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).
Steering system experiments, detailing friction adjustments and material tests to resolve steering wobble issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\2\ Scan102 | |
| Date | 9th September 1920 | |
| contd. -5- HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/LG9.9.20. think that fibre is the best material to use because whether it is oily or not it makes very little difference to the amount of friction. We have tried a plain thrust washer on both pivots as well as on one. We have found on the average, that friction on one pivot is all we can afford to introduce without bringing on other faults. We came to the conclusion sometime ago that our best steering was one where we had - 1. .25" backward lean on the pivots. 2. Plain thrust to provide friction on the steering pivot. 3. The side steering rod had only 2 springs instead of 4. Springs set up to give 600 lbs. on ball. We would like very much for America to try a steering fitted up this way and see what complaints they can find with it. Acting on Mr. Royce's instructions we have also tried friction in the steering column instead of in the pivots. We found that the effect of friction in the steering column was to greatly increase the tendency for low speed steering wobbles; it had the same effect as if the wheels was clutched tightly. The friction in the steering column was quite effective as regards stopping the oscillation in the steering wheel. We have also carried out some tests by fitting an axle of the 500 type car on to the present car. This axle has vertical pivots, not inclined, Our impression was that it was very much more difficult to produce steering wobbles with this axle. We could produce them if we leaned the pivots back sufficiently. On these pivots, the fact of them having Contd. | ||