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).
Improvements to the Phantom steering system, including customer feedback and comparisons with other cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\1\ Scan303 | |
| Date | 1st April 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to SY. OY. Y4214 HES/LG23. 4. 28. PHANTOM STEERING. X. 8430 X. 4214 X. 7430 X. 5430 The steering ratio of the 6½ litre Bentley is 16/1. It is just over 3 complete turns of the steering wheel from lock to lock. We have not been able to get hold of a modern Hispano fitted with large tyres. On the Hispano we had the steering was 11/1, the rating of the springs in the side steering tube 430 lbs/in. deflection. It is certain that during the last two years we have made greater improvements in the Phantom steering and also the 20 HP. steering than any part of the chassis. By lowering the ratio on the Phantom we are certain that we shall further improve the steering for general all round conditions. We have an instance of a customer (Mr. Geoffrey Summers who has been very critical as regards the Phantom steering) sending his car to the Works for the fitting of the shorter pendulum lever. He has now expressed himself as being very satisfied with the steering. This is the first time he has been satisfied, although the car is one of the original Phantoms and has had all the improvements fitted to it as they were available. Mr. Summers Phantom has a light open body and he is a fast driver. The chief disadvantages we see in the lower gear steering is that if the car is travelling along the road and contd :- | ||