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).
Complaints of knocking noises from shock dampers on all cars except the Phantom III front.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 105\3\ scan0367 | |
| Date | 11th May 1936 | |
| X542 To Sft.{Mr Swift} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. to Hdy.{William Hardy} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.E/KW.11.5.36. Shock Damper Knocks. (All Cars except Ph.III Front). We are experiencing a number of complaints from Cricklewood, Paris and Derby of shock damper knocks. As this type of damper has been on production for 3 years, it is difficult seriously to blame the design, particularly as cars giving trouble often have only done a small mileage. Information shows that the major cause is due to a small amount of slackness in the main lever bushes. Paris have just cured a damper knock by removing the very smallest amount of slack in the bearings. Although we are trying to improve the life of these bearings, we are very alarmed to find that the slackness in certain bushes as produced is sufficient to cause a knock. The tightness of the bushes when this damper was first produced on production was good. Will you please therefore arrange for this degree of tightness to be restored as soon as possible; namely, that the bearings should be 100% fit to the shaft. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} | ||