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 analysis of vehicle riding quality, comparing Cadillac, Packard, and Rolls-Royce models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 170\2\ img011 | |
| Date | 11th February 1931 guessed | |
| - 2 - C.C.L. connections. Packard are now using it. (4) Riding quality. After the New York Show two other Cadillac men and I drove up to Springfield in a PI and afterwards rode in the "gin palace" that I had over in England last year. We certainly confirm your ideas about the ride. I think the high mounting of the cantilever springs plus Brewster seat cushions have a lot to do with it. We felt:- (a) That the shock absorbers were really on the job but did not become violent at high oil-velocities. Even though lightly loaded one felt the axles scarcely at all. (b) The rear suspension was "lazy" in action but did not roll, due probably to the high mounting of the rear springs. (c) Pitching was present but was adequately damped and the oscillation center in pitching was far back thanks to the soft rear springs. (d) There was no "fender shake". As against this the effort of the six big cylinders was unpleasant, the trick gear changing was objectionable particularly as the gears felt so heavy and the car was slow, though the acceleration up to 50 was good. The body had a most phenomenal boom, and the slipper was stuck or nearly so. The steering on both cars was obviously suffering for lack of a shimmy shackle. (5) Jelly-ing. After the above frank outburst, (which hurts me as much as it does you) will you tell me one thing - Do you get fender shake (jelly-ing) on wet drums? If so how much compared with dry drums? I certainly agree that it gives a rotten ride to the rear passengers, especially if they should be so foolish as to lean their heads against the rear quarter panel which in our case is metal. Then the irritable motion of the front axle nearly stuns you. I think Rolls Royce suffers principally from lack of a shimmy shackle. I have built an axle here with 2¼" off center at the road and 2½° pivot angle from the vertical (viewed from the front) instead of the American | ||