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).
Suspension tests for the 40/50 HP Phantom to address low-speed riding complaints.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\S\September1928-October1928\ Scan017 | |
| Date | 6th September 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} OY. c. to PN.{Mr Northey} CWB. c. to Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rml/LG6.9.28. SUSPENSION - 40/50 HP. X8410 X8520 We have been carrying out a number of tests to determine :- (1) The best compromise that can be effected on a standard Phantom to overcome the present prevalent low speed riding complaints. (2) The direction in which we could hope further to improve the Phantom suspension with regard to this particular complaint if certain existing limitations were removed. We used the only method of comparison that we have found at all reliable i.e., the water containers described in our Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rml/LG20.4.26. These continue to confirm our personal impressions as to what is or is not comfortable riding. In this case we arranged their contents to give a reasonable loss for worst condition. The car we used for the tests was 8-KX, a heavy coach-built limousine with a front axle weight of 25 cwts., rear axle weight 28 cwts. The car was fitted with standard 6.75" balloon tyres and hydraulic shock absorbers with standard loading. We confined our tests to a speed of 20-30 m.p.h. on an ordinary main road surface, slightly wavy. All the result are of riding in the rear seats. As a standard condition and starting point the car was arranged with 2000 lbs. rear springs giving 4" buffer clearance as loaded for test, 1100 and 1150 lbs. front springs | ||