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).
Car springing issues and solutions for vehicles in Spain.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67a\1\ scan0270 | |
| Date | 1st March 1927 | |
| Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} (Copy to EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}) Rv1/AGL.3.27. Re: Springing of Cars for Spain. With reference to your Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}12/W/25.2.27. on receiving this, I tried to collaborate with Sa. on the matter but at present, he is away from Madrid. As regards the trouble we have had with the springing, I am of the opinion that all this arises from the 20% heavier springs fitted which has made the suspension on the hard side. However, you remark in your memo the breakages of springs we had in Spain some time ago, but these were only front springs. I wish to draw your attention to this matter quite clearly. In all my experience here, I do not think I have ever found a broken rear spring although we had considerable trouble with the thick leaf springs formerly fitted to Silver Ghost Chassis which is now obsolete. The complaint was brought that this type of spring was too springy and cars could not take bends at good speed so that several cars had to have this type of spring changed for latter type thin leaf springs F.9871. so as they could take corners at high speed and I always took the advantage when making these changeovers of fitting springs about 50 lbs. heavier if possible. About that time we had received various complaints of springs being slightly too weak for the above reason and in many cases by ONLY fitting double Hartford shock absorbers seemed to get me out of the difficulty and the RR. suspension was always considered perfect until the 20% was added. A short time after I sent you a report from San Sebastian FR1/B3.10.23. giving you my opinion as regards springing of Cars for Spain and Portugal as I had at that time, considerable amount of work travelling about Spain and also made a trip from Lisbon to Spain by road. In that memo I mentioned the trouble I had experienced during this trip and as a suggestion, asked you if cars coming to Spain or Portugal, could have 50 lbs. heavier springs all round. Of course, at that time, we were making Silver Ghost Chassis without FWB. so therefore this suggestion I should not think would be sufficient for New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I Cars on account of the extra speed and FWB. but I am of the opinion that if the 20% was completely removed and after the Car had been correctly sprung for the weight of the body suggested, then these springs could be removed and springs fitted 5% heavier and not 20% as I think this is exaggerated - i.e. supposing a car is correctly sprung with rear springs 2200 lbs. then adding 20% you will require springs 2640 lbs. which is enough margin to bring on the complaints we are at present receiving. - 1 - | ||