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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).
Wheel balancing issues, the effect of unbalanced hubs, and steering wobble on demonstration cars.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 4\3\  03-page58
Date  1st December 1925
  
H.S.
V401
PNS/DH.{D. Henderson - Showroom}1.12.25.
TO AP
c. to BJ., HE. & CWS
FROM FH

WHEEL BALANCING.

When endeavouring to balance the wheels of our demonstration cars with practically no tolerance, it was found that two well balanced wheels could be taken off their hubs on the car and transposed, i.e. "A" wheel put on "B" hub and "B" wheel put on "A" hub, with the result that the wheels became out of balance, this want of balance being due to the fact that the hubs themselves, with their drums, were out of balance.

It may not be of material importance for the hub etc. to be well balanced having regard to its relatively small radius, but on the other hand, it should not be very difficult to ensure that these symmetrically turned parts should be in perfect balance and probably their being so would be a help on the general question of avoiding steering wobbles.

Recently it was reported that a steering wobble developed at 60 m.p.h. when going up a hill on B's "Phantom". It has not been found that the wheels were out of balance; I was informed, however, that the tyre pressure in front were :-
near-side wheel - 45 lbs.
offside wheel - 50 lbs.

Perhaps Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} would state whether he considers this unbalanced pressure could in any way contribute to a condition of steering wobbles.

There is no doubt that the car in question did strike a very bad patch of road.

F.H.
  
  


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