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).
The comparison between thin and thick leaf springs, considering performance, reliability, and customer feedback.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 80\2\ scan0231 | |
| Date | 10th October 1920 | |
| R.R. 235A (100 T) (S.& C. 643. 10-2-20) G 2618 Contd. -2- Hsl/LGl.10.20. We have carried out tests on other cars and find that if one compares the thin leaf springs, after it has run on a car for some time, with the thick leaf spring, there is a noticeable difference. The difference comes about due to increase in friction. We consider that we can reproduce all the conditions which can even be obtained on the thin leaf springs by adding friction to the thick leaf springs. Although it has been agreed to go back to the thin leaf type springs, the reasons for us doing so are chiefly to overcome the squeaking of the present springs and because they are more reliable as regards strength. We do not anticipate that we are going to get any better riding with the thin leaf springs, in fact, we anticipate we shall have to fit Ferodo interleaving material to retain comfortable riding. The thin leaf springs which we are going to use will be identical to those fitted to hundreds of chassis before the war. We had quite a number of complaints of springing with those chassis and most of the complaints were caused by the springs becoming solid and causing too much friction. The majority of R.R. customers do not like a lot of friction in the springs. We know that customers who are difficult to please do not like friction for the simple fact that on the thin leaf springs they are continually greasing the springs and at their own expense fit gaiters and other devices which reduce the friction. Although we cannot appreciate the difference between the thin leaf and the thick leaf springs by the riding Contd. | ||