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).
Tests conducted to mitigate high-speed steering wobbles.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\N\2October1925-December1925\ Scan11 | |
| Date | 9th October 1925 | |
| R.R. 498A (50 H) (D.D. 31, 12-6-25) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. ORIGINAL Expl. No. REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/L.09.10.25. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} EY. c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} HIGH SPEED STEERING WOBBLES. X8450 We have tested the cross steering tube fitted with set up springs. With this arrangement we find that high speed wobbles are slightly worse than with the standard tube. We have tried the low geared steering for wobbles. Tests have so far only been carried out on one car but in this case there appears to be increased susceptibility to wobbles. We have been running the car fitted with side steering tube springs, contact pieces and ball ends exactly as in the Hispano. The actual Hispano springs were used in the adapted R-R tube. This promoted a definite improvement to wobbles from the driver's point of view and rendered the steering remarkably free from road shocks. We consider, however, that the rating of these springs is too low for good steering control, in spite of the fact that they appear to be successful on the Hispano. As a result of further tests with the torque controlled front axle to W.W. scheme, we are inclined to say that the addition of this control tends to reduce the speed at which wobbles occur and somewhat increase their amplitude. We have been making road tests of Lovejoy shock absorbers. We find that these are capable of eliminating quite a severe high speed wobble with high pressure tyres; they will not, however, cope with wobbles produced by balloon tyres. contd :- | ||