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).
Customer complaints about harsh riding on Bentley chassis due to high initial shock damper loading.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\3\ scan0165 | |
| Date | 22th February 1937 | |
| BY c to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 242 Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}10/HR.22.2.37. Les do to cpen re SHOCK DAMPERS. Bentley Chassis. ---------------- We have recently dealt with two serious complaint cases in which the Owners complain of harsh riding. These are B.172-HK.{Col. T. Harker - Sales}, Mr. Adams, H.M. Trade Commissioner, N.S.W., and B.35-EJ., Maharajah of Nandgaon. Both these Owners have expressed their disappointment with the riding in strong terms, the chief complaint being harshness at moderate speeds, even on good roads. We think these complaints have largely been due to the high initial loading of the shock absorbers, which were 120 lbs. front, and 100 lbs. rear, in each case. We have sent out instructions to reduce the poundage of the shock absorbers to standard. We suggest that this high initial loading is not of any benefit except in cases where we know that the Owner habitually drives very fast and there is some danger that the minimum shock absorber loading is too low. In view of the number of complaints we already receive of harsh riding of the Bentley, even with standard shock absorbers, we suggest that this high initial loading be discontinued on cars going abroad except perhaps on cars to France. Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}58 | ||