- What
makes a high quality wiper blade?
- How
is ClearPlus
wiper blade frame structure superior in quality?
- What
rubber compound is used in Clearplus blades?
- What
is the difference in wiper blade performance
due to natural rubber and synthetic (or blended)
rubber?
- Why
is stainless-steel backing for rubber considered
superior?
- How
many pressure points do ClearPlus blades use?
- How
does graphite coating on the rubber used on
ClearPlus blades help?
- Graphite
leaves black stains on the fingers when touched.
Will it leave similar stains on the windshield?
- How
many types of wiper arms are in use on North
American roads?
- How
do we know the wiper arm / adapter reference
by size?
- How
many adapters are required to cover the popular
arm types?
- Why
do adapters break?
- Are
written / schematic instruction sheets provided
with ClearPlus products?
- What
size range does Clearplus program cover?
- How
do we suggest an assortment by size to customers?
- Will
ClearPlus wipers work with heavy-duty applications?
1.
What makes a high quality wiper blade?
There
are three distinct attributes that contribute
to the performance (quality) of wiper blades.
These are frame, rubber and adapters.
Frame
should be robust for durability (primary and
secondary links should be durable so they do
not break in snow and icy conditions even if
yanked or hit with snow scrappers, or while
going thru car washes). The frame should also
be designed to prevent wind lift and provide
a good wrap around the windshield. Finally,
the frame should be corrosion resistant and
provide a good locking mechanism for rubber
and stainless-steel spline used to support the
rubber. Not having a good frame structure not
only compromises the quality of wipe but also
scratches or damages windshields, causing accidents.
Rubber
should provide good quality of wipe and be reasonably
durable. Compound of the rubber, surface finish
and the cutting mechanism (for the wiping edge)
are all key contributing factors to quality
of wipe, which takes the form of smooth, low-noise,
chatter-free, streak-free, and smear- free wipe.
These qualities should last through extreme
cold and heat conditions. Durability comes from
the compound and the curing process used for
making rubber.
Adapters should be quick and
easy to install and not break easily. As there
are multiple types of arms, historically there
used to be several adapters packaged with each
blade. In recent years, the trend has been towards
reduction in the number of adapters. This is
accomplished by redesigning the adapters to
make them universal fit.
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2.
How is Clearplus wiper blade frame structure
superior in quality?
ClearPlus
blades use a corrosion-resistant all-metal blade
compared to some other blades that have a plastic
frame or a hybrid (metal+plastic) frame structure.
In ClearPlus products, all metal-to-metal links
are riveted for security (vs. plastic injection
molded locks used in many competing products).
The
all-metal body and secondary links have an aerodynamic
design for perfect wrap on the highly curved
windshields of today’s cars and prevent
wind lift at high speeds. The high-grade, stainless
steel backed rubber provides even pressure distribution
between all contact points. For its price, ClearPlus
wiper blades offer the best quality wipe in
its class, whether economy or premium –
smooth, streak-free and chatter-free wiping
in both directions.
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3.
What rubber compound is used in Clearplus
blades?
Premium
Series Wiper Rubber uses natural rubber based
compound while Signature Series uses a patented
blended compound that has been perfected to
balance quality of wipe and durability. As proven
in tests performed by SAE certified independent
labs, ClearPlus wiper blades meet or exceed
all standards for safety and performance of
wiping systems.
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4.
What is the difference in wiper blade
performance due to natural rubber and synthetic
(or blended) rubber?
Although
all the elements of the manufacturing process
(mixing, curing, post-curing, surface treatment
and cutting) lead to performance issues of rubber,
the basic compound used has probably the biggest
impact as it directly affects the physical properties
such as hardness, tensile strength, elongation
and ozone resistance of wiper blade squeegee.
Natural
Rubber (NR) is the softest elastomer and therefore
best for the quality of wipe. While historically,
this has been the standard compound with major
international brands of wiper blades and continues
to be so, more recently dual compounds (blends
of NR and other synthetic elastomers) or silicone
based compounds have been introduced. This
is because synthetic elastomers can outperform
NR in durability. However with synthetic
elastomers, unless the process is perfected,
there can be hardness issues (chatter, noise,
smearing etc). ClearPlus offers a range of wiper
blades that use NR based compounds and blended
compounds.
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5.
Why is stainless-steel backing for rubber
considered superior?
In
Clearplus blades, rubber is backed with high-grade,
split stainless-steel splines. Stainless Steel
is considered better than plastic as it provides
even pressure distribution along full length
of the wiper blade. In plastic splines, pressure
is basically centered on the pressure points
(claws) and does not get evenly transferred.
This sometimes causes streaking and/or smearing.
Another reason stainless steel is better is
that it does not break as easily as plastic,
especially when people try to release the blade
when it is iced up in snow and winter conditions.
Broken blades and splines cause windshield damage.
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6.
How many pressure points do ClearPlus
blades use?
Clearplus
uses 4 pressure points up to 16 inch length,
6 pressure points between 17 and 20 inch length
and 8 pressure points for sizes 21 inch and
higher. Premium brands typically follow this
protocol. Some old style blades (tubular design
frames) continue to use 4 pressure points for
all sizes. This is so even in some major National
brands.
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7.
How does graphite coating on the rubber
used on ClearPlus blades help?
Graphite powder has some inherent qualities
that help wiper blades. Graphite reduces the
friction of rubber on the windshield thus making
the wipe smoother. Additionally, it keeps the
rubber softer for longer by preventing road
tar, chemicals, contaminants and sunrays from
penetrating directly into the rubber.
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8.
Graphite leaves black stains on the fingers
when touched. Will it leave similar stains on
the windshield?
No.
There are no stains left on the windshield as
a result of graphite coating on wiper rubber.
Graphite has an inherent quality of sticking
to rubber when impregnated on it. As a result,
it wears off very gradually even in rain and
wet conditions.
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9.
How many types of wiper arms are in use
on North American roads?
The
following wiper arm types are in use:
| |
Estimated
Percentage Of Cars |
| 1) |
Small
J Hook Arms |
60.0% |
| 2) |
Small
Pin Arms
(3/16" pin) |
25.0% |
| 3) |
All
Large J Hook Arms
(Short, Reg., Long) |
7.5% |
| 4) |
Large
Pin Arms
(1/4" pin) |
2.5% |
| 5) |
Dimple
Bayonet |
2.0% |
| 6) |
2
Screw Bayonet |
1.5% |
| 7) |
Female
Pin Arms |
1.0% |
| 8) |
Others
(Wrist action, Roc-Lock,
Reverse hook) |
0.5% |
| |
Total |
100% |
10.
How do we know the wiper arm / adapter
reference by size?
See adapter reference chart
(also included in ClearPlus Application guide).
This shows the arm types in use by size of wiper
blades.
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11.
How many adapters are required to cover
the popular arm types?
Below
are the adapter instructions for ClearPlus Premium
Series and ClearPlus Signature series blades.
ClearPlus
Premium Series features one
universal preinstalled adapter
that covers 98% of the applications on the road.
This allows trouble-free installation without
the confusion of multiple adapters and without
carrying multiple part numbers in inventory
for each size of wiper blade.
| 1) |
Small
J Hook Arms |
60.0% |
B2 |
| 2) |
Small
Pin Arms
(3/16" pin) |
25.0% |
B2 |
| 3) |
All
Large J Hook Arms
(Short, Reg., Long) |
7.5% |
B2 |
|
|
| 4) |
Large
Pin Arms
(1/4" pin) |
2.5% |
B2 |
| 5) |
Dimple
Bayonet |
2.0% |
B2 |
| 6) |
2
Screw Bayonet |
1.5% |
L |
| 7) |
Female
Pin Arms |
1.0% |
B2+pin |
| 8) |
Others
(Wrist action, Roc-Lock, Reverse hook) |
0.5% |
N/A |
| IN
PREMIUM SERIES, ONE UNIVERSAL
PRE-INSTALLED ADAPTER FITS 98% CARS |
In
Signature Program, 2 adapters (TE1 and TE2) cover
98% of the applications, as follows
| |
|
|
Adapter
Used |
| 1) |
Small
J Hook Arms |
60.0% |
TE1 |
| 2) |
Small
Pin Arms
(3/16" pin) |
25.0% |
TE1 |
| 3) |
All
Large J Hook Arms
(Short, Reg., Long) |
7.5% |
TE2 |
|
|
| 4) |
Large
Pin Arms
(1/4" pin) |
2.5% |
TE2 |
| 5) |
Dimple
Bayonet |
2.0% |
TE1 |
| 6) |
2
Screw Bayonet |
1.5% |
L |
| 7) |
Female
Pin Arms |
1.0% |
TE1+pin |
| 8) |
Others
(Wrist action, Roc-Lock, Reverse hook) |
0.5% |
N/A |
Additionally,
ClearPlus application guide identifies the adapter
to be used at the level of car make, model and
year. This makes it really easy to identify the
correct adapter and eliminates the need for exact
fit type programs offered by competitors that
require up to 42 part numbers. ClearPlus program
covers the same range with just 13 part numbers.
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12.
Why do adapters break?
Usually
adapters break because installation instructions
have not been followed. Premium blades use a
preinstalled universal adapter, which takes
the trouble out of installation. Please refer
to our easy-to-use installation sheet (enclosed
with packaging) or installation
guides for further information.
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13.
Are written / schematic instruction sheets
provided with ClearPlus products?
Yes. Every package contains an instruction sheet.
Installation guides
are also available online.
TOP
14.
What size range does Clearplus program
cover?
ClearPlus
program covers the full range between 11 –
28 inch wiper blades. Sizes 12, 14, 23 and 25
are not included. As 12 and 14-inch blades are
used only with small pin type arms, provision
has been made in 11 and 13 inch blades to work
with this arm. This way, 11 and 13-inch product
can be substituted for 12 and 14 inch blades
respectively. Size 23 inch is used only in some
Mercedes cars. As the volume for this part number
is relatively low, it is currently not included
in ClearPlus range. No cars currently use a
25-inch wiper blade.
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15.
How do we suggest an assortment by size
to customers?
The estimated usage of wiper blades by size
is as follows:
| Size |
Estimated
% of sale |
|
11”
13”
15”
16”
17”
18”
19”
20”
21”
22”
24”
26”
28” |
0.5%
0.5%
1.5%
7.0%
8.0%
25.0%
10.0%
15.0%
10.0%
15.0%
5.0%
0.5%
2.0% |
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16.
Will ClearPlus wipers work with heavy-duty
applications?
In general, no. In isolated cases, Clearplus
reps have identified specific heavy-duty applications
where the adapters used are same as in passenger
car segment. In such cases, our other product
line ClearPlus Signature blades can be used.
However, care should be taken as some heavy-duty
applications are specialty applications (garbage
dump trucks etc). where stainless steel is used
in the frame and rubber squeegee has a larger
profile to fight extreme exposure conditions
for such vehicles. Even if adapters fit the
application, the wiper blade may not necessarily
be a suitable substitute. ClearPlus program
has been designed for the Passenger Cars and
Light Truck (SUV) segment.
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