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).
Front suspension damper issues, including wheel wobble, buffer clearances, oil leaks, and observations on the wheel carrier and exhaust system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0401 | |
| Date | 10th September 1916 | |
| -16- Front Spring Suspension Dampers. LOP. C. 83358. GL.{G. Linnett} 790. N.Sch.538/9. The front suspension gave a soft ride, and was stable. The wheels are quite definitely knock-need, which leads to the tyres wearing on the inside, which ultimately caused wheel wobble. Up to about 8,000 miles the car has a marked tendency to kick up at the rear over bumps and float about in a most unstable manner. We checked up the rear damper poundages and found them to be O.K. We traced the trouble to lack of poundage from the damper unit pressure pump. This was increased from 15 lbs/lbs 70 m.p.h. to 25/lbs.10 m.pl since when the damping and behaviour of the car was as good as any we have had to test. We found that the O.S.F. stop hit the buffers at 20 m.p.h. on max. damping, and the N.S.F. hit on occasions but not so frequently. The buffer clearances were checked, viz. N.S.F. 2¼" top 1¼" bottom. O.S.F. 2¼" top 1¼" bottom. We also found that the top wishbones hit the wings on severe bumps, and raised lumps in the wings just rear of the wing stays. Altogether 887 c.c. of oil have been added to the O.S.F. damper boxes and 360 c.c. to the N.S.F. box. The main leak on the O.S. was traced to the damper tube flange joint, slight leaks were also found at the bellows box unions. No leaks were apparent at the frame joints and this now appears to be a good job. Wheel Side Spare Carrier. LOP. 75200. No trouble was experienced. The securing bolts remained tight and the wheels rode rigidly throughout. Exhaust System. LOP. K.{Mr Kilner} 83603. No booms could be heard from the interior of the body. In itself, it is a good and efficient silencing system. There is a harsh hiss from the tail pipe which is much accentuated by surrounding trees, etc. The suspension gave no trouble and remained free, and made no noise. The Aluminised snout has turned a brown colour and does not warrant the expense of this treatment. | ||