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 faults, tracing 'steering wobbles' to tyres and proposing friction dampers as a cure.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 45\1\ Scan088 | |
| Date | 9th September 1920 | |
| R.R. 235a (100 T) (S. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 643, 19-2-20) G 2618 Contd. -2- R6/G7.9.20. - STEERING. Our steering has been blamed for two faults, at the same time admired for its many virtues. No changes in design have been made to make this less satisfactory. Now most of the recent complaints have been traced to changes in tyres, and somewhat the bad condition of the roads. We would like to point out that it has been lately proved that our greater tendency to "steering wobbles" at slow speed is because of our greater freedom from friction, a virtue in every way but this, and we are now purposely adding friction to one of the vertical steering pivots to damp out this vibration. You will remember that this cure has been suggested by me some years ago, but has never been found good without some harm, but by applying it to one side only it is now thought to be a nearly perfect cure. Many times it has been thought that our steering is too reversible, but we can render it irreversible by the use of plain thrust washers in the steering column as suggested by me some time ago, but this has recently been found to increase the possibility of steering wobbles, so is not recommended at PRESENT. Mr. de Salamanca's complaint of bad steering at high speeds was traced to American tyres, since abandoned. It will be remembered that I have definitely and always endeavoured to stop the use of larger diameter of road wheels, and heavy detachable rims. It is now admitted that Contd. | ||