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).
'Phantom Steering', attributing the cause to balloon tyres and proposing hydraulic damping as a solution.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\P\July1926-September1926\ Scan066 | |
| Date | 18th August 1926 | |
| R.R. 235A (100 T) S.H. 159. (1-8-20) G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} 2800 TO HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to BS.{A J. Barnes - Assistant Manager} [Struck out] " WCR. [Struck out] " DY.{F R Danby} [Struck out] " DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} [Struck out] [STAMP: ORIGINAL] [STAMP: RECEIVED AUG 1926] [Handwritten: He] re. PHANTOM STEERING. [Handwritten:] X8430 Y4565 X7430 Y235 X8420 I cannot see why the new axle can have any detrimental effect on the steering of the type complained of, so that if it proves a practical and strong job, the phenomenon of steering need not give any anxiety as regards this axle. I believe the trouble has come about entirely through the use of balloon tyres, and possibly before these can be recommended for very fast large cars it will be necessary to add more damping to the steering system. This I have long thought should be hydraulic, but not in the form suggested by Lanchester, but just in the simple form of an hydraulic damper similar to that used for the vertical movement of the axle, just as a means of dissipating the energy. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||