As any driver knows, wiper blades are a vital part of a car. You need them to push away dirt, snow, rain and anything else blocking your view on the road. However, since wiper blades are made out of rubber, they tend to wear out easily after a couple of months. While of course you can take your car to the auto body shop to have your wiper blades changed, it is just as simple to do it yourself.
To begin this process, start out by taking a look at what part of the blade needs to be changed. When it comes to windshield wipers, they are comprised of three basic parts, which are the lower wiper arm, the metal blade and the rubber blade. The lower wiper arm comes out from the base of the windshield, while the metal blade is connected to the lower arm. Then, the rubber blade is what is used to actually wipe the windshield clean. That is why when you are changing your car’s wiper blades, you are really only replacing the rubber blades itself.
Now that you know exactly what windshield wipers are made up of, it is time to actually purchase replacement blades. However, these replacement blades come in a variety of sizes, so you will need to measure the old rubber blades with a measuring tape beforehand. Make sure to write down the exact length before visiting an auto parts store, so that you do in fact buy the rubber blades in the right size you need. However, it is important to note that the left and right wipers do not always take the same size blade. That is because one size tends to be an inch or two shorter in length than the other. It will typically cost you about $15.00 a blade, although you will be saving a lot of money in labor by changing the car wiper blades yourself.
Next, you need to start installing the new wiper blades. To do this, pick up the metal wiper arm and gear it away from the windshield. You should not have a problem doing this, since the wiper arms usually hold in place in a position that is perpendicular to the windshield itself. However, you do not want to force your metal wiper arm into any spot because it is spring-loaded. That means it has the potential to snap back,which could cause cracks and breaks in your windshield.
After this, you will need to completely unhook the old wiper blade that is in place. For this step, begin by talking a glance at where the joint is that attaches the wiper blade to the metal arm. Once you locate that, there should also be a small plastic stopper nearby that is working to keep the blade in its rightful position. You need to press the stopper in order to disconnect the old wiper blade, since that part has to be removed from the metal arm. Other wiper blades may have pins instead of a hook to keep the rubber wiper where it needs to be. However, throughout this whole process, you want to be super careful. You should always have one hand holding the wiper away from the windshield, just to avoid the possibility of any cracks forming. Besides this, it is also recommended that a folded towel is placed over the windshield, on the off chance that the arm bangs back into the it while you are in the process of changing the wiper blades.
Once you unhook the old wiper, you will need to put in the new wiper. For this step of the process, you will need to pick up your refill wiper and slide in into the arm on the same end that you took the old wiper out of. Then, keep moving your new wiper around until the hook snaps into place. This will mean that your wiper is firmly secure. However, you need to be gentle the whole time you are doing this, as you do not want to break your wiper. Then, after the new wiper is inserted into where it needs to be, place your wiper back against the windshield.
Next, you will need to repeat what you just did to the first wiper, to your second wiper. There won’t be anything done differently here, except you just want to make certain that you are using the correct for each side of the wipers. As soon as your second wiper is put into place, you are all set for the road. However, so that you are never left with wipers that are completely useless, it is recommended that you take a close look at your wipers regularly for cracks, since that tends to happen over time. You should also notice how your wipers work in the rain. If there are streaks or water marks left on your windshield, these are signs that the rubber is starting to wear out.
