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).
Racing car suspension, steering geometry, and methods to prevent wheel wobble.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\2\ Scan054 | |
| Date | 27th January 1920 | |
| Contd. -2- R8/G27.1.20. racing car must be extremely stiffly sprung and most uncomfortable to ride in at a slow speed. It must have well damped springs, naturally springs with plenty of friction, rigid in every way, and fitted with the crudest kind of shock ~~absorbers~~ that will produce plenty of friction. Such an arrangement I have experienced travels most delightfully at 60 to 80 miles an hour. ~~X.691~~ There is no need with the disc wheels to alter the position of the steering, but we took advantage of the fact that the steering could be made truly centrally pivoted. It is therefore extremely easy to control, and [xxx] moreover, road shocks should not have but very little effect on the steering wheel unless they catch the wheels obliquely, when there is no difference between central pivot steering and the more ordinary arrangements. I think in this particular instance the <u>chief</u> trouble is due to the moving about of the rear of the car, rather than to any change that takes placed in the steering gear or front axle. ~~X.3491~~ ~~X.1242~~ I have, however, suggested the introduction of more rigidity between the front wheels and the hand control, and some friction to damp out any tendency to set up wobbles. The result of these experiments will be looked forward to with much interest, when an existing car probably has <u>rear</u> shock <u>absorbers</u> fitted, which I do definitely pressed forward for adoption as soon as possible, being the result of some of my a.{Mr Adams} Contd. | ||