Wiper chatter driving me crazy

[Grams]

I’m not familiar with aggressive glass-scrubbing treatments….(and not too keen to try it)… but in a related manner…. back in the late ‘60s/early-‘70s…when I was a student pilot… the old timers (WW2 and early airline types)… told us that before flying into bad weather, to take a sheet of newspaper and smear it all-over the radome to reduce “attenuation” of the radar.
(The transmitted-microwaves would be “blocked” (scattered/reduced/attentuated) by the rain on the radome “lens”.
The news-print had an “oil” base which would act similar to the “advertisements) of Rain-X …it would cause the rain to “sheet” -away …reducing the scatter of the transmitted signal…and supposedly create less interference for the reflected-microwaves.
I don’t know much about that, as I never operated older radars much…by the time I advanced to the point of flying airplanes with sophisticated radars the industry had advanced from the old CRT-display AVQ-20’s and Bendix RDR-1’s to modern solid-state and digital color-displays. I only operated the old stuff a couple times and wasn’t willing to tempt Mother-nature too much with that early-technology.
Anyway…that was the rumor those guys spread-around…. and it was evident when you smeared newsprint on the windshields…that oily-ink would make rain on the windshield “sheet-away”…. Much easier to see thru. (You’ve Never Experienced W/S-wiper “Chatter” until you’ve sat behind an early flat-windscreen Hawker or Boeing while taxying-out at Love Field. You can’t even hear your crewmember shouting at you from 3 feet away.

We also had “Rain Repellent” on some airplanes…. a gooey, “milky” hydroscopic/hydrophobic fluid that could be activated with an overhead switch… sprayed the juice on the windscreen to mix with the rain and cause a “sheeting” effect. We almost never used it (if you’ve ever used Rain-X you’ll know why).
BUT…it was useful as a nasty-Trick to get to take-over from your crewmember and do the landing!
JUST BEFORE landing…on a rain-free dry-day approach….reach up to (supposedly) switch on the landing-lights and “accidentally” hit the Other-Side’s Rain-Repellent switch… That would spray the Milk all-over the other guy’s windshield destroying his View!
“SORRY ABOUT THAT! … I HAVE THE CONTROLS”, You shout-out and take-over for the landing.

Anyway, it’s been my experience that wipers that are old/hard and refuse to “flex” and “flip-over” to a “drag” position….are the problem. Replacing them with fresh flexible, soft-rubber types works for me.

 

[Mojo88]

........... JUST BEFORE landing…on a rain-free dry-day approach…. reach up to (supposedly) switch on the landing-lights and “accidentally” hit the Other-Side’s Rain-Repellent switch… That would spray the Milk all-over the other guy’s windshield destroying his View!
“SORRY ABOUT THAT! … I HAVE THE CONTROLS”, You shout-out and take-over for the landing.

Anyway, it’s been my experience that wipers that are old/hard and refuse to “flex” and “flip-over” to a “drag” position….are the problem. Replacing them with fresh flexible, soft-rubber types works for me.

Hahaha, I like the power-grab idea.

RE: the "old/hard" wipers.... mine are almost brand new, maybe been used once. I agree about them not flipping over, and that's the whole point of bending the metal arm, to get them perpendicular to windshield so they will flip as they go back and forth. But heck, you obviously know all this.

Personally, I think a big part of the problem is caused when the wipers retreat to the off/resting position and they are now flipped. And then they sit in that position for a week (or more) before the next rain. If you take off a blade that has been sitting for a while, you can see the rubber has some memory and is biased to that resting position, and thus is reluctant to flip for the next use.

Anyway, as you say, the secret is getting them to properly do the "flip-over".....

 

[CanuckRam1313]

So, here's my $0.02 on this (and yes, I've experienced the chatter as well, and it SUCKS!!)

I have literally tried every single wiper brand out there on my Ram's, and believe it or not, the very best (for me anyways) has been the OEM one-piece rubber flex blade with their downforce wing on it! And, I just replaced both my wipers last week with these OEM ones because they were streaking and chattering. Cost me about $30 CDN plus tax per blade.

That, and I annually apply (in the spring) Aquapel to my windshield. This stuff is friggin magic and is an etching chemical that bonds to the glass, and not a wax or product that sits on top of the glass (like waxing or rain-x products). http://www.aquapel.com/how-Aquapel-works.php

This application lasts this long because I don't use my wipers very much in the rain, but if you use your wipers, you may need to do the front windshield a couple times a year.

Especially at highway speeds, and in heavy rain, there is ZERO need to even use the wipers whatsoever!
Snow and dirt also don't stick to the glass either!

I have been using this product for over 20 years now and nothing compares to it in terms of water beading and glass treatment. I also put it on my side mirrors, my side windows, and my back glass, too (I use one whole application on my windshield, and then utilize a second application for everything else).

I was introduced to this product by a family run glass and upholstery business over 20 years ago, and how to properly apply it as well.

You start on the driver side and pick a direction, so, let's start with, up and down on both sides of the glass, then left and right on both sides of the glass, then circular motion in one direction on both sides of the glass, and finally, circular motion in the other direction on both sides of the glass.

Let it sit on the glass for about 20 minutes (don't do this treatment in direct sunlight whatsoever...) and then with a fresh clean microfiber cloth, polish the glass until the glass is all clear and the product is wiped off fully.

Doing the mirrors, side and back glass in this stuff is excellent at enabling you to see so much better in heavy rain and sleet/snow. It all just rolls off!

 

[markabby]

If you ever used rainx on your windshield or similar product this will happen it lasts a long time I had to let mine wear off I will never use it again for the longest time I thought it was the blades

equal parts of water and white vinegar to remove rainx. Isopropyl alcohol for removing heavy rainx.

I agree..it's horrible stuff to use on a windshield!

 

[craigsez]

All i ever do is use some 0000 ga steel wool with a lil soapy water as a lube....Go over the windshield useing no pressure,wash n rince dry and finally wax or what ever you like as protection..

 

[motmcd]

WD-40 on a rag and thoroughly wipe blades every month or so. I just replaced a 3-year old set of wiper blades after this maintenance tip.

 

[Seedog]

I'm 100% sure some of you guys have had this issue. My wipers are chattering and dragging just enough to be very distracting and annoying.

I've been trying different blades, always using top tier names like Bosch or Rain-X. Plus I've tried shorter blades. And I've also tried numerous coatings on the windshield. My latest trial was with 'Nu Finish Car Polish', and that helped. I did indeed try the popular Rain-X windshield treatment, but that was awful.

I've also carefully adjusted the angles of the metal wiper arms. Initially, they were both way off, causing UNBELIEVABLE chattering. It was ludicrous. But after getting the blades lined up perpendicular with the glass, things were much better.

Basically, I'm 80% of the way there. The chattering/dragging I have now is much less after all my work, but still a final tweak is needed for a completely smooth/quiet wipe. Any ideas?????

Just turn them around, easy to do. I’ve done this for 40 years since the ‘rubber’ was removed from the blade. What happens is the blade will start laying flat on windshield and after time it takes a ‘set’ to that angle, ok going up back down it won’t lay back over so it chatters. They work great after turning around!

 

[Curmudgeon]

Just turn them around, easy to do. I’ve done this for 40 years since the ‘rubber’ was removed from the blade. What happens is the blade will start laying flat on windshield and after time it takes a ‘set’ to that angle, ok going up back down it won’t lay back over so it chatters. They work great after turning around!

That is sound logic and works really well when you are running wipers with replaceable "refills".
On my truck I replace the "blade" which is the metal arm with "refill" attached. It only goes on one way.
I get easily 2-3 years out of a set so I don't mind replacing them when necessary.

 

[rvance]

I've been driving for 60 years now and one thing I've learned is that the only way to stop wiper chatter is to have relatively new blades and an absolutely clean windshield. Any "treatment" on the glass will cause trouble sooner or later.

 

[Jammer24]

I didn't read everyone's reply. Wanted to suggest twisting the arm to change the angle of the wiper blade on the windshield. I have had this correct that issue

 

[Dusty]

I'm 100% sure some of you guys have had this issue. My wipers are chattering and dragging just enough to be very distracting and annoying.

I've been trying different blades, always using top tier names like Bosch or Rain-X. Plus I've tried shorter blades. And I've also tried numerous coatings on the windshield. My latest trial was with 'Nu Finish Car Polish', and that helped. I did indeed try the popular Rain-X windshield treatment, but that was awful.

I've also carefully adjusted the angles of the metal wiper arms. Initially, they were both way off, causing UNBELIEVABLE chattering. It was ludicrous. But after getting the blades lined up perpendicular with the glass, things were much better.

Basically, I'm 80% of the way there. The chattering/dragging I have now is much less after all my work, but still a final tweak is needed for a completely smooth/quiet wipe. Any ideas?????

Did they chatter when the vehicle was new?

I have stuck with the factory blades on all three of my Rams and have never had any wiper chatter.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 142440 miles.

 

[Rambo71]

I use Windex and Steel wool, then coat with Rain-X, no chatter. YMMV

 

[Mlarv5]

The first thing I do when I get a new vehicle is super clean the windshield. I then do it as needed maybe once before winter starts, and once in the spring depending on how the water sheets off the windshield.

1 Use 0000 steel wool over the entire windshield (all windows and mirrors on the outside)
2 grab the Rain X concentrate and a blue Scott paper towel fold paper towel in quarters and apply the rain x on it scrub the windows in a circular motion. Wait until is hazes over then do this again
3 Wipe wiper blade with the paper towel with the rain x
4 Grab another blue paper towel get it damp fold and wipe off the rain x either across the window or up and down
5 Grab a micro fiber towel and buff the windows going the same way as above.

6 Grab another blue paper towel and windshield washer fluid and wash the inside of the windows. If you went up and down on the outside go side to side on the inside. This will allow you to figure out which side of the window a streak is on.

I have done this on my vehicles and others for years and have never had a problem.

 

[Mojo88]

I completely resolved all chatter by bending the metal wiper arms. I found it real difficult to eyeball these bends and get a consistent result, so I used a small digital level, accurate to .1 degree. I measured the windshield, then the arm, then bent until desired result achieved.

Initially, the arms were each about two degrees off parallel, so I tweaked them parallel with the windshield, and this helped immensely, but still a bit of chatter. Then I tweaked them (in the same direction) almost another full degree, and this eliminated every last bit of chatter. In heavy rain, light rain, mist or snow, they have not chattered even once. Smooth every single wipe. Life is good now..............

 

[Curmudgeon]

I completely resolved all chatter by bending the metal wiper arms. I found it real difficult to eyeball these bends and get a consistent result, so I used a small digital level, accurate to .1 degree. I measured the windshield, then the arm, then bent until desired result achieved.

Initially, the arms were each about two degrees off parallel, so I tweaked them parallel with the windshield, and this helped immensely, but still a bit of chatter. Then I tweaked them (in the same direction) almost another full degree, and this eliminated every last bit of chatter. In heavy rain, light rain, mist or snow, they have not chattered even once. Smooth every single wipe. Life is good now..............

Just by eye-balling it I got the driver's side aligned and no chatter.
The passenger side has been about 80% reduced, so maybe one
more tweak will do it.

 

[Musky Mike]

Advance Auto, extra $6 for the 1 year warranty, replace every year when they are bad. No chatter.