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 complaints and ride comfort, comparing different car models and springing technologies.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\2April1926-June1926\ Scan013 | |
| Date | 16th April 1926 guessed | |
| contd :- -3- now then we received when we made the Silver Ghost without front wheel brakes. We went through phases of very bitter complaints on the old Silver Ghost, hence the changes to thick leaf springs and split bottom leaf springs, and back to thin leaf springs. We hold the view that the riding comfort at the rear of the 40/50 HP. cars either Silver Ghost without front wheel brakes, or Phantom, can be criticised compared with the 20 HP. We have delivered over 1200 20 HP. cars and can safely say that the springing complaints do not exist on this type of car. We think therefore that the problem resolves itself into - why the 20 HP. springing gives complete satisfaction compared with the 40/50 HP., rather than the difference between the 40/50 HP. with and without front wheel brakes. The hydraulic dampers will undoubtedly improve the 40/50 HP. springing better than anything else which has been done. We do not expect however they will eliminate springing complaints. Tests we have made show that the 20 HP. riding comfort in the rear seats can be spoilt by increasing the friction of the shock dampers either front or rear. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||