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).
Brake issues, diagnostics, and attempted fixes on a Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 83\2\ scan0192 | |
| Date | 26th January 1938 | |
| To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} To. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AFM.{Anthony F. Martindale} [Crossed out] [Handwritten]: 206 also 200a CHATEAUROUX. 3/26.I.38. [Handwritten]: [Signature] 6.B.IV. - BENTLEY. BRAKES. We telegraphed you this morning :- ROBOTHAM - 6B LINER DISPLACED IN ALUMINIUM FRONT DRUM STOP IRON FRONT DRUMS BROUGHT SPARE FITTED. It is the offside drum which has given the trouble. The liner has been displaced laterally 1/4" and has turned so that the keyways are now 45° round from the keys. Previous to the failure this brake had been doing more work than the other, causing the car to pull to the right, squealing badly at the same time. The braking surface is in good condition. The dust cover is damaged, but we do not think this will matter very much. We have fitted the two standard cast iron front drums which we brought out as spares, and are returning both aluminium front drums to the Works. With the iron drums fitted, we at once ran into trouble with front brake judders. The brakes pulled off to the right as before. The front drums were removed for examination and hard black patches were noted at intervals round the braking surface of the offside drum. The offside MR.3 friction linings were also worn down badly, the actual adjustment used up being, NSF. 20 notches - OSF. 27 notches. We have therefore reduced the leverage to the front brakes by fitting a standard plate lever to the front equaliser. This appears to have cured the judders which we attribute to an altogether excessive amount of front braking. With the leverage reduced, the brakes are still at least as good as standard and it is possible to lock all four wheels. The brakes continue to pull to the right but less violently than before, and further wear of the OSF. linings has taken place. We have tried another front equaliser but this has made no difference. | ||