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).
Investigation into steering wobbles, potential causes like tyre pressure and pivot inclination, and proposed solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 28\4\ Scan059 | |
| Date | 17th September 1913 | |
| C O P Y. COPY. R11. P. 17.9.13. Re Frame Tests. X. 1/3 +457 To J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to Mr. Wormald. With reference to steering wobbles, I understand Mr.Hives is making a thorough investigation of these, and the various inclinations of the front pivots, Another point that comes to my mind is, they may vary slightly with the degree in which the tyre is pumped up, and one would expect that with an inclined pivot, a round treaded tyre very hard pumped would be the worst. I quite agree that an investigation should also be made of Palmer Tyres in conjunction with frame fracture. R.{Sir Henry Royce} My point is that the backward inclination of the steering pivot is the cause of the steering wobble, which takes place at a certain speed, that is when the front of the car gets into a state of periodic vibration. Straightening the steering pivot and avoiding this will I believe avoid the complaint. I did not expect it to avoid all effect of either out of balance or rough roads. This we are improving later. | ||