Your vehicle’s windshield wipers use long narrow pieces of rubber or silicone composite that can glide over glass to sweep away water, dirt, and other debris. However, the shape and flexibility of the wipers can change after regular exposure to rain, sunlight, and drastic temperature changes. You will need to replace your wiper blades when they don’t sweep water properly anymore or when the rubber tears because it might scratch your windshield. When you need to replace your wiper blades, you have to make sure you get ones that are the right size and will fit your vehicle.
How to Know What Windshield Wipers you need
Different vehicles require different sizes of wiper blades, so you should make sure you know your vehicle’s wiper size before buying a replacement. Take note that the length of the driver’s side wiper blade is usually different from that of the passenger’s side. If you get a wiper blade that’s too long, you might find it going beyond the windshield or hitting the trim on its outer edge . If you get one that’s too short, the new blade may only be sweeping just a small portion of your windshield. Incorrectly sized wiper blades can also hit one another and get the wiper arms tangled or damaged.
If you find one of your wiper blades to have torn rubber, replace (it) immediately as it will scratch your windshield if you do not.
–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
The easiest way to learn your vehicle’s windshield wiper size is by checking the owner’s manual. Another way is to take a measuring tool such as a tape measure and use it to manually measure the wiper blade’s length. Remember that you should be measuring just the wiper blade. Measure your blades in inches since they come in those sizes.
Don’t let an old and worn out windshield wiper reduce your visibility in rainy conditions, as it might put you and your passengers’ safety at risk. If you’re having trouble seeing through rain or snow, then you should replace your wiper blades immediately.
Check out this video on how to replace your windshield wiper:
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