Why do wipers squeak
Content
Wiper blades on a car are a consumable item that requires periodic replacement. The main signs of the exhaustion of their resource are deteriorating glass cleaning и creaking wipers. However, sometimes extraneous sounds appear when the brushes are also in order. Machine wipers creak when the brushes are dirty, the glass is excessively worn, the wiper drive is broken, and some other malfunctions.
In this article, we will analyze in detail why the wipers creak, what to do to eliminate the sound and how to extend the life of the wipers.
Why do wipers squeak
Car wiper blades consist of a frame or guide and a rubber blade attached to it. Usually the wipers in the car creak due to incorrect contact of the latter with the glass surface, which leads to the occurrence of high-frequency vibrations that generate an unpleasant sound. However, other elements of the wiper drive mechanism can also be its source.
Why wipers creak and how to fix it: video
Common causes of windshield wipers squeaking:
- sand and other abrasive particles on glass;
- wear and surface defects of rubber brushes;
- incorrect positioning of the brushes relative to the glass;
- insufficiently tight and uniform fit of the rubber part to the glass;
- wear and defects of the windshield surface;
- defects in the wiper drive mechanism.
When the wipers creak on the glass due to the strong natural wear of the gum or the attachment of the brushes, only replacing them. As for extraneous sounds associated with an incorrect position or insufficient contact between the glass and the rubber part, creaking can be eliminated and prevented with the help of simple manipulations. This also applies to situations when the wiper mechanism creaks.
Windshield wipers squeak
Most often, an unpleasant sound appears due to pollution and heavy wear of cleaning rubber bands. New wipers on the windshield usually creak due to incorrect positioning and poor pressure associated with deformation of the leashes. Sometimes it can also be an incorrect selection of the part, for example, installing frameless brushes on almost flat glass. namely, often for this reason it creaks rear wiper, since the glass on the tailgate is often not as embossed as the front.
Why wiper blades creak: the main reasons
| Problem | Cause | How can you eliminate |
|---|---|---|
| New wipers creak | Incorrect installation angle | Change the position of the leash so that the cleaning edge of the rubber is perpendicular to the glass surface |
| incorrectly selected or loose fastening | Fix the brushes on the leash mounts in accordance with the instructions. | |
| Insufficient brush pressure | Check and replace if necessary the spring of the leashes | |
| Wipers creak on dry glass | Lack of lubrication | Do not turn on the wipers when dry, without using a washer and in the absence of precipitation |
| Frameless wipers creak | Insufficient pressure | Check the tension of the leash spring, replace it if necessary. |
| Wrong installation | Mount the brushes according to the instructions | |
| Frame wipers creak | ||
| breakdown of the frame (hinges, rods, fastening) | Make sure that there is no excessive freedom of movement, play, or damage to the retaining structure. Tighten fasteners in order to restore rigidity, or replace brushes | |
| Wipers squeak intermittently | Brush contamination | Wipe the surface of the cleaning edges to remove dirt, such as WD-40 or gasoline |
| Loss of elasticity in rubber bands | Treat with gasoline, mineral spirits or thinner to soften rubber | |
| Insufficient wetting | Check the operation of the rear washer, make sure that its pump, nozzles are in good condition, that the tube is intact and that there are no kinks | |
| Squeaky rear wiper | ||
| Incorrect angle of the gum | Set the rubber band perpendicular to the plane of the windshield by bending the leashes | |
| Wipers creak in one direction only | ||
| Wipers squeak constantly | ||
| Wear of the cleaning edges of the brushes | Replace wipers with new ones | |
| Brush defects | ||
| Glass defects | Polish or replace glass |
Wiper mechanism creaks
Wipers creak due to trapezium hinges: video
When the rubber bands are in order and are pressed normally, but the extraneous sound persists even if the brushes are removed from the glass, this means that the wipers' trapezoid creaks. It is located near the drain behind the windshield frill, so it is often exposed to moisture, which contributes to the washing out of grease and corrosion.
The wiper mechanism creaks when sand and dirt get into the joints, with natural wear of bushings and hinges, which is typical mainly for cars with high mileage. In winter, the cause of extraneous sounds and a decrease in the speed of movement of the leashes can also be an increase in the viscosity of the lubricant.
Why wipers creak if the brushes are in order, it is noted in the table.
| Problem | Why is this happening | How can this be fixed |
|---|---|---|
| Worn axial sleeve fixing the holder | Ingress of abrasive that destroys the hinge | Clean moving parts (bushings and connections) with WD-40 or other cleaner. Lubricate with grease. |
| Washing out or thickening of grease | ||
| The trapeze of the wipers sticks | ||
| Deformations of the elements of the trapezoid | Restore the geometry of parts, replace worn elements or the entire faulty trapezium with a new one. | |
| Faulty electric motor | Lack of lubrication in the gearbox | Clean and lubricate gearbox |
| Mechanical wear of bushings, gears | Replace defective parts with new ones |
How to determine which wiper squeaks
in order to understand how to remove the creaking of the wipers, you need to localize the source of the unpleasant sound. First, you should check the condition of the rubber bands and brushes, and then the elements of their drive mechanism. What to do if the wipers creak on the windshield, the instructions below will tell you.
- Bend the brushes and inspect the condition of the rubber bands. They should be even and smooth. A small "fringe" on the edge of the edge indicates its wear, and the remaining deformation indicates a loss of elasticity.
- Visually check the position of the brush relative to the glass. The cleaning edge should be perpendicular to the glass in a static position, and when moving, move in the direction opposite to the brush movement.
- Check the condition of the base of the brushes (carcasses or guides). The brushes must be securely fixed in the mounts on the leashes, their noticeable play relative to the leash is not allowed. For frameless and hybrid brushes, the base must be firmly connected to the latch, for frameless brushes, excessive backlash of the rocker arms indicates damage.
- Assess the pressure of the springs of the leashes, inspect their condition. For a brush with a length of about 50 cm, the pressing force of the leash should be approximately 0,7–1,2 kg (can be measured with a compact electronic scale). If it is lower, then the spring is weakened and you need to inspect it. Sometimes looseness can be due to dirt and ice, but if the part is clean, the spring or driver assembly needs to be replaced.
- Alternately raise the leashes and check the wiper for extraneous sounds. If, when lifting one of the brushes, extraneous sounds disappear, you need to look for the reasons in it. If the squeak and rattle do not disappear, you should simultaneously raise both brushes and turn on the wipers. The presence of sound indicates a problem with the trapezoid.
- Check the hinges on the trapezoid. Having removed the caps from the shafts of the leashes (if any), you need to make sure that there is a backlash by shaking them with your hand. it is also advisable to inspect the shaft bushings for grease and contamination. At the same time, it does not hurt to examine other places of the movable joints of the trapezoid. If there is no lubrication there, it is dirty, dusty, and extraneous sounds have just appeared, removing, cleaning and lubricating the trapezoid will help, if the problem is running, you will have to change either the bushings or the trapezoid assembly.
- Check the operation of the electric motor. If the inspection and maintenance of the trapezoid did not work, the wiper motor should be checked. Usually it is enough to disconnect its shaft or rod from the trapezoid and turn on the wipers. But sometimes extraneous sounds appear only under load. For a more complete diagnosis, the motor will have to be removed.
How to eliminate the squeak of worn-out wipers on a car
In most cases, you can remove the squeak of the wipers and prevent its occurrence in the future with the help of the simplest maintenance operations of the brushes and the wiper mechanism. At the same time, some recommendations from motorists or the use of inappropriate products can be not only useless, but also harmful.
When choosing how to lubricate car wipers from creaking, follow the general precautions:
Treatment of wiper blades with a special tool
- organic solvents (gasoline, kerosene, white spirit, etc.) are able to wash off various contaminants with a 2–3-minute exposure, but they also wash off the anti-friction coating and soften the rubber excessively with a longer exposure;
- wax, silicone, “anti-rain” coatings, although they provide temporary elimination of sounds, they also leave streaks, spots that glare when exposed to light, and sometimes also complicate the sliding of brushes on glass;
- antifreeze, due to the presence of glycols, allows you to remove frost, defrost frozen brushes, but it can be aggressive towards paintwork, and also has a higher toxicity than monohydric alcohols.
If the wiper blades began to creak on the road and the reason is in the rubber bands, then it can be temporarily eliminated using the available means listed in the table below.
How can I eliminate the squeak of the wipers on the windshield
| Means | What is the effect of using | How long will help | In what cases will this remedy be ineffective? |
|---|---|---|---|
| WD-40 | Removes dirt from brushes, softens rubber, prevents freezing, but can also wash off the anti-friction layer of graphite | Will help eliminate squeaks for several weeks if the cause is dirt on the rubber bands, and not wear | Ineffective with significant loss of elasticity |
| Petrol | Removes impurities from rubber, softens it with a slight loss of elasticity | If the wipers are intact, but dirty and slightly dull, organic solvents can extend their life by several weeks or months. | It will not help if the brushes are worn out and completely lost their elasticity. Can over-soften rubber if exposed to brushes for too long |
| White Spirit | |||
| Silicone or any anti-rain | Provides water repellency, prevents freezing, but does not last long and may leave streaks | Until the first heavy precipitation or the use of a large amount of windshield washer | Will not help with wear of brushes, loss of elasticity |
| Technical Alcohol | Removes dirt from the surface of rubber bands, dissolves frost in winter | Acts as the main cleanser, but does not provide other positive effects | Alcohol and windshield washer fluid will not help with wear and loss of elasticity |
| Windscreen washer | |||
| Antifreeze | Remove dirt and ice, but will not soften hardened rubber. Aggressive towards car paintwork, capable of leaving streaks, more expensive than a windshield washer and more toxic | Use is pointless | |
| Brake fluid | |||
| Wax | Eliminates squeaks, but may leave streaks and glare spots | 1 to several days | |
| Dishwashing liquid | Removes greasy dirt, washes away dust, eliminates squeaks, but may leave streaks and foam when moistened | Does not restore elasticity, does not always help eliminate creaking in the presence of defects |
Remember that if the rubber bands are already worn out, their elasticity has decreased, or there are significant defects on the glass, lubricating the brushes will not help get rid of the squeak! Applying WD-40, detergent, soaking in solvents, at best, will temporarily eliminate the unpleasant sound. To completely eliminate it, you need to remove the cause, that is, put new brushes instead of worn ones, polish or replace heavily worn and scratched glass, etc.
The best way to get rid of wiper squeak is to prevent its occurrence by correctly selecting, installing and operating the wiper blades and mechanism in accordance with the recommendations below:
How to properly adjust the wipers: video
- control and maintain the perpendicular position of the brushes relative to the glass;
- do not turn on the wipers dry;
- use alcohol-containing liquids specially designed for cars for the windshield washer;
- once every 1–2 weeks, rinse the brushes from dirt with water and / or wipe with an alcohol-containing liquid;
- do not try to clean the icy glass with wipers;
- in dry and hot weather once a week, let the wipers work, wetting the glass with washer fluid;
- control the pressing force of the springs of the leashes and change them in time in case of excessive stretching;
- keep an eye on the trapezoid hinges and bushings, periodically lubricate them with grease.
If you constantly follow these tips, in the future you will not have to think about how to process the wipers so that they do not creak.
Answers to frequently asked questions
How to lubricate the rubber bands of the wipers so that they do not creak?
WD-40, benzene or thinner will remove accumulated dirt particles and increase the elasticity of the rubber. But if the cause of the squeak lies in the incorrect installation of the brushes, their wear, windshield defects or the wear of the wiper mechanism, then it will not work to get rid of unpleasant sounds.
Why do wipers start to squeak on the windshield?
Wipers begin to squeak on the windshield of the car for six different reasons:
- dry friction;
- contamination or damage to the cleaning edge of the brushes or windshield;
- incorrect positioning of the brushes;
- breakage of the trapezoid;
- loss of elasticity of the rubber part;
- insufficient pressure of the brushes to the glass.
What to do if you changed the wipers, but the creak remains?
Usually, new wipers creak immediately after replacement in case of incorrect selection and installation of brushes, incorrect position relative to the glass due to a deformed leash. If a creak is heard even when the brushes are removed from the glass, the reason is not in them, but in the wiper mechanism.
