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).
Mysterious rattles on the front of new cars, traced to poorly fitting front shock absorbers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 51\4\ Scan042 | |
| Date | 3rd May 1922 | |
| B/Eu COPY EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} ALLEN. Ps.6/Go.3.5.22. Re: Front Shock Absorbers and rattles on the front of cars. We have had two or three cases of mysterious rattles on the front of new cars. This has been traced to front shock absorbers. The splines of F.636 have been found to be a very poor fit in F.535. We have a new car in question 11-JG, our own trials car which has not run more than 2000 kilometres and this is very pronounced on same. We have examined this part on several cars in for repairs, and have come to the conclusion that we have traced the origin of a lot of the mysterious rattles existing in the front of cars. As you now advocate the fitting of Hartford shock absorbers to the rear of cars in cases where the thick leaf springs are fitted, do you not think it advisable to experiment with Hartford shock absorbers for the front springs also? Nearly all the best makers of French cars fit them all round. [Stamp: STUDY] Ps. | ||