Miata Mailing List: March 1996, Message #7
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   From: Ken Warren 
Subject: RE: Re[2]: Speaking of rust...
   Date: Fri, 1 Mar 1996 07:17:45 -0500

On Thursday, February 29, 1996 9:03 AM, Matthew J. 
Bennett[SMTP:mjb@vince.arl.mil] wrote:
>>
>> As long as we are on the subject of wiper blades, can anyone enlighten 
me
>> as to why the blades are different for each side? They appear to be the
>> same length, and I can't  see any other differences. And yet, they have
>> different part numbers and different prices.
>
>This question came up a few years ago on the mailing list.  Without
>referring to the archive, I believe that the best answer was:  They
>have different part numbers because the right hand blade is curved.
>The right blade rests on the curved part of the windshield, and becomes
>straight as the arm approaches the vertical position.  The left blade
>is more or less straight through its entire sweep.

Here's a good trick, that will save you a few bucks over the life of your 
car:

It turns out that the Miata wipers are effectively identical to the wipers 
on (I think) the 626. They are the same length and the same construction. 
However, as has been noted above, on the Miata the blades curve differently 
on the left and right. So, what you do is buy a set of 626 (I think) 
blades, and pull out/reverse the metal strips along the rubber on one 
blade. This will cause one blade to curve in each direction. Now you can 
install them just like regular (expensive) Miata blades. I've been doing 
this for years; I no longer need to even remember to dig out the part 
number when I buy refills. The parts guy just knows which blades I want.

>Or it could have to to with the harmonic convergence of the tranzorbs of
>the 5th galactic plane.  Use the wrong blade, and *poof*, either some
>poor unsuspecting child finds a quarter on the ground, or New Jersey
>disappears.

This has a great deal to do with it as well. However, New Jersey is still 
there, so I think someone forgot to twiddle the whatzit.
Ken Warren
Motorsports Director, DelVal Miata Club