I spend a lot of time driving at highway speeds (70-75 MPH) and I would really like windshield wipers that actually work. At this speed mine only wipe on the upstroke. The wind actually causes them to lift off of the windshield on the down stroke. Does anyone make wiper arm springs with more tension to keep the blades on the windshield at higher speeds?
Wipers that work - is there such a thing?
- Thread starter grampi
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Sounds like a poorly designed system on the car. The one-piece beam blades act like spoilers to help keep them pressed onto the windshield, though that's only a band-aid on a larger problem. Avoid attaching any third-party spoilers to the wipers as that will only exacerbate the problem by weighing down the motor.
It's not the wipers fault, its a poorly designed front end of the car in question. The hood, cowl area and placement of the wipers all come into play here.
My 06 Scion tC does the same thing, skipping on the way down, not doing it's job very well. This only happens at speeds above 76mph. If i go 70-74ish, they seem to wipe decent. Raise a few MPH and hoppity hop they go.
I've tried multiple brands and get the same result.
I use either the Rain-X or the Bosch Ion (both top of the line designs) on my other cars and have zero issues at the same speeds. Only if i go closer to 90mph do i have the same problem but i think any car will have that issues.
M-Benz say that their design allows the wiper blades to operate efficiently at speeds close to 150mph. All other cars i've driven in the rain get the same result when you; exceed the speed limit (its like they know you're speeding!!!
)
My 06 Scion tC does the same thing, skipping on the way down, not doing it's job very well. This only happens at speeds above 76mph. If i go 70-74ish, they seem to wipe decent. Raise a few MPH and hoppity hop they go.
I've tried multiple brands and get the same result.
I use either the Rain-X or the Bosch Ion (both top of the line designs) on my other cars and have zero issues at the same speeds. Only if i go closer to 90mph do i have the same problem but i think any car will have that issues.
M-Benz say that their design allows the wiper blades to operate efficiently at speeds close to 150mph. All other cars i've driven in the rain get the same result when you; exceed the speed limit (its like they know you're speeding!!!
My first question is did the car always have this condition even when new on OEM parts? Second question is what parts have been replaced and with what brand. Usually, when you get lift at speeds you can tweak the wiper arm a little to get more force on the glass. If the car was fine and now doesn't wipe as well, perhaps try to replace (or tweak) the wiper arms.
Originally Posted By: Artem
It's not the wipers fault, its a poorly designed front end of the car in question. The hood, cowl area and placement of the wipers all come into play here.
My 06 Scion tC does the same thing, skipping on the way down, not doing it's job very well. This only happens at speeds above 76mph. If i go 70-74ish, they seem to wipe decent. Raise a few MPH and hoppity hop they go.
I've tried multiple brands and get the same result.
I use either the Rain-X or the Bosch Ion (both top of the line designs) on my other cars and have zero issues at the same speeds. Only if i go closer to 90mph do i have the same problem but i think any car will have that issues.
M-Benz say that their design allows the wiper blades to operate efficiently at speeds close to 150mph. All other cars i've driven in the rain get the same result when you; exceed the speed limit (its like they know you're speeding!!!
)
I don't see why they couldn't have compensated for the design flaw by installing stronger springs in the wiper arms and stronger wiper motors...
It's not the wipers fault, its a poorly designed front end of the car in question. The hood, cowl area and placement of the wipers all come into play here.
My 06 Scion tC does the same thing, skipping on the way down, not doing it's job very well. This only happens at speeds above 76mph. If i go 70-74ish, they seem to wipe decent. Raise a few MPH and hoppity hop they go.
I've tried multiple brands and get the same result.
I use either the Rain-X or the Bosch Ion (both top of the line designs) on my other cars and have zero issues at the same speeds. Only if i go closer to 90mph do i have the same problem but i think any car will have that issues.
M-Benz say that their design allows the wiper blades to operate efficiently at speeds close to 150mph. All other cars i've driven in the rain get the same result when you; exceed the speed limit (its like they know you're speeding!!!
I don't see why they couldn't have compensated for the design flaw by installing stronger springs in the wiper arms and stronger wiper motors...
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
My first question is did the car always have this condition even when new on OEM parts? Second question is what parts have been replaced and with what brand. Usually, when you get lift at speeds you can tweak the wiper arm a little to get more force on the glass. If the car was fine and now doesn't wipe as well, perhaps try to replace (or tweak) the wiper arms.
They have done this ever since I've had the car...
My first question is did the car always have this condition even when new on OEM parts? Second question is what parts have been replaced and with what brand. Usually, when you get lift at speeds you can tweak the wiper arm a little to get more force on the glass. If the car was fine and now doesn't wipe as well, perhaps try to replace (or tweak) the wiper arms.
They have done this ever since I've had the car...
RainX and similar treatments will ruin your night visibility. It turns water droplets into mini-prisms that will blind you.
Try this brand and model of blades: Trico Wiper Blade they are found on all the newest cars including my Subi Forester. Love them! Seems to work great at all speeds on my car. But like everyone said it could be a design flaw.
Originally Posted By: grampi
I spend a lot of time driving at highway speeds (70-75 MPH) and I would really like windshield wipers that actually work. At this speed mine only wipe on the upstroke. The wind actually causes them to lift off of the windshield on the down stroke. Does anyone make wiper arm springs with more tension to keep the blades on the windshield at higher speeds?
What car? Make/Model/Year...I used to have this problem with my 2000 Accord. Turned out the arm was rusted by the spring, not allowing it to maintain correct pressure. I cleaned up the rust, lubed the hinge (bushing)and switched to Valeo beam blade and never had a problem past that for 3-4 years.
Funny thing though my '01 M-B works better with traditional wiper style versus beam blades, some people say it is also the shape of the windshield. The $10 Valeo 600 has been on mine for months and it does real well. Mind you in my era of M-B I only have 1-wiper, so that [censored] thing needs to work. I keep a spare in the trunk just in case. Consumer Reports I believe ranked the Valeo 600 as #1 in their tests so I tried them and worked for me.
Last bit of my babble is to clean the windshield. I bought Stoner auto glass cleaner at Walmart and it seems to have helped with clarity
I spend a lot of time driving at highway speeds (70-75 MPH) and I would really like windshield wipers that actually work. At this speed mine only wipe on the upstroke. The wind actually causes them to lift off of the windshield on the down stroke. Does anyone make wiper arm springs with more tension to keep the blades on the windshield at higher speeds?
What car? Make/Model/Year...I used to have this problem with my 2000 Accord. Turned out the arm was rusted by the spring, not allowing it to maintain correct pressure. I cleaned up the rust, lubed the hinge (bushing)and switched to Valeo beam blade and never had a problem past that for 3-4 years.
Funny thing though my '01 M-B works better with traditional wiper style versus beam blades, some people say it is also the shape of the windshield. The $10 Valeo 600 has been on mine for months and it does real well. Mind you in my era of M-B I only have 1-wiper, so that [censored] thing needs to work. I keep a spare in the trunk just in case. Consumer Reports I believe ranked the Valeo 600 as #1 in their tests so I tried them and worked for me.
Last bit of my babble is to clean the windshield. I bought Stoner auto glass cleaner at Walmart and it seems to have helped with clarity
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With a proper maintained car like proper tire pressure with proper tread (which many on the road lack) and not a soaking rain but just rain with a proper curved asphalted highway I don't see why driving 75 mph would be a problem. The people with out proper maintained cars know it, as they are the ones driving slow and in the way with no lights on. I have no problem getting on the interstate with my properly maintained Subaru and go that speed if not 80 mph. But in a heavy down pour your crazy.
One of the biggest aids to keeping the blade in contact with the windshield at high speed is a air foil located on the arm itself it helps to create a down draft which increases pressure on the arm as you increase in speed .
All my VWs have had this at least on the driver's side.
All my VWs have had this at least on the driver's side.
You know what's funny my cruze driver side wiper arm has a built in spoiler on the leading edge to push the blade onto the windshield.
Originally Posted By: svhanc
Try Rain-X windshield washer fluid.
At highway speeds I usually don't even use the windshield wipers.
But then you get that wiper skipping/stutter dont you?
Try Rain-X windshield washer fluid.
At highway speeds I usually don't even use the windshield wipers.
But then you get that wiper skipping/stutter dont you?
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Originally Posted By: 91344George
One of the biggest aids to keeping the blade in contact with the windshield at high speed is a air foil located on the arm itself it helps to create a down draft which increases pressure on the arm as you increase in speed .
All my VWs have had this at least on the driver's side.
Yup, this. My M5 has a pretty crazy looking one.
One of the biggest aids to keeping the blade in contact with the windshield at high speed is a air foil located on the arm itself it helps to create a down draft which increases pressure on the arm as you increase in speed .
All my VWs have had this at least on the driver's side.
Yup, this. My M5 has a pretty crazy looking one.
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