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).
Progress report on vehicle component testing and improvements for the Wraith and Bentley models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 155\2\ scan0185 | |
| Date | 29th December 1937 | |
| -H- Hml/R.29.12.37. (4) Work to improve the steering generally. By altering the pivot lean and the flexibility of the steering column, we have now got a very light steering, directionally stable and entirely free from road shocks. (5) Thermoid lined clutches are giving satisfaction. (6) Wraith brakes lined with Thermoid have so far proved to be almost entirely immune from brake squeaks. (7) Progress has been made improving Wraith cold starting. (8) Various tests have been carried out to reduce the volume of road noise which comes through the front suspension. (9) The latest Dunlop tyre is giving good results for silence. (10) We have run an endurance test on Wraith bearings on the Test Bed, which causes us to believe that these will satisfactorily stand up to the 15,000 miles in France. We expect to the prototype Wraith car to be ready for France before the end of January. BENTLEY. 6.B.IV is ready for its endurance test, but at present is having its body fitted at Park Wards. This work will be completed by Christmas. The overdrive box has proved to be reasonably silent, the performance with the modified camshaft is better than that of the standard Bentley, valve gear silence is appreciably better than standard. The B.III rear brakes fitted to this chassis are giving satisfaction. The latest India large section tyre is reasonably quiet. The other Bentley cars are being used to test out parts for B.III which are less costly than those which we are at present using. | ||