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).
Letter discussing modifications to suspension and steering to improve ride quality and fix brake issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0210 | |
| Date | 18th April 1935 | |
| G.W. Hancock, Esq., Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, France. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}15/KW.18.4.35. It is a relief to hear that you have got rid of your brake jaggers. We should, however, like you to go back over the thick leaf front springs with your new axle to confirm the difference in the riding of the car. The point is that we know we have lost a small amount of leaf friction through having fewer leaves; on the other hand we want to learn how to use these thick leaf springs because there is no other way by which we can save 30 lbs. weight. It may be that we shall have to put a little dry friction in the rear shock absorbers to compensate for loss of leaf friction. We could easily do this by putting a couple of Hartford discs on the hydraulic lever when it leaves the case. I am proposing to send out to you some front Hartfords and brackets if you tell me that you want more dry friction with the thick leaf springs. I shall be interested to know whether your steering is improving, because if not I do not think it is worth running further, and if you can get a standard steering column and box from Paris we recommend that you change over. The point is that we want to get a true value for the centrally mounted wings and radiator, and do not want the issue to be confused because we have a non-standard steering. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||