No more squeaking and juddering: Tips for quiet windshield wipers

Squeaking windshield wipers are not only annoying, they can also distract you when driving and therefore put you in danger. But don't worry: By paying a little attention, you'll quickly find the cause – and the right solution. Here you can find out what causes the squeaking and how you can easily get rid of it.

When wiper blades squeak, it’s not only annoying, they can also distract you when driving and therefore put you in danger. You should therefore quickly get to the bottom of it: The most common reason for squeaking wipers is contamination of either the wiper blades or the car windshield itself. If either is dirty, then the wipers can’t glide over the windshield as intended, and they make a squeaking or creaking sound. Even new wipers squeak, often when the windshield isn’t clean enough.

In addition, wipers may squeak in the rain if the wiping speed is set too high when it isn’t raining hard enough. This annoying noise is caused by the wipers being dragged repeatedly over the dry windshield. Squeaking or creaking also occurs if the wipers are not adjusted correctly.

If the wiper continually squeaks, you may need to replace it because the material has worn out. The wiper also makes noise if the wrong model has been fitted, as the wipers cannot glide over the windshield without resistance in this case.

We’ve briefly summarised the most common reasons for squeaking or creaking wipers for you here:

• Wiper speed too high with too little rain
• Damaged or old wiper
• Wiper not adjusted correctly
• Wrong wiper model
• Dirty wipers
• Dirty windshield

First, determine the cause. Flip up the wiper blades to inspect for damage or cracks in the rubber. Be sure to flip the wiper arms back down immediately afterwards, or place a blanket or towel on the windshield to prevent damage if the arms accidentally spring back. If the wipers are in perfect condition, clean the wipers and windshield thoroughly. Simply use a clean household cloth for the wipers.

If wiper blades still squeak after cleaning, the wipers may need to be readjusted. The wiper should be at 90°to the windshield. This is best done when it’s raining, as you can try out the wipers again and again without stressing the material.

If the wipers squeak, it doesn’t automatically mean that your car needs new wipers. However, if you find any defects or damage when inspecting them, it's definitely time to change the wipers. You shouldn’t hesitate to change the wiper in these situations, as damaged wipers are not only annoying, they can also no longer remove rain and dirt from the windshield properly. This can increase the risk of accidents.

Rubbing or rattling windshield wipers are annoying – and could restrict visibility and therefore safety in critical situations. So what causes it? From dirt and incorrect settings to worn rubber: You can find out how to pinpoint and fix the problem here.

Rubbing wipers can have many causes. This problem can be resolved in a number of different ways, depending on the underlying cause. Therefore, some detective work is needed first. Possible causes of rubbing, squeaking or rattling wipers:

• Wax residues or dirt on the windshield.
• New wipers were not adjusted properly after being changed.
• The rubber of older wiper blades tends to harden which means the wipers no longer glide smoothly.
• Wipers are damaged (usually accompanied by heavy streaks when wiping).

Wipers sometimes rub after sealing the windshield. This is caused by wax residue: Just like dirt, this interferes with the movement of the rubber lip and increases resistance to the gliding movement. The result is a rattling, squeaking or rubbing noise. The solution here, however, is very simple: Clean the windshield thoroughly with window cleaner and a cotton cloth. This is the first thing we advise you to do if your wipers are not working smoothly.

A fair amount of dirt accumulates on the windshield, especially in the spring and summer months: From pollen to insects and bird droppings. Even new wipers can rub if there are many deposits causing excessive unevenness on the windshield. In future, you should clean the windshield regularly, as this will also increase the lifetime of the wipers.

When cleaning the windshield, make sure that you completely remove everything that doesn’t belong there. If the problem persists, one of the following may be the cause.

Older wiper blades tend to rub, squeak or rattle over time. This is because the rubber on the wiper blades hardens as they age due to insolation. As a result, the rubber lip loses its gliding properties and moves more and more erratically over the windshield. This natural ageing process can’t be stopped, but it can be slowed down by caring for wipers properly.

If the wipers are damaged, juddering or rubbing may also occur. In most cases, the rubber lip is cracked or torn.

To check the condition of your wipers, flip back the wiper arms and closely inspect the rubber lips: Do you see fine cracks or is the rubber a little worn in places? These are clear signs of damage.

If it's been a while since you replaced the wiper blades or if there were obvious signs of damage when you checked the rubber lip, it's time to change the wipers.