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 and road holding issues, recommending rear shock dampers and discussing the impact of split springs.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 78\2\ scan0257 | |
| Date | 20th February 1920 | |
| X.3461 To C.J. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} " " Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} " " EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} " " Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} " " By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X.963. RE STEERING. X.1295. X.2628. X.3461. With reference to Mr. de Salamanca and the cars not steering and holding the road as well as it is thought they did previously, before wasting any further time writing and rewriting memos - (1) It is necessary for all high speed cars when fitted with such frictionless springs as those provided on our car should abstain from greassing the springs. (2) Rear shock dampers must be fitted to all cars. The above two points, I have been pressing for adoption for a very long time, that no car will run satisfactorily at high speeds unless it has sufficient damping friction in the springing system. With reference to the split spring, I understand that these were running about for many years, and were fitted to all types of bodies, some of which were handled (to the best of my memory) by PN.{Mr Northey} and were in use in connection with the London Show Rooms during most of the years of the War. Personally, I had not the slightest suspicion that these would affect the steering until the recent complaints against the steering which caused me to look round for a possible cause. I then pointed out that the lateral flexibility of the rear of the car, due to the split springs, might make the steering appear unstable. Now this has been concluded to be part of the | ||