From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Test report on a car's performance covering steering, suspension, body mounting, and wheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 4\9\ 09-page179 | |
| Date | 16th March 1926 | |
| K5840a Ha. OWB4/DN16.3.26. TO CJ c. to BJ & Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM OWB 10-G.3. I gave this car a test yesterday evening previous to its leaving for Le Candel and a 10,000-miles test. My impressions are as follow:- (1) New type steering column and lower geared steering, shorter steering column and pedals further forward. This is a very great advance on the old steering of our 20 HP; it is relatively a far greater improvement on the old steering than is the corresponding alteration on the "Phantom". This may be due to the greater rigidity of the new steering-column on this car. The steering is firm and light. There is practically no back shock even under very aggravated conditions, and the reversibility is good. The positions of the controls appear comfortable, with the exception of the gear change lever, which is too short and very awkward to handle. (2) Strengthening of frame, Lamoine front road springs, hydraulic shock-absorbers on the front. The whole car gives an impression of much greater stability than our present standard, particularly in the front. The hydraulic shock-absorbers appear to hold the axle very well indeed over pot-holes and yet do not appear to have the effect of stiffening up the front springs. A more lengthy test under more varied conditions is naturally desirable, but as far as these could be tested, they appear exceedingly satisfactory. (3) Body mounted on sub-frame. There is no impression with this car of independent movement between the body and chassis, as observed in some earlier examples of this method of mounting. There is, however, an intermittent creaking in the front of the car which is believed to come from the mounting of the sub-frame, and on every occasion of applying the brakes firmly, a distinct knock, which appears to come from the same point. (4) Well-base wheels and tyres. These appear to be comfortable, although as this car has special front springs, shock-absorbers and tyres, it is difficult to separate the causes. They are very noisy indeed on p.t.o. | ||