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, handling, and braking issues, with comparisons to Bentley vehicles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0289 | |
| Date | 15th May 1935 guessed | |
| ( 2 ) . . . . . . . . . . I have had several interesting talks with Sr, and I beleive there is a lot of valuable information to be derived from his varied acquaintances and experience. Sr. is a very fine and sensitive driver, and although he cannot put his finger on exactly what is wrong, he can explain the finer qualities or otherwise of the Bentleys which we do not appreciate. His own trials car for example. The steering in my opinion is as good, if not better than any we have had. Sr has picked out a period between 60 & 70 MPH. when the steering reactions are irritating. below and above this period it is very good. He has tried damper loadings from 50 lbs. going 10 lbs. at a time until he reached 100lbs. He assures me that until he reached this poundage, the rear of the Car riggled the same as our Car does. This although once or twice I thought it did, Sr definately says it does. We have agreed to try cutting off lubrication to the front springs to try and overcome his complaint of the 60-70 miles period. Then again he is very emphatic that the steering and riding qualities of the Bentleys have been hopelessly spoiled by the fitting of the controlable dampers. He is being backed up by every owner who has bought a Bentley since the fitting of the controlable dampers who tried the Bentley without. All these cars are being returned to the depot to have the damper poundages brought up to 100 lbs, even then they declare, they are not as good as with the non-controlable damper. Will this be a sufficent argument for Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}? There is another very interesting feature which has been stated by very well known French racing drivers who Sr has given trials to. They declare the Bentley to be a wonderful road holding Car, for cornering, perfect. In this from their experiences, we have obtained, not by design, but just luck, the sufficent flexability of the frame to hold the wheels on the road at speeds and especially when cornering. The whole frame gives just that amount that is needed. A ridged frame is hopeless and a weaker frame skids. The latter Bentley with the front dropped drop member and heavier axle, is going a step in the wrong direction. The racing drivers who Sr is in touch with, have tried all manner of frames, so their experience ought to be valuable. BRAKES. Almost all who are Engineers and have had lifelong experience with racing cars, or the Bentley type are full of praise of our small diameter brake drums with their cooling resources. They one and all dam the large diameter drums, in actual use they do not use the brakes excessive, and it is remarkable how little the adjustment of brakes is needed over here. They do however want them to be really effecient when needed; and while on this subject why has the steel washer been fitted between the star springs of the servo operating spindle. Two Cars came in with servo shudder Bentleys. The removal of the washers cured both. . . . . . . . . . . . . . | ||