Rubber bands for car wipers. The price of insight: ZR experts choose wiper blades

Car owners very often have various problems associated with minor malfunctions of the most common elements. Take windshield wipers, for example. This little detail has a huge impact on traffic safety. Moreover, it is not recommended to start driving with poorly working wipers. In bad weather, flying towards insects on the track and other similar situations, you cannot do without wipers. If the windshield is flooded with water or mud, visibility is severely reduced. And this, in turn, can lead to an accident. If you want to avoid this difficult situation, then watch the condition of the wipers. Many motorists change rubber brushes when they start to "smear". Some people prefer to buy original spare parts, others are satisfied with cheaper analogs. But the question comes down primarily to the quality of the rubber bands themselves on the wipers. And it's much cheaper to replace them than buying a new part.

Where to start replacing rubber wipers?

If you decide to change the rubber bands on the wipers, then first decide with the manufacturer... It is best to purchase models from well-known brands that have proven themselves well. But many car enthusiasts recommend certain firms that are of high quality at a relatively low price. The cost of these spare parts is low anyway. So, for example, the well-known Denso will cost significantly more than the Masuma models, although their quality is approximately the same.

Anyone who does not know how to replace the rubber band on the wipers should start small - dismantling the brush itself... To do this, turn on the wipers and wait until the middle of the cycle, when the wipers themselves reach the highest position. At this moment (you need to catch it) turn off the ignition. And then your wipers will stop in the selected position.

After that, the wiper must be carefully separated from the windshield. Do not use force, it may bend or break.

Stand on the driver's side and grasp the brush. It needs to be turned counterclockwise several times, after which it will be removed from the wiper. On some models, it is enough to turn the brush 90 degrees and pull it up. There are models where the rubber brush is attached with a plastic retainer that must be gently squeezed out. A similar procedure must be carried out with the second brush, standing from the front passenger side.

Removing the Hook Type Wiper Blade

Removing the wiper blade with a push-button mount

Removing the wiper blade with the side pin attachment

Dismantling the wiper blade with the side clamp type

Removing the wiper blade with bayonet mount

Removing the wiper blade with a pin type mount

Removing the wiper blade with a claw type mount

Removing the side-mounted wiper blade

Removing the wiper blade with a top lock

Replacing the rubber bands themselves with a full disassembly of the brush may seem like a lengthy procedure, but in fact it will take you no more than twenty minutes. But the savings will be noticeable.

How to replace an elastic band on wipers

What should be done:

1. remove both side plugs from the brush;
2. remove rubber spoilers;
3. remove (pull off) the old rubber band.

After that, there is a problem with installing a new rubber band. Someone manages to gently insert it in place of the old one. But this is very difficult to do, since the rubber clings to the guides and does not slide very well. You can try smearing with soap to increase glide, but this method doesn't work for everyone. If you don't want to tire yourself out by slowly pulling the rubber band over the brush, just take it apart.

It is enough to remove one (any) metal guide. After that, a new rubber band must be put on the guide that remains in the brush. This is easy to do, but be careful not to break the elastic. Then insert the second guide into it and carefully straighten the elastic. Job is done. You just need to put the spoilers back in place and secure the structure with side plugs. Be sure to check the reliability of fixing all the elements, since the wipers have a significant load during bad weather: rains, snowfalls and even strong winds. It will be very problematic to purchase separately one plug per brush.

How to change rubber bands on frameless wipers

You need to start with a long brush. Take it in your hands and examine it carefully. You will notice two caps around the edges. And you need to remove the one that holds the gum. It is not difficult to find out the correct plug: just move the elastic band left / right. If you see that one of the sides is motionless, then you need to remove this particular plug. To do this, you need a simple flat-bladed screwdriver that you can use to pry on the cover without damaging it. If you are not mistaken, there is a rubber band retainer under the plug.

Now you need to bend it three to four millimeters so that it releases the old rubber band. We get rid of the part that has worked out its term and insert a new one in its place. If it gets too tight, you can smear the gum with soap, which will greatly facilitate the work and increase the slip. The size of the elastic should be the same as the base, you don't have to cut anything. Remember to push the retainer back in to secure the new rubber brush piece. Then replace the plug. The first part of the work is over.

Replacing the rubber bands on frameless wipers also involves working with a short brush. The beginning of the actions coincides with those already described. You will need to figure out which side the retainer is on. Then remove the plug, bend the retainer and remove the old rubber band.

But further you will face small difficulties. The fact is that the new elastic will be longer than the one that was before. What to do in this situation? Insert the elastic as far as possible, then press the retainer back. After that, use a sharp knife to cut the elastic to the very end of the brush.

The problem has been resolved. It remains only to put the plug back in place.

Many people perceive information from video master classes better. If you want to know how to replace the rubber bands on the video wipers, then closely follow the actions of the experts. They use the most common tools found in every garage and even every home. Plus, you don't need any special skills to replace the brushes on your car. Even a person who is not very familiar with his device can do this.

But still, experts advise changing the rubber bands no more than two or three times on the same wipers. After all, the main structure also wears out and requires replacement.

How to replace rubber bands on wipers: video

Rubber bands for wiper blades, as a rule, work in difficult weather conditions - rain, snow,. Accordingly, they can withstand significant mechanical stress and will quickly fail without proper maintenance. 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 the brushes for the season, installation, operation, and maintenance. At the end of the material, a rating of popular brands used by motorists in our country is presented. It was compiled based on real reviews found on the Internet.

Views

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

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

Pay attention that the working edge of the gum does not creak during operation, its surface coated with graphite... Therefore, we recommend that you buy just such products. In addition, such rubber bands are resistant to temperature extremes and ultraviolet radiation, so they will surely serve you for a long time.

Wiper Blade Profiles

Summer and winter types of elastic bands

Which rubber bands are better and how to choose them

It must be understood that there are no better rubber bands for wiper blades. 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 rubber band for wiper blades is 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 seasonality... There are summer, all-season and winter elastic bands. Their main difference lies in the elasticity of the rubber from which they are made. Summer, as a rule, are thinner and less elastic, while winter ones, on the contrary, are more massive and soft. All-season options are somewhere in between.

Different rubber profiles

When choosing a particular brush, the following parameters must be taken into account:

1. Elastic size or length... There are three main standard sizes - 500 ... 510 mm, 600 ... 610 mm, 700 ... 710 mm. It is worth buying an eraser for the wiper blades of the length that matches the frame of the wiper. As a last resort, you can purchase it longer, and cut off the excess part.
2. Top and Bottom Edge Width... It should be noted right away that most modern elastic bands have the same width of the bottom and top edges. However, there are options where these values \u200b\u200bdiffer in one direction or the other. You need to choose 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 single-blade and multi-blade rubber bands. The first option is collectively called "Bosch" (you can also find its English name Single Edge). Single-sided rubber bands are best for winter use... As for the multi-profile rubber bands, in Russian they are called "herringbones", in English - Multi Edge. Accordingly, they are larger suitable for the warm season.
4. The presence of metal guides... There are two main options for wiper blades - with and without metal rails. The first option is suitable for wireframe and hybrid brushes. Their advantage lies in the ability to replace not only the rubber bands directly, but also metal inserts. This makes it possible to increase the elasticity of the obsolete frame element. As for the rubber bands without metal guides, they are designed for installation on frameless wipers. In this case, the guides are not needed, since these wipers are equipped with their own pressure plates.

Replacement of wipers Mazda CX-5

Replacement of Mazda CX-5 wipers is shown in this photo report. First you need to put the wiper in an upright position. Then turn the wiper blade at a slight angle, pry the retainer with a screwdriver and open the retainer.

How are installed

Replacing the rubber band

Let's 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. In particular, from the tools you will need a knife with a sharp blade and a sharp tip, as well as a new rubber band itself. For most brands of brushes and rubber bands, the replacement procedure will be the same, and is performed according to the following algorithm:

1. It is advisable to remove the brushes directly from the wiper leash. This will greatly simplify the future operation.
2. Take the brush with one hand from the side of the latch, and with a knife in the other hand gently pry the rubber band, and then pull it out of the seat, overcoming the clamping forces.
3. Insert a new rubber band through the grooves into the brush, and fix it with a retainer on one side.
4. If the elastic is too long, and its end sticks out from the opposite side, then with a knife it is necessary to cut off the excess part.
5. Fix the rubber band in the brush body with the fasteners.
6. Replace the brush.

Do not change the rubber band 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 kit.

In order to face the replacement procedure less often, you must adhere to simple procedures that allow you to increase their resource, and, accordingly, the service life.

The choice of rubber bands for the wiper

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. In the best case, they simply begin to clean the glass surface worse, and in the worst - not to do it at all. The car owner on his own can extend their service life, and also partially restore them, if necessary.

There are several reasons for the partial failure of brushes:

• Movement on the glass surface "dry"... That is, without the use of a wetting liquid (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 "dubs".
• Working on very dirty and / or damaged glass... If its surface has sharp chips or a large adhesion of foreign objects, then even with the use of a wetting agent, the gum suffers an excessive mechanical effect. As a result, it wears out and breaks down faster.
• Long idle time without workespecially in air with low relative humidity. At the same time, the rubber dries, loses its elasticity and its performance properties.

In order to prolong the life of the brush, and in particular the rubber band, the above situations must be avoided. Also, do not forget about the banal fact of poor quality of both brushes and rubber bands themselves. This is especially true for cheap domestic and Chinese products. There are some more tips regarding the use of these consumables.

Don't buy overtly cheap wiper blades and rubbers. Firstly, they do not do the job well and can damage the glass surface, and secondly, their service life is much shorter, and you can hardly save money.

Correct use and care

First, let's dwell on the issue of correct operation of wiper blades. Manufacturers, and many experienced motorists, recommend adhering to a few simple rules in this regard. In particular:

• Never try with a glass cleaner... Firstly, in most cases you will not achieve the desired result, and secondly, you will subject the brushes to significant wear and tear. 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 liquid, that is, in "dry" mode. This is how the rubber bands wear out.
• In hot and dry weather, when there is no rain, you need to periodically turn on the wipers in the glass washer mode in order to regularly wet the wiper blades. This will prevent them from cracking and losing elasticity, which means they will increase their service life.
• In winter, during the period of constant, even slight, frosts the wiper blades must be removed or at least bend them so that the rubber does not freeze to the glass. Otherwise, you will have to literally 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 the resource and even failure.

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

• In winter (in frosty weather) brushes are necessary remove regularly and rinse in warm water... This makes it possible for the rubber to avoid "tanning". After such a procedure, the rubber must be thoroughly wiped off and allowed to dry thoroughly so that small particles of water evaporate from it.
• At any time of the year (and especially from mid-autumn to mid-spring), it is necessary to perform regular visual inspection of the condition of the shield, and in particular of the rubber bands... Also, at the same time, you need to clean their surfaces from adhered dirt, snow, ice particles, adhered 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 corrode.

Another useful tip for not only keeping the rubber bands intact, but also improving visibility through the windshield while driving in precipitation is to use the so-called "". An overview of the best tools is presented in a separate article.

Following the above recommendations will allow you to increase the resource of the brushes and the rubber bands themselves. 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:

1. Check the gum for mechanical damage, burrs, cracks, and so on. If the product is badly damaged, then there is no point in restoring it. Better to buy a new wiper gum.
2. A similar procedure must be carried out with the frame. If it is damaged, there is a significant backlash, then such a brush must also be disposed of.
3. The gum must be thoroughly degreased. To do this, you can use any means that are non-aggressive towards rubber (for example, white spirit).
4. After that, you need to use a rag or other improvised means to vainly clean the surface of the gum from the existing dirt (as a rule, there is a lot of it). The procedure must be performed carefully, possibly in several cycles.!
5. Apply to the surface of the gum. In the future, it will return elasticity to the material. It is necessary to thoroughly spread the composition over the surface with a uniform layer.
6. Leave the gum for a few hours (the thicker the gum, the longer it takes, but not less than 2 ... 3 hours).
7. Using a degreaser carefully remove silicone grease from the surface of the gum. Some of it will remain inside the material, which will contribute to better product performance.

The listed procedures allow you to restore the gum with little effort and minimal financial costs. However, we repeat that it is only worth restoring a product that has not yet completely failed, otherwise the procedure does not make sense. If the brush has cracks or burrs, replace it 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 articles that will allow you to order the product in the online store in the future. We hope that the information provided will help you find the best option for you.

DENSO Wiper Dlade Hybrid... The original brushes released under this trademark are of very high quality, and the reviews about them are very 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 production. The brushes are in fact universal, have a graphite coating on the blade, so they can be used at any time of the year. The average price as of autumn 2017 is 1,090 rubles. The catalog number is DU060L. Original rubber bands numbers - 350mm - 85214-68030, 400mm - 85214-28090, 425mm - 85214-12301, 85214-42050, 430mm - 85214-42050, 450mm - 85214-33180, 85214-30400, 475mm - 85214-30390, 86579- AJ050 (from Subaru), 500mm - 85214-53090, 530mm - 85214-48031, 550mm - 85214-53080, 85214-0T040, 600mm - 85214-30380, 650mm - 85214-68020, 86579-AJ000 (from Subaru), 700mm - 85214-28080.

Reviews:

• Bosch won't take anymore, now only denso
• Korea left without complaints for a year
• I have Belgian lice, I haven't used much yet, but I like Korean denso more, I'll put it on after winter
• Always (generally always) when choosing brushes, if you read the Internet, which in itself is already a mistake, it is easy to distinguish several types of advisors: from "Kiriyashi supermegawiper 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 defend their point of view, there are a lot of arguments for and against any brush, 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 yet once, they look cool and clean perfectly)

• I skated on denso for 3 years, i.e. in the end, I used them about 10 pairs, all behaved very stable, after 2-3 months they began to strip.
• He was an ardent supporter of Denso brushes. I tried a bunch of others, frame and frameless, I haven't seen anything better than denso. In August, at the South Port car market, I took Aviel combined brushes for a sample, visually very similar to Denso. And they were surprisingly very worthy. They clean the entire glass surface perfectly and evenly. And the price - denso for a pair costs about 1500r, and these 800r. Six months have passed, I like these brushes even more. They haven't really worn out in six months, they clean in the same way as at the very beginning. Denso was enough for 3 months, then they began to strip strongly.
• Korean denso is still awful. After 2 months, they plowed up, before that, the Japanese denso plowed for 2 years.
• I don’t care about them - I don’t rub on the frozen glass until everything is completely melted, I don’t tear it off the head (if it stuck in the winter overnight), etc. 3 sets in 2 years.) PS: I took denso brushes ...

• I bought it once, so after three months a replacement was required again.
• That's it, I finally said goodbye to denso. I grabbed a new pair from the stash, put it on. Damn, they left for a month and that's all, fuck, they zapolosili like bastards.
• Inserted denso in winter clean so-so, and constantly stop in the middle of the windshield.
• I did not like them, they quickly jumped on the glass.

BOSCH Eco... This is a hard rubber brush. Its body has a metal frame with an anti-corrosion coating by applying a double layer of powder paint. The elastic is molded from natural rubber. Thanks to this manufacturing method, the blade gets a perfect working edge, which is free from burrs and irregularities. The rubber band does not react with 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 fall of 2017 is 130 rubles. The catalog number is 3397004667.

Reviews:

• Bosch took the usual frame, for the price and quality the most!
• I have a year for sure, in winter it is normal.
• I used those too. In general, the brushes are of high quality, but they look somehow foreign. I gave it to Kalina.
• I am for Bosch brushes 3397004671 and 3397004673. They cost a penny, they work great!

• Bosch are also excellent, especially when the frame is plastic, even in winter they are very good with them, but the service life is hardly longer than that of the Caral, which, by the way, is similar to the Bosch frameless frame.
• Until this summer, I took Alca frameless all the time, this year I decided to try cheaper, Boshi took the cheapest frameless frames. At first there were norms, they rubbed well, generally noiselessly, after about six months they began to clean worse, and a creak appeared.
• I took Bosch Eco in summer for a penny, 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. My kit comes out 300 rubles. (55 + 48 cm) in Ashan, and so yes, enough for a year and a half.

• A month ago I put frame Bosch Eco 55 and 53 cm respectively. They did not like them, they are already poorly cleaned.
• And now I decided to save money, namely put Bosch Eco (frame), the result is unsatisfactory. The brushes jump, do "brrr" periodically.
• I stuck in the summer at first a simple frame Bosch strip, it is not clear why. The frontal is not old, it has changed recently.
• Right now there are bosch eco ... but they didn’t like the glass in 3 months ...

ALCA WINTER... These are frameless brushes designed for use in the cold season. They have medium hardness, and work well in low temperatures (produced in Germany). In general, their service life is quite long, in particular, the number of cycles is about 1.5 million. The only drawback of these brushes is the fact that it is undesirable to use them 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 the online store is 539 rubles, the catalog number is 74,000.

Reviews:

• Winter took Alca, tinder well in winter
• I do not stop recommending ALCA to everyone for the winter (by the numbers in the topic header). It's already the third winter with them. Excellent !!! They practically 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 raised (with the usual ones in our region in winter, this is the only way).
• This is ALCA Winter and only them. The only courtyards that do not need to be torn off the glass, pick up before leaving home, scrape off the ice ... In the worst case, before the trip, slapped them once - and all the ice sprinkled themselves.
• +1 it seemed to me that Alka doesn't even dazzle in the cold, and snow / ice doesn't stick to her too much

• In winter they showed themselves very well, BUT !!! from the driver's side, the brush was enough for exactly the season - about a week ago it began to strip, and it is strong - now it leaves a very wide strip on the windshield right at eye level and does not clean at all, passenger norms. Something like this
• I took Alka winter in chukhly 3 years ago. Proezdil 2 winter seasons. Last season I took the same ones and turned out to be absolutely rare or a marriage, took off after a month they cleaned badly in the winter such a feeling that they froze.
• ALCA winter wipers in a case are good, but they do not press well at speed
• I bought Alca wiper blades once in the fall, due to the fact that the old ones were out of order. I bought "Alka", winter brushes, frame, with protection. But they are suitable for both winter and autumn. Thanks to the protective casing, water does not enter, the snow does not freeze. They coped with the rain normally, I can't note anything special about the snow - by the frost they began to rub much worse, and then they were completely out of order - they simply began to smear water on the glass. We worked for three months. Of the advantages, they are cheap, with protection of the structure from precipitation. Of the minuses - they are not at all durable.

• Already starting from 90 km / h they begin to press badly. The spoiler is missing for the Alca Winter brushes.
• Also alca died in a moment.
• I used to take Alca Winter, but at one point they deteriorated - I bought 2 sets, both did not rub right after installation, in short, the fullest of steel ...
• The season was leaving. Now I put it, I thought it would be enough for at least 2 winters, there are already passes and the consumption of the washer turns out to be horse. I will look for other options for winter

AVANTECH... These are brushes from a 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). Quality is a lottery. It depends on many factors - material of manufacture, shelf life, size, and so on. However, all this is offset by a low average price - about 100 rubles. Typical catalog number ARR26.

Reviews:

• I took off the winter ones in Avantech covers, worked perfectly (their previous winter ones served 5 seasons). I tried their summer simple frameworks - while the tinder is perfect. That summer I took cheap auto-profi, I thought that 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 price and quality. Against the background of the screwed up Bosch, I think so - if Denso also screw up, then there is no point in overpaying for the 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 - normal flight, satisfied. Nothing clings, visibility is better
• Took winter avantach for the coming winter. Past avantechs operated only in winter, served 5 winters.

• Avantech hybrids began to "fart" with the arrival of a minus on the street ... in the summer there were no questions for them ... so the declared all-seasonality is questionable for these brushes ...
• 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, it seems that anti-freeze has a strong effect on it.
• Having tried Avantech, I was quite satisfied with the quality for at least half a year. We worked without streaks, but after the winter we got streaks. Perhaps winter is a gentle regime for brushes, but nevertheless I would like to have better. I have not yet found a better quality of brushes from the prices of the average level. I feel sorry for the money to buy expensive brushes, one friend bought - he was also dissatisfied with the quality. Once in half a year, or maybe once a year, if you change it in the spring - I think they will stand it, then it suits me perfectly.
• In principle, the brushes are not bad, the driver's only sometimes does not clean in the middle, it does not fit well. I tested it in the snow - ok, we coped. In frost they dub, but if the ice does not freeze on them, then they clean it. Generally 4 minus. For winter, you need winter in a case.

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 220 rubles as of autumn 2017. The corresponding catalog number is UR26. Also in the line there are various elastic bands - winter, summer, all-season. Sizes - from 300 to 700 mm.

Reviews:

• Now I put winter Masuma in, it seems to be good, they clean well, but there was an icy rain here the other day, but after it, until the glass thawed to the end, they jumped along the front. 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 came out about 1600 for 55 and 48. In the same place in the Store they said that the quality, the alkyl is not very good, there is often a marriage, the masuma exchange without problems during marriage.
• I took Japanese MASUMA, of course, a leash from above. A colleague has these on insignia, the tinder is amazing, but I didn't really like it on Kashak. I gave 1200r. with delivery
• I took the same ones, worked for one season, began to creak and not only strip, and the whole sector is poorly cleaned, the performance is good, but I didn't really like it at work
• When I gave the impression that there is 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 let us down. That is, ice formed on them, and so on. their design is quite intricate to extract this ice, quickly, as with ordinary brushes. In general, I put the four. While they are removed, they are waiting for summer ... in my opinion they are made for summer

• I saw here a topic about winter windshield wipers - here, as luck would have it, the first snowfall (there were Masuma hybrids) - the last kilometers of the road to the village rode by touch, cursed everything (you can't see any forging).
• I just tried it, infections creak from the first sweep, I will order NF leotards again
• Masuma hard rubber bands… creak and rub badly after a couple of months! I do not advise!
• In the second season, either I myself broke the cap on the upper end of the brush, or broke myself, because of this, the brush loosened and began to rub the glass with this cap - a total of 6 cm in length and 1 cm in thickness of the scratched glass in the upper left corner. Rubbed down to white. I am thinking how and where to polish this area ...

We hope that the presented reviews found by us on the Internet will help you make the right choice. The main thing to remember when buying is try to avoid fakes. To do this, make purchases in trusted stores that have all certificates and permits. This way you minimize the risks.

Instead of a conclusion

When choosing a particular brush and / or rubber band for a wiper, pay attention to their size, seasonality, as well as the material of manufacture (additional use of silicone, graphite, and so on). With regard to 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 frosty weather, you should remove the wipers at night, or at least move the wipers away from the glass. Such actions will prevent the rubber bands from freezing to its surface and will protect it from premature failure.

Mini Review with Mini Test of Two Chinese Wiper Blades
I have recently had the sad experience of buying car wipers in China. But the idea was born of buying there only rubber bands (Rubber strip), while the frames are used from the brand old ones. Accordingly, rubber bands were ordered for frameless and hybrid wipers. And at first glance, the order was successful. The rest is under the cut.

While dealing with the topic of rubber bands, I found some pretty interesting historical facts about windshield wipers and I suggest you familiarize yourself.

A bit of the history of wipers

The American Mary Andersen is considered the inventor of windshield wipers. On business issues, she once visited New York, the trip happened in a terrible weather, it was snowing and raining, and Mary watched with a shudder as her driver periodically got out of the car and, standing under cold streams of water, wiped the glass on which new trickles began to run immediately. And the thought occurred to her that it would be nice to wipe the windshield without leaving the cockpit. By the end of the trip, she already knew how to do it. Returning to her native Alabama, she hired an engineer to help her design such a windshield wiper. So, in 1903, a device for glass cleaning was patented, which was actuated directly from the interior of the car with a rotating handle and which was later called "wipers". However, the inventor did not manage to realize mass sales.

Around 1910, pneumatic-powered windshield wipers appeared, and since 1916, "windshield wipers" have become a must on every car.
The idea to equip the wipers with an electric drive came to mind of another woman - Charlotte Bridgwood. But for some reason this idea seemed unreal to the sponsors and they did not give money to the enterprising lady, although she was able to patent her invention in 1917. Despite this, the development and introduction of electric wipers is attributed to Bosch.
From the moment of the invention to the present day, the design of the wipers has not fundamentally changed, but the cleaning part of the wipers is now practically not made of rubber, since it freezes in the cold, cracks, hardens and scratches the glass. The nozzles are made of rubber, and most often of silicone with various additions or graphite spraying so that they do not creak.
So the "rubber bands" on our wipers are not rubber at all, and the opinion that silicone (colored) wipers are better than rubber wipers is just a marketing ploy. But some manufacturers (let's not point the finger, although this is HORS) manage to effectively use such a myth for their own purposes, and even more than once. First, they produce purely silicone rubber bands, and then when people understand that silicone is evil and it creaks mercilessly, they throw “new” silicone-graphite rubber bands onto the market, which in fact are ordinary rubber bands ...

So, two pairs of rubber bands were ordered for tests: and at a price of about $ 4 per pair. I note that frameless elastic bands are of 2 types: herringbone and bosh, the former have a more triangular shape, the latter rectangular. In principle, you can shove a Christmas tree in a Boshevsky janitor, but according to reviews it is more difficult, you will need to lubricate the janitor with soap. Since I have Bosch frameless wipers, I ordered the Bosch type. However, this seller does not have a "Christmas tree" ...
Hybrid rubber bands are sold according to the dimensions, when ordering, you must specify the length of the wipers. For example, I wrote to the seller 550 mm and 400 mm (Please send one 22 "and one 16" strip). Elastic bands for frameless are of the same length - 600 mm, for trimming. Everything is sold in pairs.
The order was not long, not short, but only more than a month. Bothering the Russian Post this time again turned out to be at its best, I did not wait for the notification of the arrival of the parcel in the box.

Well, as usual, the appearance of the package gave the impression that it was delivered personally by Pele, kicking right from the border with China.


Surprisingly, nothing was broken inside, did not break, the return of hard-earned money, alas, does not shine.
The gum themselves without any inscriptions to identify the manufacturer or place of production. So if you plan to surprise the girl with the presence of a company producing windshield wipers, then feel free to order a hundred or two of these rubber bands, they will not give out their true manufacturer.
Frameless elastic bands have some kind of mysterious abbreviation of letters, numbers and signs, neither I nor Yandex have understood what it is ...


The length of the hybrid is signed on one side, and on the other there are some strokes and numbers 14, 15, 16. No less mysterious than on the first elastic bands ...




They didn't cheat with the type of rubber bands. Hybrids and Boshevsky straight lines:




The Boshevskys specifically compared them with the original. Not one-on-one, but similar. It will do ...


It should be noted that I like frameless wipers more than hybrid or frame wipers. I prefer them for their versatility (both for winter and summer), good design and simplicity of construction. In this regard, I pin my main hopes on the rubber bands for frameless cars and if they fail the tests, I will look for suitable ones further, in more expensive segments.
Let's move on from study to use. I will not go deep into the replacement processes, they are not complicated, on hybrid cars - everything is so simple. Here are the instructions from the seller's descriptions with a few comments:

Instructions for replacing hybrid rubber bands

Everything is simpler than ever, we pull out the old rubber band with brute force, insert a new one. The only caveat is to rearrange the glands from the old gum to the new one. The instruction, even in English, can be read without translators.

Instructions for replacing frameless rubber bands

There are several ways to implement this replacement. Descriptions for replacement are also full in search engines. I followed the first instruction, in my opinion it is the simplest. The explanations are in Chinese, I cannot translate literally, I will comment on how I understand it myself.


The elastic on the wiper is fixed at only one end and we must first find it. We pull on the elastic band - if it moves, then there is no fastener, if it does not move, then the fastener is on this side. Remove the plug from this end. The plugs are attached in different ways, in the instructions they are attached from the bottom, they were pryed off with a screwdriver from below, I had the mount on top, respectively, I pryed it off at the top. This is a pretty crucial moment, you can break the plug if you work carelessly. The rest of the steps are clear. We bend the retainer, take out the rubber band, insert a new one, bend the retainer back, cut off the excess rubber, put the plug back.


There is an alternative option where the central mount is removed with pliers, which facilitates the subsequent removal of the plugs from the sidewalls. Perhaps this is better, I have not tried ...


The last instruction for a special type of elongated plugs, I don't have any, I don't know if there are any in nature ...

Now you can go directly to the tests. On the advice of some Muscovites, I decided to take a picture of the results from the outside, so you can better see the stains, uncleaned areas. However, during the time of running out and taking pictures, some of the stains managed to dry out, this is the minus of this method. But still, quite unambiguous results were obtained:

Rubber band tests

This is how the glass prepared for the test looked picturesque.


And these are the results "out of competition", the work of Chinese terribly bad cleaning wipers. I give for comparison with the results of the reviewed gums.




I'm the first to send hybrids into battle. The result is perfect, there is nothing to complain about.




The second contestant is respectively beskarkaski. Here the minus of testing affected. There were small stains on the driver's wiper at the top, but I didn't have time to photograph them, I tried five times, everything was in vain.




In addition, during the first pre-test use, the wipers behaved strangely, as if the gum had hardened. They left the type of such a divorce:


But then the effect disappeared, they got wet or something ... This immediately aroused the suspicion that in the cold they would have problems. And on the very first frost of about 0 C, this was confirmed. No photo, it was night, but I made a small fragment of video from the recorder with an eerie sound, half-creak, half-crackling, which emitted rubber bands.

And this is another extraordinary representative of the janitors))



Unfortunately, it is too early to draw final conclusions on the operation of these rubber bands. One of the main criteria is durability, requires at least a couple of months of operation, and since candidate 2, it will take 4 months to compare them. But already now we can identify some intermediate results according to the first data.
Hybrid rubber bands proved to be the leader, despite the fact that the order came from one seller. The quality of the material among the subjects is clearly different. If we compare the characteristics of hybrid and frameless, we get the following list:
Ease of installation - hybrid are easier to install, do not require additional tools. For frameless, you need a screwdriver and scissors (knife).
The softness of the rubber (silicone) - hybrid softer.
Noise - hybrid less noisy.
All-weather - at 0 degrees, the frameless already creaked, hybrid - no.
Glass cleaning - Hybrid cleaners more thoroughly clean glass.
Durability - no data yet.
From this we can conclude that my expectations from the frameless did not come true, hybrid rubber bands beat them on all fronts. The main thing is that these frameless rubber bands cannot stand frost, which makes them practically useless, because frameless rubber bands are good in winter, as they are less clogged with snow. Eh, I will continue to search for perfect frameless rubber bands elsewhere ...

Additional tests

In a desperate attempt to find a suitable rubber band for the frame frames, I ordered (already in semi-offline) two more types of cheap rubber bands: Alca with a single edge (code 119000), Alca with several edges (code 118000); and also another more expensive pair: VAG (code 1K0 955 429 B). In the end, Alca did not fit very well in terms of fastening, it has some of its own standards, but somehow it stuck in. But VAG turned out to be a suitable elastic band, it is noticeably softer and more slippery to the touch than China or Alca.
The first tests are as follows:


China on hybrids is generally not bad, but not perfect. Sometimes they smear. I note that in the cold they clean sucks, although I can still write a separate review about this.
Alca single edged - stripes at the top of the driver's wiper - not bad.
Alca with several edges - absolutely the same, no difference, apparently it's not the edges, but the material.
VAG - here the test, they clean well, made several runs, no stripes, no streaks. I left them permanently, I will watch how they will lead them into the cold or something else. +37 +90

• The older and worse the brushes, the higher the consumption of expensive windshield washer fluid.
• Remove the brushes from the machine periodically and wash them with warm water and soap - the swivel joints will last longer.
• Make sure that the wiper's leash keeps it perpendicular to the glass all the way. In frame models, the hinges begin to play strongly as they wear out. It is better to replace such a brush.
• When installing the brushes, make sure that they do not knock on the bottom and side of the glass seal.
• Lubricate the wiper lead pivots periodically. Corrosion can be so severe that the downforce is reduced.
• If the glass is frozen, it must first be freed from ice crusts, and only then turned on the cleaners. Otherwise, the wipers will quickly fail.
• When choosing new brushes, do not deviate significantly from the manufacturer's recommended standard length. A longer wiper has a lower contact force. In addition, such brushes can cling to each other. And a short wiper will not provide the required field of view.
• If the glass is badly scratched, visibility will almost certainly be poor, even if the brushes are brand new. Such glass is necessary at least

To the category of products that few people pay due attention to until they cease to function normally. Poor cleaning of the glass surface while driving, when it is snowing or raining, not only affects aesthetic comfort, but also directly affects the safety criteria for the driver, passengers and other road users. Unsatisfactory cleaning of glass with wipers in adverse weather conditions directly affects the visibility of the road by the driver, the timely detection of obstacles, and affects the ability to quickly carry out maneuvers to prevent an emergency. A decrease in the quality indicators of the functionality of the wipers requires the driver to immediately replace the wipers or brushes with them, which is accompanied by the dilemma of which rubber bands for the wipers are best purchased from the rich on the market.

General Provisions

Wiper blades, along with oils, filters and other elements, are consumable materials and have a limited operating period. The service life of rubber bands, depending on their quality criteria and the material from which they are made, can vary from six months to two years. Accordingly, the better the consumable is purchased, the longer the consumer will be able to forget about the need to replace them again. This fact forces us to be very attentive to the choice of rubber bands for wipers, to take into account the quality indicators of the product when buying.

Also important are the design features of the wipers with which the vehicle is equipped. By design, the wipers can be of frame, hybrid and frameless type. Frameless modifications of wipers are mainly equipped with modern cars, which necessitates the selection of consumable items exclusively from the catalog and for a specific vehicle model.

The choice of a rubber band for wipers of a frame or hybrid type is less problematic, however, it requires taking into account some parameters that will directly affect the efficiency of the wipers. It is worth noting that frame-type brushes have proven themselves better in terms of mechanical cleaning of the glass surface, however, they have a number of disadvantages in the form of noise during operation, a high probability of breakdowns and a strong dependence on weather conditions. Hybrid models of wipers have combined the strengths of frameless and frame products, are characterized by all-season applicability, the ability to adapt to any glass relief and a long service life, however, they are distinguished by a high price, which often determines the choice of the car owner not in their favor. Consider the main criteria that are important to consider when choosing a brush for a wiper.

Selection of the wiper blade by size

Size is one of the main criteria when choosing a wiper blade. On the market you can see a huge one, which differ not only in the manufacturer and type, but also in the length of the products. When asked which length it is better to buy brushes, the answer of professionals and automakers is unambiguous: this parameter should correspond as much as possible to the standard dimensions of the rubber band installed on the car from the factory.

The fact is that having bought even rubber bands of inappropriate length that are good for the wiper blades, the buyer will be very disappointed in the process of their operation. Too long brushes will cling to each other during operation, while the purchase of short rubber bands will affect the area of \u200b\u200bthe cleaned surface that the devices will not be able to grasp in sufficient volume, which will affect safety. In order to avoid problems of this kind after installing new consumables, it is necessary to measure the length of the wipers installed on the car before purchasing.

Selection of wiper gum according to the composition of the material of manufacture

The shape of the product, its dimensions and the fastening structure are important selection parameters, however, the primary task of the wipers is to remove dirt, moisture and other elements that complicate the driver's visibility from the glass directly with an elastic band. The cleaning efficiency directly depends on what material the gum is made of.

Previously, without exception, all rubber bands for windshield wipers were made of ordinary rubber, however, a large number of shortcomings of such elements, in the form of squeaks, freezing in frost, mechanical damage due to temperature extremes, led to the need to find more effective materials for wipers. In order to clean the surface of the windshield to be of high quality, the material of rubber bands for windshield wipers must have the following parameters: wear resistance, elasticity, constancy of indicators during temperature extremes and immunity to automotive chemicals with an aggressive composition.

The search for a unique material for rubber wipers by manufacturers continues today, however, there are certain achievements in this industry. Today there are several types of wipers according to the material of manufacture:

• graphite-coated products;
• rubber bands with the addition of graphite;
• silicone rubber bands;
• elastic bands with yellow stripes with Teflon.

With such a variety of options, many car owners have an adequate question: how to choose an elastic band for a janitor according to the material of manufacture so that it can most effectively cope with the tasks set? Today, the best purchase option is silicone rubber bands, they are advised to be chosen by professionals and consumers, due to their excellent wear resistance, quality criteria and operational suitability at any time of the year.

Positive and negative performance characteristics of silicone rubber bands

Adding silicone to the rubber component of the wiper blades is the best technological solution to the problem of the quality and efficiency of wipers today. Silicone is a material that guarantees the smooth movement of the wipers on the glass surface under all climatic conditions.

Among the advantages of silicone rubber bands, consumers highlight the following priority qualities:

• prolonged service life, which exceeds the operating period of conventional rubber bands by fifty percent;
• frost resistance;
• excellent sliding on glass in all weather conditions;
• no squeak during operation in any modes of operation;
• the softness of the material excludes the possibility of chips and scratches on the glass;
• high-quality glass cleaning, characterized by the absence of streaks and stripes, which guarantees an excellent view for the driver.

As for the shortcomings, they were not revealed during operation, provided that the brushes were replaced in a timely manner and the purchase of original products, and not a cheap fake.

Review of manufacturers: which brand to give preference to

Currently, there are several dozen companies engaged in the manufacture of car accessories, including windshield wipers, as well as consumables for them. The market provides the buyer with both high quality goods and obvious fakes with frankly disgusting technical characteristics. In order for the purchased device to meet expectations in terms of reliability, quality of functioning and operational criteria, it is worth refraining from buying products of “unknown” origin, giving preference to goods from well-known manufacturers.

Where to stop the choice?

After analyzing the main technological and structural features of wipers and rubber bands, we can conclude that the best option for purchase today are hybrid models that combine excellent performance and quality characteristics. If there is no opportunity to buy hybrid windshield wipers, or if this purchase is expensive for the consumer, then frameless wipers with a silicone rubber band can be preferred.

When buying wipers, you should also not ignore the brand aspect. Despite the ambivalent attitude of consumers to the choice of products by manufacturer - some buyers believe that there is no point in overpaying for a brand, this factor can significantly affect the efficiency of the wipers. When purchasing products from an unknown manufacturer, the consumer cannot be one hundred percent sure of its authenticity and compliance with technical characteristics, which often entails, after a short period, the need to purchase a new set of wipers. In this case, the proverb is appropriate: "The miser pays twice." It is better to buy high-quality wipers once and be sure of their functionality during the declared operational period than to buy low-quality products at regular intervals, which will ultimately cost significantly more.

Let's sum up

Choosing high-quality wiper blades from a huge assortment on the modern market is a rather difficult task, however, having understood the nuances, it will be much easier to do this. When selecting wipers, be sure to take into account the overall parameters of the original products and their design features, pay special attention to the material from which the cleaning gum is made.

During the operation of the wipers, do not forget to take care of them regularly, systematically cleaning the working surface from debris; in severe frosts, experts recommend removing the brushes or taking them aside when the machine is idle to avoid premature wear of the rubber bands. High-quality and reliable windshield wipers are one of the main criteria for driving safety.