Wiper lift
 

I've noticed something on my Zed with the wiper blades recently in that the contact area becomes variable in really odd places. Before anyone pipes up with 'change your blades', I did so only just before Christmas.
I've switched from metal framed blades to Bosch Aerotwin blades and initially they were perfect with a consistent sweep and no lift. However, the bottom end on the drivers side lifts and flexes at speeds above 30mph and the centre portion of the sweep under the connector is really patch. I can live with the wobbly trailing end but it's the centre section that bothers me. There's no obvious signs of any cracks in the plastic of the blade contruction that could cause flexing. I've cleaned the screen and the blade, so I'm taking a guess that possibly there's not enough pressure on the blade from the wiper arm spring. Does this sound plausible or am I better off going back to metal framed blades?

2 quick questions.
Does the spring tension feel reasonably strong and have you tried a little lubrication on the arm pivot and spring attachment points?

Tension feels pretty good and both arms feel similar. I'll definitely get a drop of oil on those pivot points to see if that does the trick.

grease those pivot points and the springs, after cleaning them and spraying maybe.
https://i.imgur.com/QRFOvrwl.jpg1

https://i.imgur.com/WvJOcOml.jpg2

Most wiper arms on our cars are now like this.
https://i.imgur.com/qN3NCi7l.jpg3

You want then like this.
https://i.imgur.com/qsZz2xEl.jpg4

https://i.imgur.com/ezYyRqOl.jpg5

https://i.imgur.com/beUdOFVl.jpg6

Changed mine over in 2020

Cheers Steve. Plan is to get the arms off in a few weeks, clean them up and give them a quick once over with a rattle can as they are looking rather shabby. In the meantime, I'll give the pivots a quick squirt of lubricant.

If that doesn't work buy new ones.--Not very expensive.--:D

Sometimes normal cleaning doesn't remove all contamination. If the arm maintenance isn't effective you might try glass cleaner or Rain-Ex which will miraculously turn your windscreen into a duck's back. :D

Simon

Very true :}.

Brilliant while it works.

But, the downside is that after a while the combination of dust, muck and wiping action will degrade various areas of the coating. This will then give random patches which are not clear. Worse in the wet and much, much worse in the dark and the wet especially with those new fangled LED searchlights masquerading as headlights coming the other way :eek:.

It's then reapply it or........

Personally I just go with a properly clean windscreen. Barkeepers Friend, mixed to a paste with a little white vinegar and applied like old fashioned pink Windowlene. Use lots of that blue elephant loo roll to remove the white "powder" and a splash of vinegar will clear any residue.

Remember to thoroughly rinse the screen as it is acidic and your paintwork won't thank you for leaving it on. But your eyes will as they look through a beautifully clean screen :}.

After cleaning use Isopropyl alcohol or Meths to really finish the job off.


https://www.therange.co.uk/household...-250ml/#637251

I've found they all degrade after about 3 weeks :mad:

I totally agree with not using it on the windscreen been there with the same results as you, but I do use it on all the other glass except door mirrors, the beading it produces can cause poor vision especially on unlit roads.


When the eventual road film builds up I give the screen an initial clean with simple washing up liquid to get rid of dust etc, then a quick rub over with G10, finishing off as you do with meths or Iso.


When washing the car I use a simple car shampoo without polish due to finding that the shampoos that contain polish can sometimes cause smearing after a while.


I wash any cloths for cleaning the glass in water and washing powder that doesn't contain fabric softeners having noticed occasionally that this can cause smearing.