How Do I Know What Windshield Wipers to Buy?

June 16th, 2023 by

Replacing the wiper blades is one of the most common maintenance issues for any vehicle owner. These blades can wear down over time or break easily, resulting in the need for new ones. However, many different kinds of wiper blades are available, and most won’t work for your specific make and model. If you need new wiper blades, we’ll explain how to find the right ones to buy, know when to replace them, install your new blades, and more.

Check Your Owners Manual

The first place you can check is your vehicle’s owners manual. Inside the manual is a ton of helpful information about your vehicle, including the type of wiper blades you need. This trusty booklet can tell you the size to get and how to install them properly.

If you can’t find your owners manual, you may be able to find a copy of it online. If not, contact a local dealership of the same manufacturer and ask if they can help you locate one for your specific make and model. Having it nearby is always good, as you never know what other information about your vehicle you might need.

Look Up Your Vehicle Online

Another way to determine which wiper blades you need is by looking it up online. Many online tools can help you select the proper wiper blades. All you typically need to do is enter information about your vehicle, such as the make, model, and year, and you’ll see what size wiper blades you need. You can then use this information to purchase the right-sized blades through another online site or a nearby parts store.

Visit a Local Parts Store

Speaking of a nearby parts store, you can also visit a local shop and ask them for help finding the correct wiper blades. A store employee can look up your vehicle in their system and tell you the exact ones that you need. Visiting a parts store not only ensures that you’re getting the right blades but allows you to get them right there and then. When you consider how essential wiper blades are for vehicle safety, reducing the wait time compared to ordering online is a huge benefit.

Different Kinds of Wiper Blades

When shopping for wiper blades, you’ll most likely come across several different kinds. For starters, there are many sizes of wiper blades available, and it’s essential that you get ones that fit your vehicle properly. For example, some vehicles have one wiper blade that’s longer than the other. Were you to get two similarly sized blades, they may not fit on your vehicle or may knock into each other when you turn on your wipers. However, if you buy blades that are too small, they may not clear the entire surface of your windshield.

In addition to different sizes, there are also various styles of wiper blades. For example, the conventional design includes a rubber squeegee held by a metal frame. This frame pivots as the blades move, allowing the rubber part to remain in contact with the glass. Older vehicles typically use these conventional blades, but some newer vehicles do as well.

Besides the conventional design, there’s the new beam design. With the beam design, you have a more curved frame, providing better contact with the windshield. These blades use a sturdier piece of rubber, providing better cleaning and lasting longer. And then there’s the hybrid design, which is sort of a blend of the other two designs. A hybrid design uses the same design as the conventional blades, except it has an aerodynamic rubber shell. These perform better than the conventional blades but don’t cost as much as the beam-design blades.

Importance of Regularly Changing Your Wiper Blades

As with many other parts of your vehicle, your wiper blades will wear down over time. As the rubber on your blades begins to wear down, they’ll become less efficient at cleaning your windshield. If the rubber continues to deteriorate, your blades may break down entirely. In either case, it’s important that you change your blades as soon as you notice an issue. Your blades play an essential role in keeping you safe, and you don’t want to find yourself in a sudden rainstorm in Centerville without reliable wiper blades on your windshield.

Signs You Need New Wiper Blades

There are a few signs that will tell you it’s time for new wiper blades. These signs include the following:

  • Streaks on the windshield.
  • Strange noises on the glass when wipers are on.
  • Wiper blades are sticking to the glass.
  • Wiper blades are leaving marks on the glass.
  • Wiper blades are moving erratically.

Installing Your New Wiper Blades

When you buy your new wiper blades, they should come with instructions on removing your old blades and installing the new ones. In some cases, this may be a simple process that you can do on your own.

However, if you’re unsure of how to do it, want to make sure that the new blades get installed correctly, or simply don’t have the time, then your best bet is to bring your vehicle to a local service station. One of the service technicians can easily remove your old blades and install the new ones quickly, getting you back on the road with a safer vehicle.

Visit Performance Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram’s Parts Center

Whether you’re looking for new wiper blades or need help with installation, our parts center experts are here to help. Our technicians can help you locate the right blades for your vehicle and then install them for you. To get started, please stop by during business hours or schedule an appointment at our service station online. It’s essential that you always have working wiper blades on your windshield, not only for the safety of you and your passengers but for other drivers on the road, too. Performance Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram is here to help make that happen.

 

Posted in Parts