Frameless wiper blades: description, reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Frameless wiper blades are nothing new in the automotive accessory market. They were developed back in the 80s of the last century. If the windshield has a convex shape, then it seemed logical to the engineers to bend the metal elements inside the rubber band. Also, the brushes were made wider and gave them transverse rigidity. The leash attachment was created directly on the product.

With the development of the automotive industry, both windshields and their curvature increased. Along with this, the wipers also grew in length. More so-called swings were added to the design, which provided pressure to the glass. The wipers themselves have become more bulky. This negatively affected the aerodynamic characteristics, as well as reliability. Due to the large size, visibility deteriorated and noise increased.

Frameless wiper blades: modern solutions

It was and remains in the 80s. Today it is a completely different design.

Although they are called frameless,however, this is not entirely true. The frame is present. But instead of the traditional system of rocker arms, the new solution used a specially curved spring element made of steel. This mechanism is made in the form of strips. The frame is hidden inside a rubber band.

The brush has a profile that was created for a specific glass. The curvature is maintained throughout the life of the product and does not change due to various constantly changing loads and temperature conditions.

High-tech product

Frameless wiper blades may seem simple, but they are a very high-tech product. The plate is one of the most important parts in all quality products. As for the second important part, the rubber band, it is made of synthetic rubber with graphite. Rubber gives the brushes elasticity, and graphite makes them more wear-resistant and protects against damaging solar radiation better. Thanks to the composition with graphite, the brush will not squeak when moving on the glass, and will also perfectly cope with water.

Benefits of frameless brushes

The main advantage is the even pressure of the wiper blade against the glass.

This improves the efficiency and quality of the cleaning process. This effect was achieved thanks to a specially calculated profile of the steel strip. This profile corresponds exactly to the curvature of the glass. Good frameless brushes can have up to 15 segments, with which the design changes. The clamping force is controlled in 32points.

Improved aerodynamics and noise reduction

Another advantage of such solutions is in aerodynamics. So, a structure without a frame, even with a spoiler, will be lower than a traditional wiper. This allows you to significantly reduce drag and lift, which tears the structure from the glass. This is very important for those cars where the wiper circuit is hinged and where each brush is large. The airflow passing through the monolithic and low construction will cause significantly less noise than if it were to pass through the tricky mechanisms of a traditional brush. So, when driving at a speed of 100 km / h, this noise can reach significant values.

Frameless brushes in winter: what you need

Another significant advantage is that these structures are practically not subject to freezing. In classic wipers, the water in the hinges quickly freezes, the pressing force against the glass decreases, and the mechanism leaves dirty streaks on the glass. In a frameless product, this is not. A slight decrease in performance is possible, but this only happens if ice forms on the rubber. If this happens, it will not be difficult to clean such a brush. There are also products with electric heating. However, these models start at $50.

Disadvantages of a frameless wiper

The first and most basic disadvantage is the lack of versatility. Due to the fact that the steel plates are made with a curve, they can only be installed on panes that have the same curvature. So, for each particularglass, or rather kutsymodeli, has its own brush. Due to the fact that the characteristics are different, on some vehicles the product may not clean all areas. Often this place is near the right pillar of the body.

Also, a few centimeters of the brush can hang over the glass. But this is not a marriage, but a design feature of the janitor.

Another minus is the lack of unification in the fastener brackets. So, each manufacturer for different cars offers only frameless wiper blades designed for a specific model.

Market Watch

Everyone wants the best for themselves. Therefore, you need to tell which models of frameless glass cleaners are the best. You should also decide what is the difference between affordable and expensive products. For many, the ratio of quality and price for a particular model is important.

A test was conducted in which brushes from different price ranges competed.

Among the test participants are brands such as Avtovirazh, Bosch wipers, Champion, Phantom, RainBlade Select and Xopc Ballistic.

How the test was done

To get acquainted with the products, they were subjected to the first demonstration test. So, each model had to pass once on the glass surface and remove fatty kefir. Then, after 30 seconds of operation, the brush should have worked on clean glass with washer fluid.

This small and simple test should show everything that was originally laid down by the manufacturer. AllModels were new and in packaging. The wipers were also checked for crushing. And the sharpness of the working edge and the clamping force were also checked. In addition, the noise level during operation was estimated.

Autopivore: market value – 159 rubles

This is the most affordable brush on the market today. The quality is the same as the price. After one pass over the glass smeared with kefir, a fan trail formed on the lower left edge of the working area. At the top right, this brush made a stroke along the radius.

Completely remove traces of kefir without the use of windshield washer fluid this product failed - a noticeable film of fat remained. But in terms of noise, this product proved to be very good - when working on clean glass, the brush, of course, creaks, but these sounds are not sharp and you can’t hear them from the cabin.

For 159 rubles, motorists get four adapters - this makes it possible to mount these brushes on most cars with different mounts.

Bosch Aerotween – 489 rubles

At first glance, the packaging might make it look like these Bosch windshield wipers are counterfeit. But no, the product is real. They performed well in the test. After one pass, there were no traces left. The brush cleaned the middle part of the working area completely without connecting the washer. Only a film of fat remained at the edges.

Acoustic performance - on top. There are practically no squeaks on the cleaned glass.

As for the configuration, the eminent brand offers to mount the device on a leash withcrochet. One mounting option is still not enough. But we can say that these are the best frameless wiper blades, although there are other good models.

Champion Contact: $6.99

This is the most expensive model tested in the test. However, the price is fully justified. The quality of work is on a par with Bosch products. No defects were seen here. The area in the middle of the brush was cleaned even without windshield washer fluid. No noise during operation.

Phantom: 265 rubles

This brush is almost the same as the "Autopivot". After the passage, there was a “fan” and strokes along the radius of movement, and the radius here is in the upper part on the left. Cleaning without a washer is impossible - the film of fat is almost invisible, but it is there. Everything is better with noise. This product comes with three adapters.

RainBlade Select: $3.99

This is a new brand. There is no mark-up for branding yet, but it is worth buying these brushes. They are no worse than frameless Bosch or Champion wiper blades. After one pass, there were also no marks or radius smears left. In the middle, the dirt was also destroyed without the need for a washer. This model, like the brand, does not make noise. As for fasteners, here it is universal and suitable for all types of cars. The size of the brushes will also fit most models and brands.

Xopc Ballistic: $2.99

This is a budget product. The brush did a little better job than the Auto-Circulation.

After the first pass, there are no fans, but one big onesmear on the working area remained. This product is not capable of washing off dirt without the use of a washer. In terms of acoustic characteristics, this is the noisiest and most creaky solution. Frameless wipers are equipped with four adapters and a lock cover.

About sizes

In addition to the design of products, their size is also important. If you purchase the wrong one, some problems may arise. If the size of the brushes is too large, then the contact force will drop a lot, which will contribute to poor cleaning. In addition, large brushes will extend beyond the sealing rubber on the windshield and come off the work surface. And one more problem - a large part will hit the driver's door.

If smaller wipers are chosen, then the main disadvantage is a smaller working area. In addition, a dirty spot may form in the middle of the glass.

Reviews

To choose the right frameless wiper blades, reviews are the first thing you should read. What do car owners say? Cheap models of frameless brushes do not please with high quality, and their wear resistance is low.

As for branded products from Bosch, it is advised to look carefully - there are a lot of fakes.

If the product is original, then it is of high quality by default. Also Bosch is suitable for winter.

They also speak well of the "Champion". But lately there has been a noticeable decline in the quality of their products. What to choose in the end - framed or frameless brushes, everyone decides for himself. But for all the benefitsframeless solutions are a priority for many. Their capabilities significantly exceed the functionality of standard frame counterparts. They are less noisy, and the quality of work is much better. They are also very comfortable in winter. The choice is obvious - you need to beware of fakes and get the opinion of these products from those who used them.

So, we found out what frameless wiper blades are, what is their cost and how car owners speak about them.