How to fit your new wiper blades
Your windscreen wiper blades do all the hard work of removing rain, snow, dirt, and debris, giving you a clear view of the road ahead, so now and again they will need to be replaced.
Worn-out wiper blades are not only dangerous, but they are also illegal. If you are willing to get your hands dirty, follow our guide on changing wiper blades and you’ll be done in no time.
Make sure you’ve got the right replacement blades for your car
Before you begin taking your old blades off, make sure you have bought the right replacement blades for your car. Wiper blades come in a variety of sizes, which can be confusing if you don’t know what you’re looking for. To help make things a little clearer, we created our windscreen wiper size guide.
You can check your car owner’s manual which should have details of the wipers you need.
If you identify the blades you need, head to the Halfords site. Simply type in your registration number, and our windscreen wiper finder will display the right front and rear windscreen wiper blades for your vehicle.
If you’re out and about or prefer the personal touch, you can head to your nearest Halfords where one of our trained staff will help identify the correct blades for your vehicle.
For more information on how to select the best blades for your car, check out our wiper blades buyers guide.
Clean your screen
Before we get into it, you should clean your windscreen to remove dirt and grime. Take the time to remove any dirt, tree sap, or bugs that have got stuck to it as this can affect wiping quality.
Grab a towel or cloth
When you remove the windscreen wipers, you will leave the wiper blade arm exposed. If it unexpectedly snaps back, it can damage your windscreen, so provide some protection.
We recommend placing something soft against the glass, directly under the blade. A rolled-up towel is ideal, but any thick fabric will do.
Lift your wiper arms
Once your towel is in place, lift each wiper off the glass one at a time. When the arm is raised, you’ll have access to the clip or fastening mechanism.
You should be able to lift the wiper arm when they’re at rest. On some vehicles, you may need to move your wipers into a specific position to gain access to them. Check your vehicle handbook or search online for guidance if this is the case.
Remove your old blades
Once the blade arms are lifted, you can remove the old blades. There are a variety of mechanisms to fix your blade to the arm. For some, you will need to slide the blade down the arm to unhook it. On others, you will need to remove a clip that’s holding the blade in place. If you’re unsure of the mechanism used to secure the blade to your wiper arm, you should be able to find information online.
Hopefully, you’ve now removed your wiper blades, but don’t throw them in the bin. Wiper blades can be recycled at your local waste collection facility.
Clip your new blades in
Once you’ve removed the old blades, it’s simply a case of attaching the new ones using the same method.
Be careful with the plastic coverings and be gentle with your wiper blades. Using excessive force can cause the clips or housing to crack or break. Follow the instructions and take your time.
On some cars, the passenger side and driver side wiper blades may be different lengths so make sure you are attaching the correct length blade to the correct side.
You may need to use different clips to attach your wiper blade arms. You’ll find these supplied in the box. To use them, you must attach the new clip to the wiper blade and then attach the blade to the wiper arm on your car.
Place your wipers back on the screen
Once your new wiper blades are securely in place, remove the towel protecting the windscreen and gently place them back onto the windscreen or rear window.
Give them a test swipe
Take a look at the wiper blades and ensure they’re sitting on the windscreen correctly. If you’re happy, then give them a test swipe. If they’re fitted properly and functioning correctly, they should leave a streak-free finish on your windscreen. If they’re squeaking, juddering or just not working, then they may need some minor adjustments or re-fitting.
Replacing worn-out wiper blades is a straightforward process that you should be able to do on your driveway. If you want to save yourself the hassle, select our Halfords windscreen wiper fitting service, and one of our trained technicians will fit your wiper blades while you wait. Windscreen wiper fitting is available at all Halfords stores.
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