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 detailing issues with a car's stability, brakes, gearbox, and steering.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\5\ scan0303 | |
| Date | 2nd April 1940 | |
| Sr2/ET.2.4.40 - 2 - car seems to be much steadier in front and I believe will not crash as easily as it did on my first run, for on this occasion the car crashed badly front and rear. Somehow one can stand a crash at the rear better than at the front. Front crashing is very disagreeable mostly between 80 and 100 Kms. over a certain type of road one might call slightly pot-holed, or even over certain types of level crossings. I shall find out more about this in my next run with new shock absorbers and will report on it to you. When we have steadied up the front (which I hope is now done) and got rid of the groan which comes on after about half an hour's run and I feel probably comes from one of the silent blocks, we will have gone far towards making the car still more delightful to handle. The second problem is the brakes which, whilst being efficient, are a - fiery b - tacky c - enclined to bind and d - impossible to obtain any precision with. We have altered the poundage on the brake damper, which we found was releasing too slowly and therefore inclined to make the brakes bind and stay put. I am afraid that the servo will have to have some attention before we get the thing right, and this nobody seems to wish to tackle until they get some information. I also get a servo groan on occasion, which reminds me of the old servo period on the 3 1/2 litre, with which we had so much trouble on certain cars. The gearbox is satisfactory but hard to operate. This is partly due to the fact that I have cut down the gear shift lever. There is an overdrive forward whine between 60/90. The second speed is noisier than one would like it to be, but passable however. The reverse is difficult to get into without crashing the gears, and the clutch jaggers slightly when getting away in first and second, and reminds me of the old 3 1/2 litre trouble. This, I understand, is due to the fact of the car having stood so long. The steering is delightful. There does not seem to be excessive noise from the transmission with four people up, and the back axle seems to be very free from any periods forward and on the overrun. | ||