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).
Defects with Lovejoys front shock absorbers, detailing pitching and oil foaming issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 55\3\ Scan214 | |
| Date | 1st June 1926 | |
| -2- The chief defect with Lovejoys in front is an increased tendency to pitch on the wavy asphalt roads. This is very pronounced with 100 lb. springs in front. It is less so with 40 lb. springs, and the front damping effect seems adequate in that a fore and aft swing of the car dies out quickly. We find that the pitching tendency grows rapidly after about 20 miles driving and appears to occur at the same time that the front valves start squeaking. We think the squeak may be due to an explosive opening of the valve due to foaming of the oil. This foaming does occur (we have seen the oil bubble when we take the valve caps off). When foaming occurs it seems to allow a free fore and aft swing of the car of small amplitude, practically without restraint. This swing is not enough to be dangerous, in fact with Lovejoys front and rear the car is safe at any speed on any surface, but after 100 miles it becomes acutely uncomfortable. A less important defect is that even with light settings of the front shock absorbers the rapid movements of the axle on a washboard road, shake the front of the car violently. This effect is even worse with Flentjes and appears to be an inherent defect of hydraulic shock absorbers in front, due to the increase in resistance with speed of oscillation. Oy. MO/E | ||