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).
The experimental fitting of bakelite ball pads to the steering of Phantom III cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\1\ scan0488 | |
| Date | 28th May 1938 | |
| 360 To Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to GMH. c. to HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}2/JH.28.5.38. PHANTOM III STEERING. We have been trying experimentally bakelite ball pads in the cross steering tube joints of Phantom III. Our results indicate that this material will run about twice to 3 times the mileage between adjustments of the friction load. In order to obtain further experience we wish to fit bakelite pads to a number of customers cars. We are sending to you 8 sets of parts as follows - 32 Ball Pads EXS.154, bakelite material. 32 " O.8341" 32 washers EXS.155, C/M material. Will you please fit these to cars as the opportunity arises. The friction load should be set at 3 - 3 1/2 lbs. Care should be taken to ensure that the pads are fitted in the correct positions, i.e. the split pad EXS.154 to be adjacent to the cap of the joint and the other pad to be unsplit. The ball pin and the bore of the socket should be lightly polished to remove roughness left by machining. We attach a print of OCD.673 showing the arrangement of the ball pads in the joint. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} | ||