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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).
Technical memo concerning ineffective Bentley brakes when wet, discussing the choice of brake lining as a compromise between longevity and performance in water.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 84\2\  scan0075
Date  12th January 1934
  
V.S. - Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}
to Wox.
to Sc.
to Bm.
to Dy.{F R Danby}

Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}7/KW.12.1.34.

BENTLEY BRAKES(Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}1/KW.11.1.34)
---------------(Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}16/KW11.1.34)

The complaint on Bentley Brakes as regards them being ineffective after the car has been washed is realized. It is due chiefly to the type of brake lining which is used on this car.

The choice of brake lining was arrived at because with our standard lining the brakes were completely worn out after 14,000 miles in France. With the brake lining as the present standard on the Bentley we can expect a life of 50,000 miles in France.

Ineffective brakes when wet is a complaint which is manifest on a large number of cars, and is accepted. What we do is, if we take a car out that has just been washed, for the first half mile we drive with the brakes on a certain amount; that is, we do not keep on jabbing the brakes hard but we keep the pedal depressed with the power on until they have dried off, and then there is no further trouble.

We have been over this complaint with the makers of the brake material, and we have tried out numerous linings to try and arrive at a compromise. The position at the moment is that we have no alternative between a lining which is reasonable with water and wears rapidly, and the present lining which is ineffective with water.

We have tried various schemes to try and prevent the water from settling on the brakes, but with the present high pressure washing arrangements this is practically impossible.

Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}
  
  


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