First time out in steady rain and wipers sort of drag across windshield in a skittery manner. They do wipe clean. What can I do?
Windshield Wipers Dragging; Solution?
- Thread starter tc1446
- Start date
- Status
Mine which are pretty new do that also. In my case I think cheap blades.
I have purchased some quality silicone rubber blades but have not put them on yet.
Get some of this. Works good on all sorts of rubber parts;
When mine start acting like that, I take it as a sign that the coating of Rain-X needs a 'booster', and I replace the blades at the same time. Next time I use the wipers, they glide silently across the glass. I also use them less because above 35mph, the water blows off the windshield.
Rain-X, or the coating of your choice, reduces the friction between the glass and the rubber, increasing your wiper lifespan. If you can hear the wipers moving across the surface, they're experiencing friction. The other enemy of soft, supple blades is UV. I've been known to use 303 on the truck's wipers to lengthen their life.
Rain-X, or the coating of your choice, reduces the friction between the glass and the rubber, increasing your wiper lifespan. If you can hear the wipers moving across the surface, they're experiencing friction. The other enemy of soft, supple blades is UV. I've been known to use 303 on the truck's wipers to lengthen their life.
RainX Extreme Clean windshield cleaner works wonders. Wipers can also play a factor when the rubber starts to break down. I personally prefer OEM wiper blades. I avoid any RainX or wax on the windshield like the plague because I always end up with wiper judder. I recently ceramic coated my windshield with CQuartz and I highly recommend it. The water just flies off in the rain and there is no juddering.
Clean the car wash wax from the glass and get a good set of wipers.
I get my windshield super clean and use a spray wax on it. So far, the griots works well, no chatter.
Carefully examine in different angles the light going through the glass. Chances are you have very small pitting? DON"T use steel wool that use to be an "old School" thing but even back in the day it WILL scratch your glass.
There is no need to spend money on high dollar wipers, I recommend an inexpensive brand and change them at least before the rain season or 2-4 times a year. I also not not recommend anything to be used on the glass except glass clean. Many of the other thing can and does accumulate in the small pits and will adversely effect the wipers effectively wiping the water off your glass.
The biggest complaints are from from people that have had their glass replaced. They don't realize that there are different quality and hardness of glass available. And that that guy in the no name truck with the "best" glass replacement deal is also buying the least quality glass on the market and it is likely harder glass which will pit faster and ultimately effect how well the wipers will work.
There is no need to spend money on high dollar wipers, I recommend an inexpensive brand and change them at least before the rain season or 2-4 times a year. I also not not recommend anything to be used on the glass except glass clean. Many of the other thing can and does accumulate in the small pits and will adversely effect the wipers effectively wiping the water off your glass.
The biggest complaints are from from people that have had their glass replaced. They don't realize that there are different quality and hardness of glass available. And that that guy in the no name truck with the "best" glass replacement deal is also buying the least quality glass on the market and it is likely harder glass which will pit faster and ultimately effect how well the wipers will work.
I've had a lot of success by cleaning the windshield AND the edges of the wiper blades. On the glass, I use 3 different solvents. First window cleaner w/ammonia and a razor blade, wipe dry...Next laquer thinner just on the glass, third Isopropyl alcohol which I also wipe the leading edge of the blade itself with. You don't want excess solvent on the rubber part since some have an imbeded graphite coating that helps the blade run smoothly.
I don't use rainX, even though I have found it helpful on past vehicles at around 70 mph.
I do this because Mercedes blades from the dealership are like $80.00 a pair, and not much in the way of aftermarket is available. But that proceedure usually smooths them right out.
Seems that every time I buy a new to me Mercedes, they have this same problem. I think it's from the coating they apply at the dealership like "paint protection" of some package. It's actually so common that the dealer buys me a set of wiper blades to go with the car!
I've never had to use them.
I don't use rainX, even though I have found it helpful on past vehicles at around 70 mph.
I do this because Mercedes blades from the dealership are like $80.00 a pair, and not much in the way of aftermarket is available. But that proceedure usually smooths them right out.
Seems that every time I buy a new to me Mercedes, they have this same problem. I think it's from the coating they apply at the dealership like "paint protection" of some package. It's actually so common that the dealer buys me a set of wiper blades to go with the car!
I've never had to use them.
Yes, the laser spray type; it does put on what they call wax and some stuff that makes water run off. Had not thought of this.
Have scrubbed the windows and applied rubber "conditioner" on blades.
Edited: After reading all above, plan to do some more cleaning of windshield and rubber blades.
Thanks all for feedback.
Last edited:
lf you're sure you've cleaned it as good as you can get and still have issues try a clay bar. My truck sits under a tree and gets those little dots of tree sap, what a pain they are to get off. A once over with a clay bar and sprayway/invisible glass seems to work.
I also use a squeegee like the ones at the gas station that helps.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OCDYWK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title
I also use a squeegee like the ones at the gas station that helps.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OCDYWK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title
I found since the reformulated the Rain X back in the day and went to an ethanol vs isopropanol base, that the wax really interferes with Rain X. I use a powdered glass cleaner before the Rain X. And the Rain X is a lot easier to apply when it's cooler, say below 60F.
It’s either wiper set, silicone/wax applied at the car wash or other contamination.
I use red can Bon Ami to “scrub” a windshield clean. It’s just feldspar and tallow soap. BMW recommended for “poor-quality windshield washer fluid” and wax treatments causing wiper issues.
I use red can Bon Ami to “scrub” a windshield clean. It’s just feldspar and tallow soap. BMW recommended for “poor-quality windshield washer fluid” and wax treatments causing wiper issues.
Yep no doubt as for years I used Slick Mist and most recently the Griot's 3/1 on the glass, blades, etc. Silky smooth too and I'm a firm believer doing that sort of thing helps prolong blade life as well.
- Status
Similar threads
