Windscreen wiper blade replacement

A wiper blade has a lifespan of approximately 500,000 cycles (according to manufacturers), which corresponds to about one year of use.

This time takes into account not only the wiper motion cycle but also the annual temperature differences which also weaken the blades.

In this article, we are going to explain step-by-step how to change the wiper blades on your 4x4. First of all, all you need to do is choose the right wiper blades for your model. There are 3 types of blade, several different ways they attach to the wiper arm and a whole series of different lengths. Sounds confusing? Not all! Read on...

NB: if you own a vehicle with older generation wiper blades, it is possible to adapt a Flat Blade to take advantage of the advantages of this model.

To replace the windscreen wiper blades on your 4x4 you will need:
- a screwdriver (depending on model)
- a new set of windscreen wiper blades.

To give you an idea of the difficulty level of our tutorials, we note them from 1 to 5.

Replacing the windscreen wiper blades on your 4x4 is a level 1 job.

Here are examples of 3 different ways in which wiper blades are attached to the wiper arms:

1 - Most wiper arms have a standard  J-shaped hook at the end. Blades that use this type of attachment are the easiest to find.

2 - Pull the arm away from the windscreen pivot the blade so the whole blade is perpendicular to the arm.

3 - Now just pull the blade down towards the base of the arm.

On some models you may have to locate the small release tab, but not all wipers will have this system.

4 - Just repeat the steps in reverse order to fit the new blade.

You will find this style of attachment on older Japanese & vintage vehicles. There is no hook on the end of the wiper arm and the blade is simply held in place with screws. Adaptor hooks exist so that you can fit the hook style blades described above.

You'll need that screwdriver for this style of wiper arm.

Older British & American models used a different type of attachment consisting of a side pin.

Depending the the brand an adaptor may be included.
If in doubt you can always use the attachment from your old wipers.

Conventional blades: these wiper blades are made up of profiled rubber blades divided into several segments and stabilized with a metal frame.

Flat Blade blades: these wiper blades are used on all modern vehicles. THey feature a continuous frame in the blade of the wiper, allowing the pressure to be evenly distributed over its entire length, which improves the wiping. This system also optimizes the quality of wiping at high speed. Another important point to note is that a worn Flat Blade won't scratch your windshield, unlike old style blades

If you own a vehicle with older generation wiper blades, you can adapt a Flat Blade to take advantage of the benefits of this model.

Exact Fit blades: these wiper blades are designed for the rear window of new vehicles because they are profiled or molded to match the shape of the wiper arm.

Conventional Blades

Flat Blade

Exact Fit Blades

Credits  - thanks to Manu Bordonado - blog.4rouesmotrices.com

Please note: Euro4x4Parts publishes this information to help its customers but cannot be held responsible for the advice given here and practical consequences therin.