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 report detailing issues with brakes, and observations on the controlled dampers and rear axle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\1\ scan0207 | |
| Date | 5th March 1935 | |
| -6- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}19/KW.5.3.35. through there not being sufficient clearance allowed for the belt stretching. The blades fouled the air intakes attached to the sides of the matrix. BRAKES. The brakes were very poor for the size and weight of the car. The vacuum assister was not progressive. The deceleration from 70 to 40 m.p.h. was assisted by the servoing of the brake shoes which made the poor efficiency of the brakes not so noticeable. A heavy load on the pedal at medium and slow speeds was necessary to pull the car up. The brake linings are only approximately .167" thick, and would have no life with efficient brakes. With the inefficient brakes it was necessary to reline the rear brakes during the latter part of the mileage. The brake drums were in a good condition. They are very heavy, being approximately .500" thick. There is no equalising system of the brakes, consequently to adjust the brakes the rear and front of the car have to be jacked up, each brake adjusted and tested by turning the road wheels, otherwise uneven braking would result, causing bad skidding. The adjustment of the brakes has to be done from underneath the car. It is fairly simple, but preferably a Depot job. CONTROLLED DAMPERS. The damping of the car was good, easy to operate and practically instantaneous in operation. The varying loads gave the necessary control. The operation is by rods to each damper cutting out the extra oil pipes and unit. The scheme is similar to that tried out on the Peregrine which we found to be very good, also on a Bentley but not connected up. The dampers were free from oil leaks and required no attention. The connecting link spherical joints were well protected and no dirt or water had entered. REAR AXLE. The rear axle remained quiet throughout the mileage. No loss or leakage of oil down the driving shafts. A slight leak developed at the housing joint of the pinion. | ||