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 effect of braking on steering, comparing a car with and without a torque arm fitted.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 182\M20\M20.2\ img042 | |
| Date | 15th May 1924 | |
| R.R. 493A (40 H) (SL. 42 12-7-23). J.H. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. -2- Expt. No. 9940 REF:al/1015.5.24. get the same tendency for the steering to be pulled out of ones hands when the brake is applied although it still veers to the side of the road. If the brake is applied when the car is going back- wards, under this condition the steering will pull, but in the opposite direction to that when it is going forwards. We have tested again the car fitted with a torque arm. We find with the torque arm fitted and applying one front brake only, there is still a slight tendency for the car to steer towards the side on which the brake is applied but there is no tug on the steering wheel - one can apply the brake without holding the steering wheel at all, and there is no tendency for the steering to turn. On a car without the torque arm fitted, if one brake is applied without holding the steering wheel, the steering is likely to take charge and go on to full lock. Comparing the tests of a standard car with the car fitted with the torque arm, we get two conditions which affect the steering - (1) With the torque arm fitted, if we apply one front brake, the car runs to the side on which the brake is applied, it will run to that side even when the steering wheel is held so that it cannot turn and also with no springs in the side steering tube. This steering to one-side can be counteracted if the opposite rear brake is applied to give diagonal braking. (2) In the case of a standard car with the pivots set with standard lean, if one brake is applied at all contd:- | ||