How Would You Deal with Shuddering Wipers?

Lord Ra on 02/10/2022 - 01:57
Last edited 02/10/2022 - 12:15 by 1 other user

Hey All,

Just had new Bosch wipers put in on my car. Cleaned and detailed the windshield with an old bottle of Rain X. Ever since then, the wipers always shudder, both on the way up AND down.

I have since:

  1. Removed Rain X from the windshield (soapy water x 3 + BO's orange agent + glass cleaner)
  2. Removed Rain X from the wipers (as above)
    Tested - still on going shuddering
  3. Applied BO's Lazy Wax on the windshield
    Tested - still ongoing shuddering
  4. Applied WD 40 Lube onto the wipers
    Tested - it works well for a few minutes then goes back to shuddering

What on earth can I do to stop my wipers from chattering/shuddering?

Have since thrown my old Rain X in the bin

Automotive Bosch Windscreen Wipers

Comments

  • Hybroid on 02/10/2022 - 01:59
    +6

    Get new wipers. Sounds like the rubber on yours have hardened, regardless if new to you.

    • Lord Ra on 02/10/2022 - 12:09

      Ah crap! I got them from Automotive Super store.
      Could I aak them for a refund/exchange? It's been 3 months now.

      • Hybroid on 02/10/2022 - 12:30
        +1

        Doubt it but no harm trying. A lot of product in those stores sit on warehouse shelves for years. Could be old 'new stock'.

        Same thing applies to tyres. You may get some saving from some of the smaller local tyre shops but they sometimes have really old rubber even if "brand new".

        Not sure if they still have them but Costco did Michelin wipes for less than $15 each. They're pretty great from my experience.

  • Euphemistic on 02/10/2022 - 07:33

    New blades.

    I had noisy blades on my car. For some reason (can’t remember) I switched one only, then had 1 noisy one. I put up with it for ages because why waste money if it still works. Eventually I put different new ones on. So quiet!

    Also worth noting that the one noisy one has left something on the windscreen that makes the water react differently. You can see where it wipes when it’s wet.

  • HiredGoon on 02/10/2022 - 07:40

    We put some wipers from AutoOne on the Prado a few years back and the wife was forever complaining about them, went back to the standard Toyota ones after that, and been fine ever since.

    • EightImmortals on 02/10/2022 - 08:46
      +3

      Are the Toyota ones still $10,000?

      • bloom on 02/10/2022 - 13:56
        +2

        Only at the authorised dealership

  • payless69 on 02/10/2022 - 10:18
    -1

    After WD40 your wipers need replacing. Rubber is not compatible!
    Generally buy all supplies from the same maker if possible. Freshly made rubber blades do not shudder regardless of surface.
    Fine dust left on glass wears them out quickly. RainX is great but also wants freshly made rubber!

    Same with tyres: Freshly made rubber sticks better gives you more safety. Well worth the extra cost if you value your and other road users lives!

    • Lord Ra on 02/10/2022 - 12:11
      -2

      It was the lubricant WD 40.

      A lot of forums online suggests that this is a good fix.

  • ChunkyToast on 02/10/2022 - 10:25
    +5

    Sell the car

    • DarkOz on 02/10/2022 - 10:35
      +5

      Just want to add more to this advice. Buy new car and re-use the wipers. The wipers are perfectly good to use but the car is aging too much to use the wipers properly.

  • cashless on 02/10/2022 - 11:11

    Give something like this a go
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/717021

    • Lord Ra on 02/10/2022 - 12:12

      This makes sense on old wipers, not new ones.

  • CurlCurl on 02/10/2022 - 11:35
    +1

    Had Bosh on my vehicle for a week or so. First rain they shuddered like hell. Retuned them to super cheap for Tridon. Problem solved.

    • Lord Ra on 02/10/2022 - 12:12

      Probably may need to do the same.
      😭

  • Cluster on 02/10/2022 - 11:46

    When I get shuddering blades I just change them, to a different brand. The rubber ages due to sunlight even if you don't use them. I use RainX in the washer reservoir and find it's sufficient for beading water on the windscreen.

    • Lord Ra on 02/10/2022 - 12:14

      Car is used once a week. Stored in the garage all day. So it definitely wasn't the sun.

  • tebbybabes on 02/10/2022 - 12:05

    Aye, it's the blades. If I'm not mistaken, even unused rubber has a shelf life and can degrade depending on how it's stored.

    • Lord Ra on 02/10/2022 - 12:15

      SCA charge $45 per blade.

      I would have thought that these 'top range' blades would be the best!

      Do you think I can claim under warranty?

      • bazingaa on 02/10/2022 - 14:05

        check ebay, I once bought 2 Bosch wiper blades from interstate spare part shops around $15 each.

        found one seller : https://www.ebay.com.au/str/prestigeautoparts

        • Lord Ra on 02/10/2022 - 20:19

          I was looking too and found automotive super store to have the same for $55 for both of my front ones.
          I guess I'll reach out to them and have a chat.

      • lgacb08 on 03/10/2022 - 12:55

        Just buy it from sparesbox, sca is a rip at double the price so no doubt people will get them from sparesbox and stock turn over is faster.

        • Euphemistic on 03/10/2022 - 14:14

          I’d counter with SCA is like the big green shed, being he first place most people think of. Plus, wipers are often purchased at short notice and don’t want to wait for delivery. SCA stock turnover will be fine.

          • lgacb08 on 03/10/2022 - 22:42

            @Euphemistic: SCA only recently sell Bosch range, their usual range of wiper might have decent turnover but not the Bosch range, people looking specifically for the Aerotwin series will know the price difference and SCA stock for this range is absymal at best, if you check the website you'll see most of them are special order only, meaning the stores hardly stock them.

    • tebbybabes on 02/10/2022 - 16:34

      Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I've also ordered replacement blades or as @doctordv8 has mentioned, inserts, from Aliexpress.

      It's pretty fussy, but I can afford to change the rubber bit as often as I want. A pair of inserts usually costs me less than $7. That's with the current inflation. I remember when I started doing it, I spent AU$3.50 for a pair.

      *I almost forgot - one other benefit to this compared to shopping online for the whole blade (especially if considering stock for other markets) is that it won't matter if our cars are RHD.

  • doctordv8 on 02/10/2022 - 13:39
    +3

    For clarification… The rubber/silicone part is the Insert. The flexible metal or plastic frame is the Blade. The bolt on part is the Arm.

    More common these days, the Blade and Insert are sold as a unit, and not repairable.

    Just saying……

    • Lord Ra on 02/10/2022 - 20:17

      Roger, good to know. So I just need new rubber/insert again. The blade itself is fine. I doubt I can remove the inserts on the bosch and get new inserts.

      • Euphemistic on 03/10/2022 - 11:29

        Some cars now have blades that do not have replaceable inserts. Wife’s car cost over $70 for blades. Mine cost about $15 for inserts. If we weren’t selling hers soon I’d switch them to an insert type.

  • iniff on 02/10/2022 - 13:58

    I’ve never done this but seen it mentioned in the BO group - polish the windscreen using BO metal polish.

  • Empharand on 02/10/2022 - 14:02

    Time for new wiper blades. If issue persists then it's likely that your wiper arms are bent or damaged.

  • Toph Beifong on 04/10/2022 - 00:11
    +1

    Everyone seems to be pointing to the wiper blades. As iniff pointed out above, try washing and polishing the windscreen. It should be as smooth as…glass so that the rubber encounters less friction.

    • Lord Ra on 05/10/2022 - 23:02

      Yea, cheers mate, I'll have some repco glass restorer polish and also some megs compound, so will try both on each half of the windshield. I'll report back in a week.

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