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).
On a Phantom II brake servo failure due to disintegrating friction material.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\3\ Scan083 | |
| Date | 19th March 1930 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Woy D/BP X7370 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}11/H19.3.30. re. PHANTOM II. BRAKE SERVO FAILURE - 29-XJ. A complaint of the servo sticking on the above car was brought to my attention at N. by Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} on the 18th. inst. Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} reports that when dismantling the servo to ascertain the cause that the friction material (cotton fabric) was found to be badly broken up. The broken and badly frayed liner handed to you today is one taken from this car. The car has only been in the customer's hands and run 3,000 miles. Examination of thebrakes and mechanism did not reveal any signs of the brakes being excessively used or the servo itself having been overheated. The material disintegrating would certainly appear to account for the servo sticking on. This chassis has not had the latest modified brake mechanism fitted which I suggest may aggravate this trouble. Examination of other servos which have been taken down for other purposes also show that the liners are showing signs of tearing away from the rivets holding it in position, and the fabric fraying badly. Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} also points out there is a general complaint of squeaks from the servo on Phantom II's, which you will remember we experienced on chassis on test and with Experimental cars. At the time we were able to cure this by adding paraffin-oil mixture, but it is not considered that this is a permanent cure. It has been arranged for the Repair Dept. to supply to 'N' a complete servo. Will they please arrange for the faulty servo to be returned complete and sent to the Experimental Dept. for further investigation. I certainly think some urgent action should be taken to deal with this trouble. In view of the fact that the Experimental Cars have run several thousand miles and given no trouble in this respect, I suggest that one of the servos should be dismantled and the material and method of fixing compared with our standard production practice, as this may be different. CONTD:- | ||