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).
Investigating issues with springs, sheaths, and braking performance after a component change.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\L\July1924-September1924\ Scan57 | |
| Date | 20th September 1924 | |
| E.R. 493A (20H) (D.A. 682 20-9-24) J.R.D. -2- EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. 9946 REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG2. 9.24. We suggest, when the springs were changed, which was done during the Works Holiday, that the 12½% springs and packing were slightly thinner than the 25% springs which had been previously fitted and that the dirt and rust which had collected at the bottom of the blind hole prevented the sheath from gripping the spring tightly. We have the actual spring, clips and sheath - the measurements taken prove that except that the holes in the axle were made up, there is no reason why the clips should not have gripped properly. The type of sheath which has been standardised is the one in which the keys are made solid with the front axle forging. All production cars are being made with this type of sheath. It is more foolproof and it is easy from the outside to see whether the sheath is gripping the springs correctly. The car was handed over to Sales Dept. on Aug.1st. The car was run a fair distance by them in England and was despatched to France Aug. 16th. On Aug. 19th. the driver Henning reported as follows :- "One notices a pull to the right on applying the foot brakes; at first I thought it due to the camber of the road, but on trying it in centre of the road it was the same, and again I went over to the left side and even then the pull is to the right. It does not worry one but still it is there, a sort of 'tuck under' (?) on the right pivot". The accident with the car occurred on the 26th. Aug. contd :- | ||