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).
Steering and springing tests for the 40/50 chassis, investigating instability issues related to centre point steering.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\2\ Scan068 | |
| Date | 20th February 1920 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. c. to Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Dn. c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} X.2628. X.963. Z.3743. RE STEERING AND SPRINGING ON 40/50 CHASSIS. X.3482. X.2631. X.3926. X.990. X.1295. X891 We have carried out a number of tests lately on steering and springing. Mr. Royce will remember that we complained on 2.EX car that the steering was unstable. This car was standard as regards springing; the difference in the steering was that 2.EX car was fitted with Michelin Disc Wheels which give true centre point steering. We checked all the adjustments on 2.EX - such as lean of pivots, balance of wheels and alignment of wheels and found them to be correct. We came to the conclusion that the effect on the steering must in some way have been caused by the centre point steering. To prove this we fitted Michelin Disc Wheels and hubs on the front of 49-GB Car. On this car, however, we can find no disadvantage arising from the centre point steering. We later on fitted Michelin Disc Wheels at the rear and shod these (X3926) with Goodyear rubber non-skid tyres. This meant that the car was identical to 2.EX both as regards steering, springing, and tyres. With this combination we found that we got a similar complaint, perhaps in a less degree, to that which we had on 2.EX. The complaint we found is that going along a straight road it is very difficult to keep the car straight especially Contd. | ||