Comments on: Do these things on windshield wipers serve any function?

Question: Do these things on windshield wipers serve any function?

UltraFleece — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 23:11:26 -0800

Do these things on windshield wipers serve any function, or are they purely decorative? And is there a name for them?

Here is a photo of what I'm talking about.

Thank you!

By: wigner3j

wigner3j — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 23:16:51 -0800

I think they are meant to act as an air foil providing force that pushes the wiper into the windshield while moving at highway speed. This alleviates the chatter you would otherwise experience when using the wipers while driving at high speed.

By: artdrectr

artdrectr — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:19:18 -0800

'wiper wings' are for all your wiper blade down-force needs.
The next time you're pushing 90 and it starts raining...relax...you've got wiper wings!

By: a halcyon day

a halcyon day — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 01:31:32 -0800

You can buy airfoil type blades like these that fit many cars not originally equipped with aero blades. They're well regarded in my anecdotal experience— they chatter less at speed than regular blades with clip-on airfoils, and conform better to the windshield curve.