When I was a little kid I remember windshield wipers pointed towards the center of the windshield and went up and down opposite each other in a staggered fashion. Then at some point they started pointing in the same direction and moving up and down at the same pattern and rate. I‘ve always wondered why this changed.Does anyone know what I‘m talking about? If so, don‘t you think the old way got the windshield cleaner?Thanks!
Yes I agree that the windshield got cleaner the old way. However, the auto makers found out that it takes less components to make a windshield wiper assembly with the wipers going the same direction. So the bottom line was cost.
You had a European car when you were a little kid. I've seen that particular kind of w/s wiper. Not all carmakers do things the same. Even today there's a variety of w/s wiper types. If it's any consolation, I like antiques that work like they should too.
Many old cars of the '50's and '60's had opposed wipers. Many used cable systems ( complicated ), newer cars used opposable but with hard linkages, but cumbersome, too. I would bet that one reason is that the old wiper motors used to be mounted dead center in the engine compartment, when they moved them off to the side, they could then mount one wiper in the center, so they could both move in the same direction. Probably less linkage complications and no cable crossovers with the wipers this way. Most wiper motors are now on the driver's side firewall. I'd say the main reason was to uncomplicate the linkage / cable pulley systems.
