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).
Steering trouble, including kick-back and high-speed wobble, on the Paris Phantom Trials Car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\4\ scan0068 | |
| Date | 3rd May 1926 guessed | |
| COPY. PARIS. To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}; from G.W.Hancock; STEERING TROUBLE. The car in question is the Paris Phantom Trials Car. The chief trouble complained of is the bad shocks on the steering wheel when travelling over bad roads. The bad kick back, or severe oscillation of the steering makes it dangerous to an owner-driver who is not prepared for it, when coming off a stretch of good road at high speed on to a bad surface. He finds himself unable to hold the wheel and serious accidents are averted only by quickly slowing down. We fully realise this, as 98-NK car was similar. I have tried the car complained of over a bad road and found that the complaint is exactly what we are aware of with this type of steering. The new side steering tube springs have not arrived, so shall return here after completing the 10,000 miles with 10-G-lll and carry on with the investigations. The other complaint is the high speed wobble - both Col. Hawkins and Mr. Parsons have evidently had this, and both are scared about it. Col; Hawkins says he was very lucky that the car did not over-turn and is now not inclined to drive at any high speed. I had the car jacked up and tested for front wheel balance - this was very good and was not the cause. The front shock absorbers were then tried - the N.S; was almost free. contd :- | ||