals. We interviewed representatives of several auto service shops in areas with harsh weather such as Chicago and Portland, Oregon (with more than 150 rainy days per year on average). We also checked user ratings on some websites that sell wipers and pointed out which models tend to appear at the top. Finally, we delved into the ratings of Amazon's top 60 best-selling wipers. Here, due to the large number of user reviews, we can go beyond the overall rating to see the percentage of each wiper in the five-star and one-star ratings and the difference between the two. We found that when the wiper purchased by the driver does not fit the windshield of his car—leaving streaks or unwiped water strips—he or she usually gives it a one-star rating. Therefore, this is a good indication of how many cars a particular wiper is not suitable for. Therefore, the greater the difference between five-star and one-star, the more happy people and the fewer unhappy people. We think this means you are more likely to be satisfied with the wiper.

This beam blade windshield wiper is a reliable choice under any climatic conditions and has always been one of the most highly rated windshield wipers by users.

*At the time of publication, the price was $20.

Although there is no wiper blade for every car, our research shows that Bosch Icon is a good choice for most drivers. Of course, you can get a wiper that perfectly matches your car by visiting your dealer and possibly paying more. However, if you only want to order online or buy wipers at auto parts stores or large retailers (more than 80% of respondents responded to our online wiper survey), we are sure that Icon is a lot of people’s Easy to choose. Icon is a beam blade wiper. Like all beam blades, it performs better than traditional bracket wipers in winter conditions, so it performs well throughout the year. Of the four auto repair shops we interviewed in Chicago, Illinois, and Portland, Oregon, which is rainy, two recommended Bosch wipers. Icon is Bosch's top model and consistently ranks among the best on websites that sell various models, including Amazon, Wal-Mart, Advance Auto Parts, and JC Whitney. On Amazon, which has the highest user ratings so far, at the time of writing, the Icon model not only received the highest overall rating of all the best-selling wipers, but they also received the highest percentage of five-star ratings among all sizes. Among the most popular Among the wipers, the one-star rating has the lowest percentage, which means that Icon is more likely to be suitable for your car.

Although Icon came out in 2005, Bosch reformulated its rubber components in early 2015 and now uses its so-called "ClearMax 365" ingredient, a design unique to Icon and other premium Bosch models. The company claims that internal tests have shown that the formula is 40% longer than competitors’ ozone cracking resistance. Because that was a Bosch test, you can accept it with a grain of salt (ozone is of course not the only thing that will reduce the performance of the wiper blade). But this is a good example of how things in this market are constantly evolving.

What we can say is that most users rate Icon wipers very highly. For example, our in-depth research on Amazon user reviews and ratings shows that the vast majority of people who buy Bosch Icon wipers are very satisfied with them, more than any other popular model.

Bosch is also a trusted brand in this field. According to Autohaus AZ, as one of the largest auto parts suppliers, it provides original wipers for companies such as Ford, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Porsche. Geoff Helzer of Green Drop Garage in Portland, Oregon said his store tends to use Bosch wipers on customers' vehicles. Similarly, Travis Decker of Atomic Auto Service Portland, Oregon told us that they usually recommend the Bosch Evolution wiper, a beam blade that is one level lower than the Icon in the Bosch product line. He added that they had sold Icons before, but "Evolution seems to be a very similar product" at a slightly lower price. (When we checked, Evolution was a few dollars cheaper than a similar-sized Icon on Amazon.) The only other brands recommended by the store we talked to are PIAA and Denso, which provide original wipers for several car manufacturers and are not available. Buy through many retailers.

Is the icon a sure bet? will not. A small number of users are disappointed, usually because it does not fit the contours of the windshield well or is not properly connected to the wiper arm. In fact, we encountered the latter problem when we installed a set of Icons on a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta for long-term testing. Although the car selection tool indicates that the 24OE and 19OE versions are suitable for cars, the connectors on these wipers are not easy to install on the wiper arm of the car. (Other Audi and Volkswagen owners have reported similar problems with Icon OE models, and now the selector tool has been corrected.) We can only choose to return them or remove a few small plastic protrusions on the connectors to make them fit. We chose the latter option. Each wiper with a drill bit and a small grinder attachment takes about 15 minutes; although not the most elegant solution, it worked.

In the past few years, several Wirecutter employees have had a good experience when using Bosch Icon wipers on various cars. An author of this guide is located in the New York area. More than a year after his 2013 Volkswagen Jetta's outstanding performance by Icons, he began to hear some squeaks and saw some smudges left after wiping. Nevertheless, he cleans them regularly and squeezes out another year before purchasing alternatives.

In the past nine months to a year (including a full winter), other employees have had no problems using their Icons on the 2000 Honda CR-V in St. Paul, Minnesota; Honda pilots in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2005 ; And the 2008 Ford Escape and the 2004 Houston Ford Explorer. In future updates, we will let you know how long they have been used before there are signs of wear.

Our previous first choice was the beam blade wiper. It performed well in our long-term tests and received generally good reviews, but not as high as the Bosch Icon.

*At the time of publication, the price was $16.

When we first published this guide in 2013, we chose Rain-X Latitude as our top choice. After running it on multiple cars for a year, we found that it works well for most of our drivers (although not better than the Valeo 600 scaffold blade that was also in this test). However, in general, it does not perform as well as Bosch Icon in user reviews, and more and more people complain that it is not suitable for their windshield.

In our long-term testing, only one of the eight drivers had problems with the Latitude from the beginning (on the 2004 Chevrolet Impala). Although Latitude is a best-selling product on Amazon and is generally highly rated, it has received more negative reviews than Icon, and many people complained about its fit.

Although our overall experience was very positive, on other websites we checked, Latitude did not appear in the higher-rated models as often as Icon, and none of the service shops we interviewed mentioned that they recommend it to customers.

In 2015, Rain-X launched a new version called Latitude Water Repelency wiper. The company claimed that the product left a thin layer of Rain-X waterproof treatment on the windshield to help water flow more easily. go. Although the user reviews of this wiper on Amazon are mostly positive, some people complain that the Rain-X coating can only last a few weeks, and some people complain that the rubber element is separated from the wiper. We were not surprised at the first complaint, because in our own tests, we found that Rain-X insect repellent itself is effective but has a short lifespan. We also just installed a pair of Latitude waterproof wipers on the employees' cars to get our own impression.

This traditional wiper has performed well in our long-term tests and has received very good reviews on Amazon.

*At the time of publication, the price was $11.

This windshield wiper is one of Amazon's best-selling products and has received very good reviews. However, like all bracket type wipers, its performance in winter conditions is not as good as beam blades.

*At the time of publication, the price was $13.

If your car was originally equipped with traditional bracket wipers and you don't need the extra insurance provided by beam blades in snow and icing conditions, then you can save a few bucks by sticking to bracket wipers. The Valeo 600 is one that we can personally guarantee because it is one of the two wipers (with Rain-X Latitude) that we used in long-term multi-vehicle testing. Rain-X Weatherbeater is another best-selling product that has received high reviews on Amazon. It is also one of the highly rated wipers on the Advance Auto Parts website.

In our long-term test, the Valeo 600 received high scores from most drivers; one exception was the 2010 Ford Edge, which only gave 6 out of 10 points. Although yes, the wiper market has changed a lot since we first started testing, but Amazon users still rate it very highly. The difference between five-star and one-star ratings makes it firmly applicable to most people between Bosch Icon and Rain-X Latitude.

Rain-X Weatherbeater received similar praise as Valeo 600. Some Weatherbeater versions have also received high ratings from Advance Auto Parts users.

Amazon users and a rainy car service shop in Portland, Oregon strongly recommend this wiper. But it is more expensive than similarly designed wipers.

PIAA super silicone wipers are several dollars more expensive than most wipers of similar design, but they are said to have a longer lifespan and were highly rated by a store we interviewed and Amazon users. When we asked Travis Decker of Atomic Auto in Portland, Oregon which wipers he recommended, he told us "PIAA Silicone is the best I have ever used." They "have a longer life and are impregnated with silicone, so they leave a little waterproof film on the windshield." However, he does admit that they are expensive, which is why he usually recommends Bosch blades to customers. one. PIAA claims that the service life of silicone components is "at least 2 times longer than traditional blades." We can’t comment on this until we spend more time in contact with them, but users are very enthusiastic, and the overall rating of the bracket-type super silicone wiper on Amazon is very high. PIAA wipers have beam blades, brackets, and hybrid designs, and they have received high overall ratings on Amazon, and relatively few negative reviews.

Our choice Rain-X Original Glass Water Repellent's best-selling stand-type wiper is the most effective waterproofing treatment for windshields and windows. The price is $6.

The most effective waterproofing treatment for windshields and windows.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publication, the price was $6.

Waterproof windshield coatings help drip water from the glass, can be an effective complement to wipers, and help make it easier to see through the windshield-they are especially useful in heavy rain. If you want the most effective insect repellent, choose the classic Rain-X Original Glass Water Repellent and promise to use it once a month-its effect will expire in a few weeks.

After application, Rain-X forms a hydrophobic coating, causing water droplets to form and quickly slide off the windshield-instead of spreading to the glass-especially at high speeds. This makes it easier to see through the clear area between the beads and reduces some of the work of the wiper. Rain-X worked well in our tests and received the most reliable positive user reviews we have found, but most users agree that you need to reapply it approximately once a month to maintain effectiveness.

It is more costly than Rain-X, and the effect is not satisfactory, but it lasts longer.

*At the time of publication, the price was $30.

If you just want to enhance your windshield, Aquapel Glass Treatment is not as effective as Rain-X and is much more expensive, but it can last longer-if you don't want to, this is a better option to bother with monthly applications. Aquapel does not coat the windshield, but chemically combines it with the glass. It should last three to six months before you need to reapply it. To give you an idea of ​​how the two compare, check out this YouTube video, which shows a 30-day comparison: Rain-X is more effective at first, but Aquapel still works a month later, even though Rain-X is almost completely worn out.

For any product, you need to start with a very clean windshield, and these two products dry best in warm weather and avoid direct sunlight. However, even when applied perfectly, these treatments have potential disadvantages. Some people complain that these products cause a noticeable haze at night. Others report that it is difficult to fill windshield fragments professionally after learning that chemicals interfere with repair methods, although Aquapel's website refutes this claim.

In our online survey, we asked people: "Is it difficult to find a wiper blade suitable for your vehicle?" Although 93% of respondents disagree, 7% agree. Someone wrote that these clips usually do not match the arms of European models (this is a problem we encountered on Volkswagen Jetta), but we were surprised to see that owners of Honda Civic and Fit, as well as Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty models also have problems. .

Unfortunately, before you actually buy and try to install it, it is usually impossible to determine which brand and model of wiper blade is best for you. So no matter what you buy and where you buy it, please check the return policy and keep the receipt. If you can’t find a suitable windshield wiper, don’t worry; we have some best practices to help you find the following:

Our bottom line recommendation is to find a wiper that fits your car and replace it once a year.

Sometimes you can save a few dollars by only replacing the rubber wiper element (called wiper refill or insert) of the windshield wiper and keeping the existing metal frame. This is an inexpensive way to update wipers, and many people have been advocating this way for a long time. However, for most people, due to shortcomings, we do not recommend this. First, you need to remember the exact type of wiper on the car in order to get the correct replacement component. For many people, installing a refill is more difficult than simply installing a wiper blade on the wiper arm of a car. In addition, the wiper element is not the only thing that will wear out, especially for traditional bracket type wipers.

The frame and connection of the wiper are also prone to wear and tear, and they may be restrained or loosened, causing the wiper to rattle, jump, or lose contact with the windshield. Mike Allen, the former automobile editor of Volkswagen Mechanics, wrote an article on wipers in 2005. He said: "But when you need [wiper replenisher], the articulated arm itself may also be in a bad condition. If If it sticks, the blade will not conform to the shape of the glass, leaving streaks or unwiped areas. A full wiper blade spring."

As we heard from all the stores we interviewed, worn wiper arms may loose or break, damaging the windshield or damaging the wiper linkage or motor. In other words, if you are familiar with car parts, know what to look for when inspecting wipers, have patience, and can find suitable plug-ins, installing them is still a money-saving option.

Joe Betancourt Jr, Joe's Expert Auto, Chicago, interview

Pete McAdoo, Honest-1 Auto Care, Portland, Oregon, interview

Travis Decker, Atomic Auto Service, Portland, Oregon, interview

Geoff Helzer, Green Drop Garage, Portland, Oregon, interview

Interview with Luke Perkowski, Robert Bosch LLC, Farmington Hills, Michigan

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