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).
Wandering steering on Bentley cars, diagnosing the cause as collapsed front spring leaves and suggesting a remedy.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\5\ scan0138 | |
| Date | 13th June 1934 | |
| C O P Y. To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Re: Bentley. The last two Bentley cars we have had recently had complaints of wandering steerings. I noticed it on our trials car, and Eric Burt's Bentley just arrived at Le Mans has got it. A noticeable feature is that it does not happen so much on paved roads as on a fairly uneven macadam road. At high speeds, the car dives (this is a description for want of a better term). We think it is caused by a sudden effect on the pivot lean, probably because the rear half of the front springs takes a shape such as I try to describe in the rough sketches. The springs taken off the trials car give every indication of this having happened to such an extent that the top leaves have collapsed. If this is so, you will probably be able to suggest an inexpensive remedy, instead of new front axles complete. New spring leaves, or new springs may be all that is required. Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} | ||