At some point, every driver experiences the annoyance of juddering wiper blades.

Beyond the distracting noise, wipers that aren’t clearing rain or snow effectively can pose a safety hazard to both you and other road users.

In this article, we'll dive into the common reasons behind wiper blade juddering and share some simple solutions to fix the problem.

Why Are My Wipers Juddering?

Let's start by examining the typical causes of juddering wiper blades:

• - New wiper blades: If you’ve just fitted new wipers and they start juddering right away, don’t worry—it’s not necessarily a defective product. Many new blades come with a fine powder that helps reduce friction until the rubber softens, but some manufacturers skip this step, which can lead to juddering.

• - Old wiper blades: Over time, wiper blades can wear down or curve slightly, changing the way they make contact with the windscreen. This change in angle can cause vibrations as they move across the glass.

• - Dirty windscreen: While screenwash usually clears most dirt, a thick layer of dust or debris on your windscreen can cause the wipers to stutter and vibrate.

• - Dry windscreen: Even well-maintained wipers can judder if they’re dragging across a dry windscreen. This is an easy fix—simply use your screenwash to ensure smooth movement.

• - Glass cleaner residue: After using glass cleaner, a small residue might be left behind, contributing to the problem. Make sure to thoroughly clean your windscreen, ensuring no cleaner residue remains.

How to Stop Wipers from Juddering

Once you’ve identified the cause of the juddering, here are some quick fixes you can try:

• - Clean the wiper blades and windscreen: Often, a simple clean can resolve the issue. Use a sponge, warm soapy water, and a bit of surgical spirit to clean the blades and windscreen thoroughly.

• - Refill your screenwash: A lack of screenwash can lead to both dry and dirty windscreens, causing juddering. Keeping the screenwash topped up can solve the problem.

• - Treat the rubber blades: Stiff rubber can lead to vibrations, but softening the wiper blades with rubbing alcohol can help.

• - Adjust the wiper arms: It may not be the blades themselves causing the issue—sometimes the wiper arms are too tight or too loose, and a simple adjustment can fix the problem.