Miata Mailing List: March 1993, Message #6



     


   From: (none)
Subject: Re: Dumb Wiper Arm Question
   Date: (none)


> From: moore@email.ncsc.navy.mil (Moore) wrote:
> 
> What's the purpose of the little metal wing on the driver's side
> wiper arm, and why isn't there one on the passenger side as well?
> 

I didn't design the Miata, but this is my theory (or guess):

Since the windshield is curved symmetrically alone the center line
of the car body, the air flow at the wind shield is breaking into two
streams, one to the passenger side, one to the driver side.

Since the wiper arm pivots are biased to the left side (as viewed from
inside the car), the air stream flowing to the passenger side helps pushing
the wiper against the windshield. On the driver side, the air flow 
actually lifts the blade up from the windshield. The little black plate
on the driver side wiper is shaped and positioned to increase wiper 
pressure against the windshield. 

This is my theory for the existance of that little black plate.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Peter
attbl!hotsoup!peng