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 heavy steering issue in the E.A.C. 'V' series car, comparing it with the 40/50 and Hispano models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\1\ Scan224 | |
| Date | 13th March 1925 | |
| H.R. 493a (50m) (D.B. 172 25-9-24) J.H.D. Y4214 EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. REF Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LG13.3.25. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} SECRET. E.A.C. 'V' SERIES - STEERING. X8430 X4214 The last EAC. 'V' series car we sent to Sales had the latest modifications to the steering which consisted of bolting the two arms inside the steering solidly together. It was agreed by them that the steering was improved but there is still a criticism that the 'range of effort' required on the EAC. is greater than on the 40/50 HP. When the car is travelling at an average speed along a straight road, the steering is remarkably light, in fact, under that condition it would be improved with a little more friction, but on the turns it still becomes heavy. We have carried out a number of tests in order to prove that the extra effort required on the steering is due to the steering box rather than any effect on the front axle. We have compared an old 40/50 in which the steering was very good, with the latest EAC. steering. We then changed the front axle completely over from one car to the other making sure the axle lean, the weight on the front of the car, and tyre pressures were the same. We found that changing the axles over made no difference - the old 40/50 was still excellent, and the EAC. car was still heavy. The steering on the Hispano car is remarkable for the small 'range of effort' required i.e., on full lock there is not noticeably more effort required than on a medium contd :- | ||