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).
Secret memo discussing steering modifications to address friction and wobble caused by the introduction of front-wheel brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 73\2\ scan0250 | |
| Date | 14th February 1924 | |
| To RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} } FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} } c. to CJ. PN.{Mr Northey} 29940 S E C R E T. STEERING - EACs. ETC. X.9420 X.9430 X.9940 With front wheel brakes we are obliged to overhang the road wheels more, and incline the pivots more. The result is greater friction in the bearings of the pivots. This has been allowed for by removing the friction introduced to cure steering wobbles so that we expect to be equal, but we cannot now remove the remaining friction, and we may get more wear. This point is awaiting the result of testing floating bearings which may facilitate oiling. So that possibly we may introduce ball or roller bearings for the pivots as well as the thrust. My own impression is that if we can avoid steering wobbles we may like to remove all the friction possible from the front axle, and use a less efficient and more irreversible steering worm and nut. We are moving in this direction with the new box and the slower steering. (This as now proportioned should not make the steering heavier as the decreased speed should easily make up for the slightly lower efficiency [crossed out text] of the longer worm introduced for better lubrication). R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||