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).
Performance of a new steering system, focusing on its lack of self-centering.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\J\January1923\ Scan0 | |
| Date | 1st January 1923 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Ds. c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} ORIGINAL. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/LG1.1.23. STEERING. X4264 X3465 The best steering we have tried on a 40/50 car or a 20 HP. car is one fitted with radius rods to the front axle, no springs or flexibility in the steering connections, and plain thrust in the steering column. With this combination, no shocks whatever can be felt, under any conditions. The steering is free, also there are no wobbles. We have tried with and without the plain thrust on the pivots and came to the conclusion that retaining the plain thrust on one of the pivots is the best compromise. With solid ball joints in the side steering, if any appreciable slack develops, wobbles may be felt. The only complaint we have against this steering is that it is not self-centering. There is a tendency to self-centre but it is necessary to help the wheel. We consider that the self-centering is a most desirable feature in the steering and one we cannot afford to lose. The reason the steering does not self-centre is because the plain thrust in the column is too effective. For instance, if we have no friction on the pivots and even the double amount of backward lean on the pivots, it still will not self-centre. With the radius rods fitted we only require friction in the column to damp down slight movement. At the present time the friction on the column is so affected- effective that we can run without contd:- | ||