Buy New and Used Van and Car parts

Find best value great quality parts at cheap prices for your car, van and 4X4s HERE!

Not sure of reg or non-UK reg? Enter make and model here

Not sure of reg? Enter Make and Model manually

Find any Van or Car Part for free, Saving time and Money £££

Find parts now

1Enter your Registration

2Select what parts you want

3Buy parts now or get free personalised quotes

Check our right part guarantee and see how your money is secure when purchasing on Breakeryard.com

Used Vauxhall Astra Wipers

All used Vauxhall Astra Wipers listed on Breakeryard.com are tested, original (OEM) manufacturer parts and come with a 14 day money back guarantee. Breakeryard.com list cheap new OES or aftermarket car parts at discounted prices or used OEM car parts up to 80% cheaper than main dealer prices for Vauxhall Astra from premium breaker yards from across the UK.

About Wipers

What are wipers/what do they do?

Wipers are a standard safety feature in cars and can be positioned on both the front and rear windscreen of the car. Most cars have two wipers on the front windscreen, one on the driver side and one on the passenger side. Rear windscreens tend to have just one long wiper that sweeps across the whole of the windscreen. The driver needs to look through the front windscreen to see the road ahead, and through the back windscreen to see the traffic behind, so it is imperative that the windscreens are in perfect, clean condition.

The wiper consists of a wiper arm and a wiper blade. The wiper blade is made from rubber and as the arm is powered to move across the windscreen, the rubber blade moves the water and debris from the surface of the windscreen, clearing the screen to enable a clear vision of sight for the driver.

Getting into the details of the wipers

A wiper linkage is the mechanism responsible for movement of the wiper arms. Driven by the wiper motor, the linkage is moved back and forth by cams. The motor and linkage mechanism is located beneath the bonnet, generally concealed by a plastic scuttle panel. The wiper arms are normally bolted or attached to the linkage on studs or splines that protrude through the scuttle panel. Arms can often be difficult to remove by hand as the splines are mostly tapered. Special universal tools can be used to lever off the arms.

The driver can decide at what speed the wipers move, usually from a choice of three speeds, depending on the weather conditions. The driver can operate the wipers by selecting the desired speed on the wiper switch stalk, which is usually mounted on the steering column. This activates the wiper motor switch, which operates with a wiper motor relay.

Many car windscreens are also fitted with a windscreen washer. Powered by a windscreen washer motor, it pumps out a spray, which works with the wipers to clean the windscreen.

What if something goes wrong with the wipers?

An old and worn out wiper blade will be ineffective and need to be replaced as soon as possible. Signs that you need to buy new wiper blades include streaks of dirt left on the windscreen; inability to remove sufficient water from the windscreen in heavy rain; a screeching sound from the wipers when in operation; and wipers being lifted off the windscreen by the wind when driving along.  Broken or worn out wiper arms will not function properly and will also need to be replaced. If the motor and linkage mechanism wear out, the wipers will not work and replacement parts should be fitted. If the wipers are not working or only working intermittently, there could be a problem with the wiper switch stalk. If wiper problems strike, it's a good idea to consult your mechanic to identify which specific part needs replacing.

A car's windscreen washer and wiper systems should ensure the windscreen is clean and clear enough for the driver to be able to drive safely in all weather conditions.

Vauxhall Astra trivia

  • The Bedford Astravan is the van version of the classic Vauxhall Astra!
  • The MK5 is the single most successful Astra in terms of sales, and it was the second best selling car in Britain in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
  • The white version of the Vauxhall Astra 1800 GTE was the first car in the UK to be colour-coded. The body trim matched the white base colour and included the skirts and the wheel arch extensions. Ford was so happy with the look that the silver, black, and red models also started to include colour-coding.
  • The first two generations of the Vauxhall Astra were right-hand drive and were called the Opel Kadett in the UK before the Opel and Vauxhall names were merged.
  • The 2013 Astra used in the TV show Top Gear that was raced by celebrities went up for auction in 2019. After being driven by 22 celebrities, including Hugh Jackman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Will Smith, and Olly Murs (the fastest driver in the fun contest), the car sold for £6,000 despite not being roadworthy. There are claims that the Top Gear Astra has been seen by more people than any other car in the world, ever.