Wiper chatter driving me crazy

[Mojo88]

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?????

 

[British Bulldog]

The spring pressure of the arms can also do this. Try “bending” the arms slightly to put less or more pressure on the screen. Seems like you’ve done everything else. New blades, degrease/clean screen……you’ve done all that. I’ve had luck bending those arms. Similar to if you’ve ever run a squeege over your shower glass, to much pressure it drags and squeals, to little it jumps and shudders! Try it out, might help you?

I made the mistake of cleaning my blades with alcohol when it happened to me, blades looked decent so why not? Destroyed them completely. Removed all the shiny graphite coating that stops them dragging! So, DON’T do THAT……

 

[Docwagon1776]

Put a ziplock bag on your hand and run it over the windshield. Does it feel grabby or gritty? If so, clay bar the windshield before trying any sort of treatment/wax.

 

[Mojo88]

Put a ziplock bag on your hand and run it over the windshield. Does it feel grabby or gritty? If so, clay bar the windshield before trying any sort of treatment/wax.

Damn, that's a GREAT idea, thanks. I knew someone here would have a suggestion.

Can it be any plastic bag, or is there something special about the type of plastic in a Ziploc bag??

Thanks again. I may just do the clay bar treatment anyway. It was raining today and I got so PO'd with the chattering that I ordered two more complete (different brands) sets of wipers from Amazon, based on reviews about smoothness and quietness.

EDIT: 'Mother's' Clay Bar kit ordered. Be here tomorrow morning, gotta love Amazon..... I have a 1,000,000 sf Amazon warehouse about 10 miles from me.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Damn, that's a GREAT idea, thanks. I knew someone here would have a suggestion.

Can it be any plastic bag, or is there something special about the type of plastic in a Ziploc bag??

Thanks again. I may just do the clay bar treatment anyway. It was raining today and I got so PO'd with the chattering that I ordered two more complete (different brands) sets of wipers from Amazon, based on reviews about smoothness and quietness.

EDIT: 'Mother's' Clay Bar kit ordered. Be here tomorrow morning, gotta love Amazon..... I have a 1,000,000 sf Amazon warehouse about 10 miles from me.

Any ziplock style bag would work, doesn't have to be that brand, just the sandwich style bags. It's just the size goes over your hand like a mitt and makes it easy to not just roll your hand around inside the bag vs the bag sliding with your hand. I don't think there's anything special about the plastic, but honestly I've never even considered using a different type of bag for whatever reason.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Yes, alcohol would be bad, just dries out the rubber or whatever it is.

I tried an aerosol silicone lube once, sprayed heavily onto a rag and coated
the wipers really good, let it soak. Then about 10 minutes later I went over
them again with a much thinner coat, making sure the rag cleaned the
wipers. Once again my wipers were SILENT.

Yessir, and it lasted about a week.

Mine chatter too and it really chaps my ***. Fortunately being retired I spend very little time behind the wheel, but a lasting solution would be really nice.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Mine chatter too and it really chaps my ***. Fortunately being retired I spend very little time behind the wheel, but a lasting solution would be really nice.

I clay mine as needed (like I mentioned above)

Bosch Icon wiper blades

Rain-X windshield wiper fluid

It's a bit of a bother on the 2500, but pretty quick on everything else.

 

[jws123]

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

 

[Curmudgeon]

Here is another interesting take on the chatter issue and fix, about 4 1/2 minutes to watch. The mechanics are actually self-explanatory but the alignment visuals are pretty well done IMO...

How to Fix Annoying Wiper Chatter on Windshield - EASY!

Today we cover why your windshield wipers chatter or skip when in use. A lot of people run into this despite their wipers being new and their windshield bein...

www.youtube.com

 

[Mojo88]

Here is another interesting take on the chatter issue and fix, about 4 1/2 minutes to watch. The mechanics are actually self-explanatory but the alignment visuals are pretty well done IMO...

How to Fix Annoying Wiper Chatter on Windshield - EASY!

Today we cover why your windshield wipers chatter or skip when in use. A lot of people run into this despite their wipers being new and their windshield bein...

www.youtube.com

Yeah, thanks, I actually watched that (and others) a while back. I took it a step further and used my small digital readout level to twist/bend the metal wiper arm pretty much exactly parallel to the windshield.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Yeah, thanks, I actually watched that (and others) a while back. I took it a step further and used my small digital readout level to twist/bend the metal wiper arm pretty much exactly parallel to the windshield.

Cool, but I don't think I have one of those so I'll be eye-balling it.

Just remember to raise the rear end about 9 inches to get an accurate reading
on the level.

...or something

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

Back in the day, the dealership detailers would use water and very fine steel wool to get the grit off new car windshields.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Back in the day, the dealership detailers would use water and very fine steel wool to get the grit off new car windshields.

Haven't you met our resident detailing specialist? He goes by Clay Barr.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

I still use steel wool and water. Cheaper for me.

 

[Docwagon1776]

I still use steel wool and water. Cheaper for me.

Change your user name to Poorie_Poor.

I clay my vehicles anyway. Once clay is old, it becomes the glass clay. Once it's dried out and hard it becomes trash. Maybe $20-$30 every other year for clay and lubricant, mostly lubricant. I keep my stuff nice long term. 2011 Camaro (and 2021 PW peaking in at the edge). Camaro was just waxed in this photo, PW is "dirty" but still reflecting nicely.

 

[Wild one]

I still use steel wool and water. Cheaper for me.

I occasionally use 0000 steel wool and Spray Wax / Detailer spray to get tree sap off windshields followed up with a good hand rubbed paste wax,i've also used soapy water as the lubricant

 

[Magfan2]

A side note - hadn't thought to treat the new truck! There are some simple to complex glass treatments for windshields that are effective enough at sheeting the water that you almost don't need wipers except for extreme rainfall.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

Change your user name to Poorie_Poor.

I clay my vehicles anyway. Once clay is old, it becomes the glass clay. Once it's dried out and hard it becomes trash. Maybe $20-$30 every other year for clay and lubricant, mostly lubricant. I keep my stuff nice long term. 2011 Camaro (and 2021 PW peaking in at the edge). Camaro was just waxed in this photo, PW is "dirty" but still reflecting nicely.

View attachment 576065

It’s in reference to a 60’s comic book. Not my financial situation.
I prefer a Challenger.

 

[Docwagon1776]

It’s in reference to a 60’s comic book. Not my financial situation.
I prefer a Challenger.

I'm familiar with him. He got a seven figure weekly allowance, as I recall, he had clay bar money.

Do you have a Challenger?

 

[Pull Ya]

The same process with the plastic bag can be used on the paint to see if your truck needs to be clay-barred. Usually, about once every 6 months, depending on whether your truck is garage-kept or not.
Jay