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).
Recommendation on fitting 25% stiffer springs for heavily sprung cars, discussing buffer clearances and alternatives.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67a\2\ scan0142 | |
| Date | 26th July 1928 | |
| BY: from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/LG26.7.28. 25% STIFFER SPRINGS. Handwritten notes: X8410, X7410 We recommend that in every case where a car has, for any reason, to be very heavily sprung and normally a 25% stiffer spring would be fitted, that the new type 25% stiffer spring should be used i.e., a spring with 1.4" initial camber only. If this type of spring is fitted with 4.00" buffer clearance under normal load, we consider that the car should be sufficiently immune from buffer crashing for the very worst conditions. If a standard type of spring were fitted the car would have to be raised a further 1.00" to get the same spring rating which, in the light of the present demand for low cars, is most undesirable. Our experience lately has been, however, that even for normal continental work the standard spring with 4" to 4 1/2" buffer clearance is really a very excellent compromise, and should suit almost everyone except those frequenting Spain and the less developed colonies. Whatever type of spring is used there does not appear to be any justification for exceeding 4 1/2" buffer clearance under normal load conditions, this we believe is about the upper limit allowed but we hope that the low car is being retained when sprung for Colonial or Continental work. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||