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 dynamics of braking, front-wheel skids, and vehicle control, especially when cornering.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 73\3\ scan0156 | |
| Date | 8th July 1924 | |
| contd :- -2- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LG8.7.24. ------------- of a front wheel skid; Although the proportion of braking is arranged so that the rear wheels always skid xxx first, the actual braking effect depends upon the state of the brakes themselves, and the grip of the tyres on the road. The latter is beyond our control. It is not considered safe to apply the four wheel brakes vigorously on a corner even on a dry road. The fact of turning the front wheels sharply when the car is going at any speed, produces a tendency for skidding apart from any braking. This has been the case of numerous front wheel skids on cars which have not been fitted with front wheel brakes. Once the front wheels lock, then the steering of the car is out of control until the brakes are released. It requires considerable presence of mind, when a driver finds the car not answering to the steering on a corner, for him to release the brakes; there is a strong inclination to put more pressure on the brake pedal. It is possible on a greasy road for a driver to lock all four wheels and for the car to continue travelling in a straight line. In fact, a driver may not realise the wheels are locked until he attempts to steer the car. It is quite easy for drivers to develop the habit of releasing the brakes when actually turning a corner. The power of retardation is so great that there is no necessity for the full power of the brakes to be used on a turn. When bringing the car to rest, drivers should, xx contd :- | ||