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).
Technical letter discussing steering issues, frame twist, and high-speed wobbling on experimental car models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 68\1\ scan0015 | |
| Date | 20th February 1928 | |
| 78430 Expl: Dept: Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., Derby. England. 78940L Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/LG20.2.28. Mr. Hancock from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} With reference to your reports re. the steering of 15-EX. As the steering is substantially the same as that of 12-EX which was quite fair when finally adjusted, we are looking for some alteration we have since made to account for the difference. The only thing we can hit on is the rubber engine mounting allowing the frame to twist. We believe this may move the steering box appreciably, the middle of the column is held by the cast dash, so then the steering wheel must wag about to accommodate the movement of the box. However this does not occur on 17-EX to any marked extent, and we believe it will only happen when the car has high speed wobbling tendencies i.e. the dancing front axle makes the frame twist causing shocks. We should like you to let us know as far as you can whether the shocks are due to the wheel rotating or the column moving as a whole. We are quite certain that Hartfords will improve the steering, and should like to know your impressions when you re-fit them. Also the result of higher tyre pressures. We should like you to increase the friction in the cross steering tube until you get 7 lbs. at the steering wheel rim with the front wheels jacked up. contd :- | ||