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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).
Failure of aluminium steering boxes and general unsatisfactory steering, with proposed considerations for improvement.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 38\1\  Scan067
Date  23th April 1920
  
X3465
F.R.

Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}
c. to Er.
c. to De.
c. to Fx.

EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}21/F23.4.20.

RE. UNSATISFACTORY STEERING.

We have now had two aluminium steering boxes break on cars on test, and we have so far not been able to give any definite reason for the failure.

By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} now has the matter in hand as regards investigation, and on the face of it there seems to be nothing wrong with the actual construction or fitting of the box.

Have you had any experience of this on experimental cars or on the bumping rig?

We are now about to dismantle the second faulty box and should be glad to bring same to your attention for inspection when dismantling.

We also do not feel at all happy as regards the steering generally, which, after the car has been used for some time appears to become too free and the driver does not seem to have the same control over the steering, this being affected by the road surface, and feels very unstable. This feeling is also aggravated by the use of heavy front wheels such as Warland rims, also by the fact of the front wheels being out of balance.

I feel sure that we are likely to receive complaints generally as regards the steering when the cars have been in customers' hands for a short time. I am anxious therefore that some improvement can be instructed which can be dealt with retrospectively so far as our present post-war cars are concerned. There are the following considerations:-

1. Increased lean of pivots.
2. Strengthening of buffer springs in steering connecting tube.
3. Slightly increased friction in the steering itself, such as the front wheel pivots.

EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}
  
  


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