Rolls-Royce Archives
         « Prev  Box Series  Next »        

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).
Report page discussing road noise, wishbone joints, spark plugs, and bore wear.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 178\2\  img044
Date  30th March 1940
  
Ens. - page 3
Serial No. 60
OF 1/D/Mar.30.40

You will have got further notes from me on Proving Ground comments about road noise. There is a lot they don't know that Geoffrey Bastow does know, about structural stiffness and wood floors. Geoffrey Bastow has a lot more proved facts at his finger ends than he will admit verbally. His actions are so much louder than his words as to be practically deafening. Ask him about springing military trucks.

(c) Road Noise

In one respect rubber in wishbone joints is effective. If you will look at "Automotive Industries", March 15, page 396 and draw a line through the approximate wheel center transversely across the car, you will see that it passes through the rear inner pin-joint of the lower wishbone. This means that all the outward tension in the lower wishbone falls on the rear joint, a condition which Burton and I took great pains to avoid on the original 1934 suspension layouts.

This is a condition which just crept in due to attempts to shorten and narrow down the lower wishbone and increase the sweep-back angle. Around 1936 we found the effect of this, which is that the front joint, being normally unloaded in the horizontal plane, chatters continually on a rough road and produces a continuous rumble in the car.

This trouble is avoided by rubber joints, and by the non-metallic C and S joints, which Buick now uses. These C and S bushings are correctly shown, but not described in the article.

(d) Mechanics Joints

Mechanics do not issue a joint catalogue showing size against torque. Will make specific recommendations for each particular joint for each job, once they are given particulars of the job including weight, front and rear, engine torque, transmission ratios, joint angles, speeds, number of cylinders, etc. I have now sent you the Cadillac propeller shaft and the Chevrolet Hotchkiss extension layout.

Am going to Spicer's at Toledo this afternoon to see about the rear axle and will talk to Carpenter about joints at the same time.

(e) Spark Plugs

I think I have given you all I can pick up on spark plugs and ignition generally, but have still to visit A.C. and Champion Toledo, and Delco Remy. Sam Heron is a fund of information and extremely helpful. I wish you could send us the ignition parts he asked for (cable Oy CG). It would keep his interest, cost nothing, and lead to more information.

(f) Fuel Economy - Bore Wear

I did not see Alex.'s paper on bore wear. Where did it
  
  


Copyright Sustain 2025, All Rights Reserved.    whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙