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).
Braking characteristics, skidding tendencies, and brake drum materials.
| Identifier | Morton\M20.1\ img040 | |
| Date | 11th August 1920 | |
| (2) (a) That the RR. brakes shall require a fair amount of foot pressure to make them operate vigorously, namely, more than the Hispano, so that dangerous braking shall not occur so easily. (b) That the proportion of front wheel braking shall be perhaps less than might be thought desirable rather than more, for the object of general safety, and the risk of front wheel skids, and upsetting the steering, and jaggers. (c) That we maintain as large direct foot braking as possible consistent with practical clearance and allowance for wear. I am extremely pleased to hear that you have come to the same conclusions, and believe that P.N. will be quite satisfied if we reduce the tendency of the car to skid the wheels on slippery surfaces generally, and that if it should skid, that the rear wheels are those which will definitely skid first, so that he can continue his practice of getting neatly and quickly round a corner by purposely using the brakes for a back wheel skid. I believe however that this old racing practice is not now often adopted even for racing purposes as the additional braking on the car makes it preferable to definitely slow up for the corners rather than dangerously skid round them at high speeds (which also loses much way - speed - .) You have in hand I understand trials to see if flexible drums as used by others are possible, and a way of avoiding jaggers. I think it quite good with steel drums as it also saves some weight, but should fear flexible aluminium drums. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||