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).
Report from the U.S.A. on issues with a Bentley, including engine boom, brake problems, and commentary on independent suspension.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\2\ img171 | |
| Date | 12th February 1934 | |
| COPY OF REPORT RECEIVED FROM Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} IN U.S.A. DATED 30.1.34. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Hdy.{William Hardy} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/MA.12.2.34. I have now got the Bentley to Detroit. It has occupied rather too much of my time up-to-date. For some reason the boom on this car at 2500-3000 R.P.M. has become about as bad as the Green Car used to be, shall investigate this to see if it is floorboards or mounting. The other bad feature is the front brakes. Considering that we have been fitting these to our cars for seven years, they are not as good as one would expect. More than likely the M.R. material has a bearing on the result because the faults are emphasised after the car has been washed. Apart from thumps one gets that high frequency front axle jagger when applying the brakes with a "flick" in an emergency. This should not be tolerated because, apart from frightening the life out of the driver, it makes him take his foot up. Reference to the long string of tests we did in the early days when we were forced to flexible drums for lack of a torque arm, should indicate a palliative. As far as I remember chamfering the leading edge of the shoe will help and we don't do it now. Also, now we know the faults of M.R. let's give the M.Z. a good run with steel shoes and flush headed rivets to find out if it is any better. With regard to independent suspension, it is not possible in Detroit at the moment to get a clear cut picture of the position. For one thing, everyone is tearing around trying to get the niggers out of the production lines. Again, it's not too easy to get hold of representative production cars to try as dealers, demonstrators etc. are clamouring for something to sell. However, this position will have ironed out in a few weeks. At present Cadillacs have not tried a Chrysler, no production cars are available and the ones exhibited were not drivable. | ||