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).
The disadvantages of using floating bushes in steering pivots.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 49\4\ Scan201 | |
| Date | 21th May 1924 | |
| R.R. 403A (SOH) (D.A. 652 20-5-24) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. 3441 REF: Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 2/LG21.5.24. To R. {Sir Henry Royce} from Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. RG. {Mr Rowledge} c. to DA. {Bernard Day - Chassis Design} E. {Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to EY. Wor. {Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} FLOATING BUSHES FOR STEERING PIVOT. 3441 Our experience in the past has been that floating bushes have not made any improvement on parts which do not revolve. Floating bushes in spring shackles were not successful - floating bushes in connecting rods are not a success. We do not therefore hold out any great hopes that making the bushes floating will overcome the trouble with steering pivot bushes. We cannot believe that the use of grease instead of oil is going to help matters. There have been cases where grease has been used by mistake on the pivots and it has always resulted in seized bushes. If we could maintain a lubrication film we should have very little trouble. The difficulty at present is that the oil gets squeezed out on the side of the bush which is taking the load, and it is not replaced. We have had most success on pivots by using very thin oil. Another serious disadvantage with the floating bush is that if it floats in the pivot and wears the pivot, it will mean an expensive replacement. Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||