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).
Oil leak issue on Bentley front brakes and proposed solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\2\ scan0043 | |
| Date | 7th July 1933 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} " Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Copy to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} X 206 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}7/KT.7.7.33. OIL LEAKING ON THE BENTLEY FRONT BRAKES. This is to confirm our conversation with you that the plate, retaining the thrust washer at the bottom of the pivot on the Bentley front axle, distorts under running conditions and lets lubricating oil on to the front brakes. We have always had this trouble with the 2 bolt flange fixings. One successful experiment we carried out was to make this plate 1/2" thick on the 20/25, and this successfully cured the leak although only the present standard 2 bolts were utilised. The 4 bolt fixing, at present used on the Phantom, is generally speaking free from leaks. The fact that oil gets on to the Bentley front brakes is rather disastrous, because it means that the rear brakes have all the work to do, and in attempting to stop from 80 m.p.h. the rear brake drums heat up so much that the foot pedal reaches the boards. One other undesirable result of oil on front brakes shoes is increased brake thumps. It is understood that it will be possible to strengthen up this flange on the 200 cars now being made. The new front axle with 4° transverse king pin inclination has a 3 bolt flange and will be on test in France in the immediate future. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||