How to Replace Wiper Blades

Wiper blades are one of the cheapest safety parts on a car and one of the easiest to replace yourself. Most take under five minutes per blade with no tools. The only tricky parts are buying the right size and figuring out how your blade clips to the arm, and this guide covers both.

Rubber hardens and cracks with sun, heat, cold and ozone, even if you rarely use the wipers. Replace blades when you see:

• Streaking: lines of water left behind.
• Smearing or haze, especially at night under oncoming headlights.
• Chattering or skipping across the glass.
• Squeaking on a wet windshield.
• Unwiped areas, often an arc in the middle of the sweep.
• Visible damage: split, torn or rounded rubber edges, or a bent frame.

Many manufacturers and blade makers suggest replacing them about every 6 to 12 months. Hot, sunny climates and harsh winters shorten their life. A simple habit: replace them every fall before winter weather arrives, and record the date in a free CarManager garage so you get a reminder.

The driver and passenger blades are often different lengths, and the rear blade is different again.

Ways to find your sizes:

• Owner's manual: often lists blade lengths in the specifications.
• Parts store fit guide: printed books, kiosks or websites list sizes by year, make and model. Confirm your exact model and year with our VIN decoder if you are unsure.
• Measure the old blade end to end in inches, if it is the original size.

The driver's side is usually the longer blade. Do not go much longer than specified: the blade may hit the windshield trim, the other blade or the A-pillar. Going shorter leaves unwiped areas.

Rubber compound matters too. Silicone and coated rubber blades often last longer than basic natural rubber, at a higher price. Many newer cars come with beam blades from the factory; replacing with the same style keeps the original wiping performance.

The point where the blade clips onto the wiper arm varies by car. Look closely at the end of the arm before you buy, or check the replacement blade's packaging, which usually includes adapters.

• J-hook: the end of the arm curls back like a "J". The most common type in North America.
• Pin arm (side pin): a small pin sticks out sideways from the arm and goes through a hole in the blade.
• Bayonet: a flat, narrow arm tip that slides into the blade.
• Push button: a square button on the blade connector that you press to release.
• Top lock or side lock: a flat tab or clip that folds over the arm, common on newer European and Asian models.

1. Put the wipers in service position, if needed

On many cars the wipers rest under the edge of the hood when parked. Lifting them there can scratch the hood or bend the arm. Most of these cars have a service position that moves the wipers up the glass: typically you turn the car off and then operate the wiper stalk within a short time, or select it in a settings menu. The exact procedure is in your owner's manual.

2. Lift the arm and protect the glass

Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield until it stays upright. Lay a folded towel on the windshield under the arm. If the arm snaps back without a blade, the bare metal can crack the glass.

3. Remove the old blade

• J-hook: turn the blade perpendicular to the arm. Press the release tab (often on the underside of the connector) and slide the blade down, toward the base of the arm, to free it from the hook, then pull it out of the hook.
• Pin arm: lift the locking tab or cap on the blade, then pull the blade sideways off the pin.
• Push button: press the button and slide the blade off the arm.
• Bayonet: press the small release on the blade and slide it off the arm tip.
• Top lock / side lock: flip up the locking cover, then slide the blade off.

4. Fit the new blade

1. 1Check which adapter, if any, matches your arm. Many blades come with one pre-installed for J-hooks; the packaging shows the others.
2. 2Slide the new blade onto the arm the reverse way you removed the old one, until you hear or feel a click.
3. 3Tug firmly on the blade to make sure it is locked. A loose blade can fly off at highway speed.

5. Lower the arm and test

Remove the towel, lower the arm gently onto the glass, return the wipers to their park position (turn the car on and cycle the wipers, or follow the manual), then spray washer fluid and run them. Check for clean, quiet wiping across the whole sweep.

Rear blades often attach differently and can be shorter than either front blade. Some are specific to the vehicle, and on some cars the whole arm with an integrated blade is replaced. Check your owner's manual or the parts store's fit guide. Rear blades are easy to forget; they often sit in direct sun and wear out as fast as the fronts.

• Clean the windshield regularly; grit wears the rubber edge.
• Wipe the rubber with a damp cloth or a little washer fluid when you clean the glass.
• Never run wipers on a dry windshield. Use washer fluid first.
• Clear ice and snow with a scraper, not the wipers. Free frozen blades before switching the wipers on, which can also damage the wiper motor or linkage.
• Park in shade or a garage when you can, since UV exposure ages rubber.
• Lift wipers off the glass before a winter storm if you park outside, so they do not freeze to it (check that your car's hood clearance allows it).
• Keep washer fluid topped up, with a winter-rated fluid in cold months; see how to check and top up your car's fluids.

• Clean the windshield thoroughly with glass cleaner to remove road film, wax or tree sap.
• Check the arm's spring tension. A weak arm will not press the blade against the glass evenly; replacing the arm is usually inexpensive.
• Check for a bent arm, which makes the blade sit at an angle and chatter.
• Check the size and type: a blade too long for the windshield curve can lift in the middle.
• Check for a water-repellent coating that is wearing unevenly.

Worn wipers and poor visibility can also be a safety inspection issue in some states. If your wipers stop working entirely or move erratically, check the fuse and look for recalls involving the wiper motor or linkage on our recalls pages.