# Windshield wipers skip over the windshield

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers-skip-over-the-windshield/22616>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** windshields\
**Created:** [November 27, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers-skip-over-the-windshield/22616 "2008-11-27T17:10:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stefanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@stefanz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/stefanz)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers-skip-over-the-windshield/22616/1 "2008-11-27T17:10:29Z")

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I have changed the windshield wipers of my Suburban but the wipers still skip across the glass instead of moving smoothly across the glass. The wipers are new and soft.

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers-skip-over-the-windshield/22616/2 "2008-11-27T19:48:47Z")

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There may not be enough tension in the wiper arm spring.

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**Author:** ![stefanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@stefanz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/stefanz)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers-skip-over-the-windshield/22616/3 "2008-11-27T21:05:45Z")

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Can you walk me through the fix for tightening the tension on the wiper arm spring?

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers-skip-over-the-windshield/22616/4 "2008-11-27T22:14:11Z")

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Did you just install new inserts or a complete blade? skipping is usually caused by a incorrect angle,you may have to replace the complete blade,not just a insert,possibly the complete arm,any type of product like RainX on the glass?

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers-skip-over-the-windshield/22616/5 "2008-11-28T01:46:46Z")

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Consider what ‘oldschool’ suggested/asked first.

There is no actual spring tension adjustment, all you can do is bend the arm toward the windshield for more pressure.

This happened to me last summer so I replaced the arm and all.

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**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-wipers-skip-over-the-windshield/22616/6 "2008-11-28T18:40:04Z")

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Also check the angle of the blade to the windshield. There should be none ! If the arm has ever been bent and a re-bend was attempted, they might have not gotten it parallel ( or perpendicular, depends on how you look at it ) to the glass. Aside from the flex of the rubber of the blade, the arm should hold the body of the blade exactly square to the glass ( = ) or ( T ). If this is not the case, bend the arm’s twist so that it is. You’ll need a tool, like pliers, to get leverage on the arm. Dont gram the blade to try to twist the arm.