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).
Customer feedback and proposed solutions for front suspension and steering on the 20/25 HP model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 107\1\ scan0370 | |
| Date | 21th May 1936 | |
| W/S - Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} X560 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}8/KW.21.5.36. GUL-82 - Trials Car. We note that the opinion of customers with reference to this car appears to be that the front is too lightly sprung. All our energy at the moment is concentrated on getting lighter front springs for the 20/25 to reduce the tendency to pitch, and to fit heavier front springs at the present time is contrary to all the principles which have been established on riding comfort in the last 5 years. We agree that the new 20/25 HP. steering takes some getting used to, and we should expect a customer on his first run to feel that the steering was over-light for controllability, but we think that the customers are wrong in attributing this feeling to over-flexible suspension. We do not suggest that either the suspension or controllability of the 20/25 is good: compared to the Ph.III they are very bad indeed. We do say, however, that with the new steering, once the driver has got used to it, the cars are really no more difficult to drive than previously. With a view to doing the best we can with the existing car we have been developing a front roll rod, which does improve the steerability of the car, and we can demonstrate this when you are at Derby next week. We have fitted the device to Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}'s car, in conjunction with still softer front springs than those at present standardised as low rating. A design has just been issued to reproduce the effect of the experimental pieces. We think that this is the move required to overcome the complaints of poor directional stability. We should like to emphasize that as soon as Ph.III's get on the road we expect to have numerous complaints of 20/25 suspension and steering, and until we get Wraith we shall have no means of overcoming these complaints. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||