Windshield Wipers
Industry estimates say approximately 50% of us are driving with windshield wipers 
beyond their functional lifespan. Wipers are not the most glamorous thing to replace on your car. They won't give you more horsepower or improve your handling, but they can reduce your chances of getting in a car accident due to low visibility. Nowadays, there are a lot of good windshield wipers to replace those old, ratty ones you have on your car now.
Time For New Blades
Automobile experts suggest and recommend that windshield wiper blades be changed once a year, but it really depends on the quality and wear of the blade. Here are some clues you need replace those old blades.
- Cracked or torn rubber: splits, gouges or flaps on the blade.
- Hard rubber: blade that's discolored and deteriorating.
- The blade has ragged edges.
- The blade is bent, causing irregular wiping patterns.
Windshield Wiper Basics
So when you decide that you need some new blades , you have to get the right ones by finding out what size your car needs. Most blades range from 12 to 24 inches, this is excluding RV wiper blades , which run much bigger. Next you should decide whether you want rubber or silicone. In theory, the newer silicone blades function better and last longer, but consumer reports have given mixed reviews. The latest blade technology is the beam blade or bracket-less wiper blade, which have no external frame and are said to perform better on curved windshields. Bosch has a very popular blade like this named the ICON . If you are surviving a winter wonderland up north this season, spring for a winter windshield wiper , which is made of heavy duty steel and tougher rubber to break up snow and ice accumulation. Also, remember to get 2--wipers are sold individually.
Windshield Wiper System
Don't get stuck out in the rain without functioning windshield wipers here are some key components you might need to replace if your wipers stop working. Try a windshield wiper kit for a complete overhaul of your wiper system .
- The windshield wiper motor is responsible for powering the windshield wiper arm . The motor is designed to operate at a variety of speeds.
- The windshield washer system is mechanically separate from the wiper system. The washer system includes a washer-fluid reservoir ,pump ,fluid lines and spray nozzles mounted near the wipers or on the wiper arms.
- While you can fill the washer tank with water and household window cleaner, we strongly recommend you use specifically designed washer fluid because it contains a mild antifreeze for cold weather driving. Windshield ice buildup while driving is very dangerous.
- Checkout out our caps for windshield washer tanks , if you lost yours.
Replacing Wipers
Replacing your old wipers with the best wiper blades out there is easy. Just don't wait until it is an absolute necessity in a monsoon. Take 10 minutes of your sunny day to change your blades.
- First,you must remove the old blade. Pull the entire arm away from the windshield. And be careful not to scratch your paint or glass.
- Depress the small tab on the wiper around where it meets the metal arm. Slide the blade off of the arm.
- Gently lower the blade-less arm back on the windshield so it doesn't snap back.
- Put the new blade on the arm, the same process as taking the old one off, just in reverse order.
Popular Brands
Here are some brands of universal windshield wipers that consumers have found to be of the highest quality at an appropriate price.
Top Sellers
Here are some of the best selling wiper blades right now.
Tricked Out Wipers
Yes, you can even trick out your windshield wipers now. Spice up your boring old wipers with an LED wiper clip . Or you can try out the colored wipers to accent your car's paint job. Windshield washer nozzle lights are a cool way to give your ride a unique look at night.
Marine Wipers
If you are looking for replacement boat windshield wipers you might want to check out AFI's line of quality wipers. Marine windshield wipers can also be manually operated to clear off the occasional splash of water.
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