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).
Trade-offs of flexible front springs and suspension testing on Phantom and Silver Ghost models.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\R\2December1927-February1928\ Scan027 | |
| Date | 9th December 1927 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} OY. ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rml/LG9.12.27. SUSPENSION. Originally one advantage of the introduction of the front axle control was considered to be that it made possible the fitting of more flexible front springs. Since then, the question of lowering the car has assumed an importance of the first magnitude, and in order to produce this result we have reduced the front buffer thickness by .5". This is now as previously about the minimum to cushion metallic contact with the frame. If more flexible springs are considered desirable, therefore, as the buffer clearance is already the minimum the only way to accommodate the increased deflection will be to raise the car. Our own tests on flexible front springs have not convinced us that they are a real asset. Careful comparative tests with the Phantom and Silver Ghost carried out to investigate the American complaint failed to shew that the rear passengers could detect a 20% alteration in rating of the front springs at low speeds while at high speeds they were worse off due to an increased tendency of the car to 'pitch'. On the whole, therefore, there does not seem to be any real reason at present for more flexible front springs. We have been carrying out a number of tests on stiffer rear springs for closed cars on the lines of those fitted to 10-EX. The object of trying these springs was to cope with customers having covered cars who drive fast, contd :- | ||