Rubber bands for wiper blades

Rubber bands for wiper blades, usually work in difficult weather conditions - rain, snow, icing on the glass surface. Accordingly, they withstand a significant mechanical load and, without proper care, will quickly fail. For the driver, not only the duration is important, but also the quality of their work. After all, they provide not only comfort, but also driving safety in adverse weather conditions. the following is information on how to choose rubber bands for brushes for the season, the issue of installation, operation, and care for them. At the end of the material, a rating of popular brands used by drivers in our country is presented. It was compiled based on real reviews found on the Internet.

Types

Most rubber bands today are made from a soft rubber-based rubber compound. However, in addition to such products, the following types are also on sale today:

• graphite-coated blade;
• silicone (there are variations not only in white, but also in other shades);
• with teflon coating (on their surface you can see yellow stripes);
• from a rubber-graphite mixture.

Please note that in order for the working edge of the rubber band not to creak during operation, its surface coated with graphite. Therefore, we recommend that you buy just such products. In addition, these rubber bands are resistant to temperature extremes and UV radiation, so they will surely serve you for a long time.

wiper rubber profiles

Summer and winter types of elastic bands

What rubber bands are better and how to choose them

you need to understand that the best rubber bands for wiper blades do not exist. They are all different, differ in profile design, rubber composition, degree of wear resistance, work efficiency, price, and so on. Therefore, for any driver, the best gum for wiper blades is the one that optimal fit for him in all of the above and some other parameters. Let's consider them in more detail.

First of all they divided by season. There are summer, all-weather and winter gum. Their main difference lies in the elasticity of the rubber from which they are made. Summer ones are usually thinner and less elastic, while winter ones, on the contrary, are more massive and softer. All-season options are something in between.

Various rubber profiles

When choosing a particular brush, you need to consider the following parameters:

1. Band size or length. There are three basic sizes - 500…510 mm, 600…610 mm, 700…710 mm. It is worth buying an elastic band for the wiper blades of the length that matches the frame of the brush. In extreme cases, you can buy it longer, and cut off the excess part.
2. Top and bottom edge width. It is immediately worth noting that most modern elastic bands have the same width of the lower and upper edges. However, there are options where these values ​​differ in one direction or another. make a choice you need a product recommended by the manufacturer of your car. As a last resort, if everything suited you in the previous brush, you can install a similar new one.
3. Blade profile. There are elastic bands with single-profile and multi-profile blades. The first option has the common name "Bosch" (you can also find its English name Single Edge). Single-profile rubber bands are best for use in winter. As for multi-profile rubber bands, in Russian they are called “Christmas trees”, in English - Multi Edge. Accordingly, they are more suitable for the warm season.
4. The presence of metal guides. There are two basic options for rubber bands for the wiper - with and without metal guides. The first option is suitable for frame and hybrid brushes. Their advantage lies in the ability to replace not only rubber bands, but also metal inserts. This allows you to increase the elasticity of the obsolete frame element. As for rubber bands without metal guides, they are designed for installation on frameless wipers. In this case, guides are not needed, since such wipers are equipped with their own pressure plates.

Replacing the gum on frameless wipers

in order to replace the rubber bands of frameless wipers, you need to pry and remove the plug at the upper end, then bend the lock and pull out the rubber band. More details

 

Replacing wipers Mazda CX-5

Replacing the Mazda CX-5 wipers is shown in this photo report. First you need to put the wiper in a vertical position. Then turn the wiper blade at a slight angle, pry the lock with a screwdriver and open the lock. More details

 

Antirain. Do-it-yourself anti-rain nanocoating

What is anti-rain and how to make anti-rain glass protection product with your own hands. More details

 

How are they installed

Gum replacement

Let us consider in more detail the issue of replacing the rubber bands on the wiper blades. This procedure is simple, but requires additional tools and basic installation skills. namely, from the tools you will need a knife with a sharp blade and a sharp tip, as well as a new elastic band. For most brands of brushes and rubber bands, the replacement procedure will be similar, and is performed according to the following algorithm:

1. It is advisable to remove the brushes from the wiper arm. This will greatly simplify the future operation.
2. Take the brush from the side of the latch with one hand, and gently pry the elastic with a knife in the other hand, then pull it out of the seat, overcoming the force of the clamps.
3. Insert a new rubber band through the grooves into the brush, and fasten it with a retainer on one side.
4. If the elastic band turned out to be too long, and its end sticks out on the opposite side, then with the help of a knife you need to cut off the excess part.
5. Fix the elastic in the brush body with fasteners.
6. Put the brush back in place.

Do not change the elastic on the same base more than twice! The fact is that during the operation of the wipers, not only it wears out, but also the metal frame. Therefore, it is recommended to buy the whole set.

in order to encounter the replacement procedure less often, you need to follow simple procedures that allow you to increase their resource, and, accordingly, the service life.

The choice of rubber bands for the janitor

Replacing the rubber bands of frameless wipers

How to extend the life of rubber bands

The rubber bands and the wipers themselves naturally wear out over time and completely or partially fail. At best, they simply begin to creak and clean the glass surface worse, and at worst, they do not do this at all. a car enthusiast on his own can extend their service life, as well as partially restore them if necessary.

The reasons for the partial failure of the brushes can be several reasons:

BOSCH brushes

• Movement on the glass surface "dry". That is, without the use of a wetting fluid (water or winter cleaning solution, "anti-freeze"). At the same time, the friction of the rubber increases significantly, and it gradually not only becomes thinner, but also “dubes”.
• Working on heavily soiled and/or damaged glass. If its surface has sharp chips or a large sticking of foreign objects, then even with the use of a wetting agent, the gum experiences excessive mechanical stress. As a result, it wears out faster and fails.
• Long downtime without workespecially in air with low relative humidity. In this case, the rubber dries, loses elasticity and its performance properties.

To extend the life of the brush, and namely the gum, you need to avoid the situations listed above. also, do not forget about the banal fact of the poor quality of both brushes and rubber bands. This is especially true of cheap domestic and Chinese products. There are also some tips regarding the use of these consumables.

Do not buy frankly cheap wiper blades and rubber bands. Firstly, they do a poor job and can damage the glass surface, and secondly, their lifespan is much shorter, and you can hardly save money.

correct operation and care

First, let's dwell on the issue of the correct operation of wiper blades. Manufacturers, and many experienced car owners, recommend following a few simple rules in this regard. namely:

Snow removal from glass

• Never attempt to clear frozen ice from the glass surface with a windshield wiper.. Firstly, in most cases you will not achieve the desired result, and secondly, in doing so, you will subject the brushes to serious wear. To solve this problem, there are special scrapers or brushes that are sold in car dealerships and are quite inexpensive.
• Never use wipers without wetting fluid, that is, in the "dry" mode. This is how tires wear out.
• In hot and dry weather, when there is no rain, you need to periodically turn on the windshield wipers in the glass washer mode in order to regularly moisten the rubber bands of the wipers. This will prevent them from cracking and losing elasticity, which means it will increase their service life.
• In winter, during the period of constant, even slight, frosts wiper blades need to be removed or at least bent them so that the rubber does not freeze to the glass. Otherwise, you will literally have to tear it off the glass surface, and this will automatically lead to its damage, the possible appearance of cracks and burrs, and, consequently, to a decrease in resource and even failure.

As for care, there are also several recommendations here. The main thing is to carry out the procedures described below regularly. So you will ensure long-term operation of the brushes.

• In winter (in frosty weather), brushes are needed remove and rinse regularly in warm water. This allows the rubber to avoid "tanning". After this procedure, the rubber must be thoroughly wiped and allowed to dry thoroughly, in order for small particles of water to evaporate from it.
• At any time of the year (and especially from mid-autumn to mid-spring), you need to perform regular visual inspection of the condition of the shield, and namely, rubber bands. also at the same time it is necessary to clean their surfaces from adhering dirt, snow, ice particles, adhering insects, and so on. This will not only increase the resource of the gum and the quality of its work, but also prevent scratches and abrasions from the listed small particles on the glass surface. This is also useful for the brush body, since if its coating is damaged, it can become corroded.

Also, one useful tip regarding not only keeping the rubber bands intact, but also improving visibility through the windshield while driving in precipitation is to use the so-called “Anti-rain”. An overview of the best tools is presented in a separate article.

The implementation of the above recommendations will allow you to increase the resource of brushes and rubber bands. The main thing is to regularly monitor their condition and take preventive measures. However, if you notice a significant deterioration in the condition of the gum, we recommend that you use some simple tips to partially restore the product.

Recovery

As for the restoration of the condition and functioning of old rubber bands for wipers, there are several recommendations that have been developed by experienced motorists and are widely used by them. So, the recovery algorithm looks like this:

Windshield wiper rubber repair

1. you need to check the gum for mechanical damage, burrs, cracks, and so on. If the product is severely damaged, then it is not worth restoring it. It is better to buy a new rubber band for the windshield wiper.
2. A similar procedure must be carried out with the frame. If it is damaged, there is significant play, then such a brush must also be disposed of.
3. The gum must be carefully degreased. To do this, you can use any means that are non-aggressive with respect to rubber (for example, white spirit).
4. After that, you need to use a rag or other improvised means to thoroughly clean the surface of the gum from the existing dirt (usually, there is a lot of it). The procedure must be performed carefully, possibly over several cycles.!
5. Apply silicone grease to the rubber surface. In the future, it will return the material elasticity. It is necessary to thoroughly spread the composition over the surface in an even layer.
6. Leave the gum for several hours (the thicker the gum, the more time you need, but not less than 2-3 hours).
7. With the help of a degreaser carefully remove silicone grease from the surface of the rubber. Some of it will remain inside the material, which will contribute to better product performance.

These procedures allow you to restore the gum with little effort and minimal financial costs. However, we repeat that it is worth restoring only a product that is also not completely out of order, otherwise the procedure is not worth it. If the brush has cracks or burrs, then it must be replaced with a new one.

Rating of the best brushes

We present a rating of popular wiper blades, which was compiled taking into account real reviews found on the Internet, as well as their reviews and prices. The following table contains article numbers that will allow you to order the product in the online store in the future. We hope that the information provided will help you choose the best option for you.

DENSO Wiper Dlade Hybrid. The original brushes released under this brand are of very high quality, and the reviews about them are the most positive. However, there is a problem - their cheaper counterparts are produced in Korea, but they just do not differ in high quality. Therefore, when buying, look at the country of origin. Brushes are essentially universal, have a graphite-coated blade, so they can be used at any time of the year. The average price as of the end of 2021 is 1470 rubles. The catalog number is DU060L. Original rubber bands-350mm-85214-68030, 400mm-85214-28090, 425mm-85214-12301, 85214-42050, 430mm-85214-42050, 450mm-85214-33180, 85214-30400, 475mm-85214-30390, 86579- AJ050 (by Subaru) — 500-85214.

Reviewed

• positive
• Neutral
• Negative

• I won't take Bosch anymore, now only Denso
• Korea departed for a year without complaints
• I have Belgian lice, I haven’t used much yet, but I like Korean denso more, after winter I’ll put it on and see
• Always (always always) when choosing brushes, if you read the Internet, which in itself is already a mistake, it is easy to distinguish several types of advisers: from “Kiriyashi supermegavayper ixel” for 5 thousand to “second from the right on the top shelf in the nearest Auchan” for 100 rubles . and supporters of opponents fight with opponents of supporters to the point of stupefaction defending their point of view, about any brush there are a lot of arguments for and as many against, the number of positive reviews is approximately equal to the number of negative ones and this battle is destined to continue until the end of time ... and I will go buy Denso Wiper Blade also once, they look cool and clean perfectly)

• I skated on Denso for 3 years, i.e. as a result, I used about 10 pairs of them, they all behaved very stably, after 2-3 months they began to strip.
• Was an ardent supporter of Denso brushes. I tried a bunch of others, framed and frameless, I didn’t see anything better than Denso. In August, at the South Port car market, I took Aviel combined brushes for testing, they are visually very similar to Denso. And surprisingly, they turned out to be very worthy. They clean perfectly and evenly the entire surface of the glass. Yes, and the price - denso for a pair costs about 1500r, and these 800r. Six months have passed, I also like these brushes more. They have not really worn out in six months, they clean the same way as at the very beginning. Denso was enough for 3 months, then they started to streak a lot.
• Korean denso is also avno. After 2 months, they slashed, before that, the Japanese denso plowed for 2 years.
• I don’t take care of them - I don’t rub on the frozen glass until everything completely melts, I don’t tear off the forehead (if they stuck overnight in winter), etc., and one fig in the first year is new + set and this year also changed, otherwise: 3 sets in 2 years. ) PS: Denso took brushes ...

• I bought it once, so after three months it took a replacement again.
• Everything, I finally said goodbye to Denso. I dug out a new pair from the stash, put it on. Damn, we left for a month and everything, fuck, slashed like bastards.
• Inserted denso in the winter they clean it so-so, and constantly stop in the middle of the windshield.
• I didn’t like them, they quickly jumped on the glass.

BOSCH Eco. This is a hard rubber brush. In its body there is a frame made of metal with an anti-corrosion coating by applying a double layer of powder paint. The elastic band is made by casting, from natural rubber. Thanks to this manufacturing method, the blade receives an ideal working edge, on which there are no burrs and irregularities. The rubber does not react with the aggressive components of the windshield washer, does not dry out under the influence of sunlight and high ambient temperatures. Does not crack or become brittle in the cold. The approximate price as of the end of 2021 is 220 rubles. The catalog number is 3397004667.

Reviewed

• positive
• Neutral
• Negative

• I took Bosch ordinary frame ones, for the price and quality, that's it!
• I've been walking for a year, it's normal in winter.
• Also such yuzal. In general, the brushes are of high quality, but they look somehow foreign. I gave it to Kalina.
• I am for brushes Bosch 3397004671 and 3397004673. They cost a penny, they work great!

• Bosch is also excellent, especially when the frame is plastic, even in winter it is very good with them, but the service life is hardly longer than that of a caral, which, by the way, looks like a Bosch without a frame.
• Until this summer, I always took Alca frameless ones, this year I decided to try cheaper ones, I took the cheapest Boshi framed ones. At first it was normal, they rubbed well, generally silently, after about six months, they began to clean worse, and a creak appeared.
• I took Bosch Eco in the summer for some pennies, they clean perfectly! But after three weeks, their plastic fasteners loosened and they began to fly off on the go.
• Well, not so expensive, if frame. I have a set of 300 rubles. (55 + 48 cm) in Auchan, and yes, enough for a year and a half.

• I put a month ago framed Bosch Eco 55 and 53 cm, respectively. They did not like it, they are already badly cleaned.
• And now I decided to save money, namely, I put Bosch Eco (frame), the result is unsatisfactory. The brushes jump, make "brrr" periodically.
• For the summer, I first stuck simple frame bosh-stripes, it's not clear why. Windshield is not old, changed recently.
• Right now they are Bosch eco ... but for some 3 months they scratched the glass, they didn’t like it ...

FTAA WINTER. These are frameless brushes designed for use in the cold season. They have medium hardness, and work great at low temperatures (produced in Germany). In general, their service life is quite long, namely, the number of cycles is about 1,5 million. The only drawback of these brushes is the fact that they are undesirable to use in the warm season, respectively, they will have to be replaced. Otherwise, they will quickly fail. Brushes and rubber bands can be used on most cars, but they are especially popular on VAG cars. The average price when buying them through an online store is 860 rubles, the catalog number is 74000.

Reviewed

• positive
• Neutral
• Negative

• Winter took Alca, tinder good in winter
• I do not stop recommending ALCA to everyone for the winter (by the numbers in the "header" of the topic). Already the third winter with them. Excellent!!! They almost never freeze, Ice does not stick in motion. In general, I forgot when the last time I went home for the night I left the wipers up (with the usual ones in our region in winter, this is the only way).
• This is ALCA Winter and only them. The only yards that do not need to be torn off the glass, lifted before leaving home, scrape off ice from them ... In the worst case, before the trip, I slapped them once - and all the ice fell on their own.
• +1 it seemed to me that Alka doesn't even get so hard in the cold, and snow/ice doesn't stick to it much

• In winter, they proved to be very good, BUT !!! on the driver's side, the brush was enough for exactly one season - about a week ago it began to streak, and it's strong - now it leaves a very wide strip on the windshield right at eye level and does not clean at all, passenger standards. Something like this
• Took 3 years ago Alka winter in shacks. Proezdil 2 winter seasons. Last season I took the same ones and turned out to be a very rare or a marriage, took off a month later, they cleaned it badly in winter, such a feeling that it froze.
• ALCA winter wipers in a case are good wipers, but they don’t press well at speed
• I bought some Alca wiper blades in the fall, due to the fact that the old ones were out of order. I bought Alka, winter brushes, framed, with protection. But they are suitable for both winter and autumn. Thanks to the protective cover, water does not get in, snow also does not freeze, respectively. They coped with the rain normally, I can’t say anything special about the snow - they began to rub much worse in the cold, and then they completely failed - they simply began to smear water on the glass. Worked for three months. Of the benefits - cheap, with protection of the structure from precipitation. Of the minuses - they are not durable at all.

• Already starting from 90 km / h, they begin to press badly. Not enough brushes Alca Winter spoiler.
• Alca also died instantly.
• I used to take Alca Winter, but at one point they deteriorated - I bought 2 sets, both were not rubbed immediately after installation, in short, the uttermost steel ...
• We were leaving the season. Now I set it, I thought it would be enough for at least 2 winters, there are already passes and the washer consumption turns out to be horse. I will look for other options for winter

AVANTECH. These are brushes from the budget price segment. There are various models, both summer and winter, sizes from 300 to 700 mm. Brushes and rubber bands are made according to OEM standards. According to numerous reviews of the former owners of these brushes, it can be concluded that their service life rarely exceeds one season (summer or winter). As for quality, it's a lottery. It depends on many factors - the material of manufacture, their shelf life, size, and so on. However, all this is offset by a low average price - about 100 rubles. A typical variant with catalog number ARR26.

Reviewed

• positive
• Neutral
• Negative

• I took off the winter ones in Avantech cases, they worked perfectly (their previous winter ones served 5 seasons). I tried their summer simple carcases - so far the tinder is perfect. That summer I took cheap autoprofessionals, I thought it would be enough for the season, but after two months they began to clean up terribly.
• Avantech tried frameless for a long time. In principle, a budget option for the price and quality. Against the backdrop of a screwed-up Bosch, I think so - if Denso also screwed up, then there is no point in overpaying for average quality. It’s easier to take Avantech - the quality there is also average, but the price is adequate to the quality.
• Likewise. I put Avantech Snowguard 60 cm (S24) and 43 cm (S17) forward, and Snowguard Rear (only RR16 - 40 cm) back. 2 weeks — the flight is normal, satisfied. Nothing catches, visibility is better
• Took winter avantech for the coming winter. Previous avantech operated only in winter, served 5 winters.

• Avantech hybrids began to “fart” with the advent of minus on the street ... in the summer there were no questions for them ... so the declared all-season validity of these brushes is questionable ...
• As for the winter AVANTECH (Korea) - the first winter is well cleaned, but then the rubber of the cover becomes very soft and flabby, accordingly it breaks quickly, you see the anti-freeze has a strong effect on it.
• Having tried Avantech, I was quite satisfied with the quality for at least half a year. They worked without divorces, but after the winter there were divorces. Perhaps winter is a gentle mode for brushes, but nevertheless I would like to have the best. I also have not yet found better quality brushes from mid-range prices. Buying expensive brushes is somehow a pity for money, one friend bought it - he was also dissatisfied with the quality. Once every half a year, or maybe once a year, if you change it in the spring - I think they will survive, then it suits me perfectly.
• In principle, the brushes are not bad, the driver's one only sometimes does not clean in the middle, it does not fit well. Tested in the snow - it's fine, they did it. They tan in frost, but if ice is not frozen on them, then they clean them. Generally 4 minus. For winter you need winter in a case.

• Oh sadness sadness brushes. Tinder sucks. The driver's up rubs well, down — leaves a thin layer of dirt in the middle. The fastening is also seen, which is why the rack also has a larger area that cannot be cleaned. In positive weather, the rub is also worse than in frost.
• Yes, I also tried a lot of things, Avantech zadubeli, I decided to try NWB
• But I still threw out Avantech Snow Guard after a month of use - I could not stand the mockery of my eyes. They left wild stains with any liquid on the glass, especially they could not cope with a greasy coating at near-zero temperatures. The graphite layer of tears from the rubber bands and in general somehow crumpled them with a small wave. I returned the frameless Phantom from Lenta and enjoy clear glass with one stroke. By the way, I began to notice a lot of advertisements for Avanteks on buses, I see all the investments in advertising are gone, but they sell a batch cheaper.
• Correctly, I got some kind of clumsy Avantek, for two weeks he stopped rubbing at all, leaving wild stripes over the entire area of ​​\uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbthe glass.

MASUMA. Products of this brand belong to the middle price category. For example, elastic bands 650 mm long and 8 mm thick are sold at an average price of 320 rubles as of the end of 2021. The corresponding catalog number is UR26. also in the line are various elastic bands - winter, summer, all-weather. Dimensions - from 300 to 700 mm.

Reviewed

• positive
• Neutral
• Negative

• I tried many different brushes. I have prestige, respectively, hybrids from the new ones. I bought MegaPower hybrid brushes, Chinese ones. The wipers themselves are crap. I threw them away and left the rubber bands. Now I put Masuma. In the money at this moment, the megapower is -600, the matsuma is 500. so I settled on Masuma. This is not advertising at all, just telling what I liked! IMHO!
• For the winter I put 'Masuma MU-024W' and 'Masuma MU-014W'. They work silently, do not leave streaks.
• In a blizzard and heavy snowfall at a temperature of -1 / -2, the winter Mashums proved to be worthy. With rare periodicity there was a creak on the reverse course. There are no other complaints yet.
• I set myself Mazuma, winter ones! Tinder with a bang, very pleased with them

• Now I put in the winter Masuma, it seems not bad, they clean well, but we had freezing rain here the other day, after it, until the glass thawed to the end, we jumped on the windshield. I took them on the advice of sellers (we have a specialized store for them and candles), it seems like Iponia is written, but I doubt very much that it is from there. The price went out to about 1600 for 55 and 48. In the same place in the Store they said that the quality is not very good for alka, there are often marriages, for masuma they exchange without problems during marriage.
• I took the Japanese MASUMA, the leash on top of course. A colleague has these on the insignia, the tinder is amazing, but I didn’t really like it on the kashak. Gave 1200. with delivery
• I took the same ones, they worked for one season, they began to creak and not only strip, but the whole sector was poorly cleaned, the performance was good, but they didn’t particularly like it in work
• When I gave the impression that there was no glass at all, no streaks or stripes, it cleans perfectly. (but this may be due to the fact that they are zero, I don’t know how long they will last and the glass is still fresh). But, on that week, when there was snowfall and frost, they failed. That is, ice formed on them, and because. their design is quite intricate to extract this ice, quickly, as it did not work on ordinary brushes. Overall, I give it a XNUMX. While I took them off, they are waiting for the summer ... in my opinion they are made for the summer

• I saw a topic here about winter wipers - here, as luck would have it, the first snowfall (there were Masuma hybrids) - I drove the last kilometers of the road to the village to the touch, cursed everything (no kuya was visible).
• I just tried it, infections creak from the first stroke, I will order again NF tights
• Masuma hard rubber bands… squeak and rub badly after a couple of months! I do not advise!
• In the second season, either I myself broke the plug at the upper end of the brush, or they broke themselves, because of this the brush became loose and began to rub the glass with this plug - a total of 6 cm in length and 1 cm in thickness scratched glass in the upper left corner. Worn to white. I'm thinking how and where to polish this area ...

We hope that the presented reviews, found by us on the Internet, will help you make your choice. The main thing you should remember when buying is to try to avoid fakes. To do this, make purchases in trusted stores that have all certificates and permits. This is how you minimize risk. If we compare prices with 2017, when the rating was compiled, then at the end of 2021 the cost of all considered brushes and elastic bands for them increased by a little more than 30%.

Instead of a conclusion

When choosing one or another brush and / or gum for a windshield wiper, pay attention to their size, seasonality, as well as the material of manufacture (additional use of silicone, graphite, and so on). As for operation, do not forget to periodically clean the surface of the rubber bands from the debris on their surface, and it is also advisable to wash them in warm water in winter so that the rubber does not wear out so quickly. also in the cold, you should remove the wipers at night, or at least take the wipers away from the glass. Such actions will not allow the rubber bands to freeze to its surface and protect it from premature failure.