Wipers replacement
The performance of the wipers conditions your visibility and your safety on the road: it is essential to check their correct operation regularly.
This point of vigilance is an integral part of the service provided by Glassdrive. As soon as you entrust us with your vehicle for a glazing replacement or impact repair, our teams systematically check the condition of the vehicle and wipers. After inspection, we advise you to replace them only if it is required.
Driving with defective wipers: what are the risks?
At the front, a pair of wipers consists of two mechanical arms driven by a motor and extended by blades fitted with a rubber scraper: it is this removable part which, by a more or less rapid succession of intermittent sweeps over the glass, evacuates excess water from the windshield during bad weather and/or clears it of dirt after splashes.
Their malfunction reduces the driver's visibility to the front or rear: driving in these degraded conditions may expose him to errors of judgement that could compromise the safety of his or her passengers and other road users.
In bad weather, a wiper failure detected during a police check is punishable by a third-class fine, or or even immediate immobilisation of the vehicle if the weather situation is too dangerous to consider putting it back on the road.
Another point to watch out for, which should not be overlooked, is that the wear and tear of your brushes can damage the surface of your windshield or your glazing by causing scratches. During the wiping process, the rubber of the blade, if torn or loaded with impurities, can cause friction on the glass.
All of these anomalies are eliminatory at the time of the technical inspection, and imply a compulsory replacement of the equipment, followed by a counter-inspection.
Wipers to be changed: the signs that do not deceive
Wipers have a very limited lifespan. The rubber parts, which are challenged in winter season, are also sensitive to high temperatures and to pollutant particles that are deposited on the windshield and rear windscreen. The frequency of use of wipers is also a parameter that accelerates their wear in geographical areas where climatic conditions are more extreme.
Many automotive professionals estimate that after 500,000 wipe cycles, the equivalent of about one year, the equipment has outlived its usefulness and needs to be replaced.
The driver, on the other hand, should be aware of certain warning signs:

The formation of lines on the windshield after sweeping often reveals cracked rubbers.

The appearance of unwiped areas, despite the wiping motion, indicates that the wiper is not exerting uniform pressure on the glass, perhaps due to a mechanical arm deformed by an impact.

The presence of a haze within the wiper surface, possibly indicating hardening or tearing of the wiper.

Squeaking or vibrations are symptoms of too much pressure on the broom.