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 Phantom suspension modifications and their effect on ride quality.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\2April1926-June1926\ Scan034 | |
| Date | 23th April 1926 | |
| To R from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. to BJ. RG.{Mr Rowledge}✓ c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to EY. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}✓ c. to Nn.✓ EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} ORIGINAL PHANTOM SUSPENSION. X84CO We believe that we have now established the relative value of most of the features of the car with regard to the present springing complaints. The attached results are the mean of a large number of tests. The facts that have been established are :- TEST 1. In this test we have weakened the front springs by 17½%, fitted the narrow axle pads which CY. says are worth 7½% in reducing the effective spring rating, and removed the internal spring friction by means of ball races between the leaves. In other words the springs were made 25% weaker than standard with no internal friction. We compared the car in this condition with the same car in a standard condition i.e. strong front springs and front wheel brake axle. It will be observed that the difference in riding qualities measured on the rear seats is actually less than can be obtained by slacking off the standard rear shock damper setting 25 lbs. or lowering the tyre pressures 5 to 10 lbs. We consider that this test effectively demonstrates that, while there is no doubt that stiffer front springs do affect the riding of the car slightly, the alteration that we have made in fitting front wheel brakes has not changed the riding qualities from good to bad. In fact the slight difference contd :- | ||