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).
Effects of fitting new shock absorbers and moving the rear springs from below to above the axle.
| Identifier | Morton\M3.7\ img001 | |
| Date | 27th June 1919 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from EH. c. to CJ. c. to BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} EH4/LG27.6.19. 27th. June 1919. ORIGINAL. Handwritten: X.682 Handwritten: X.2631 Handwritten: X.3461 Handwritten: X.2628 SPRINGING. In order to fit the new shock absorbers to 49-GB we had to take off the rear springs which were below the axle and fit springs in the standard place above the axle. Immediately we fitted the springs above the axle, we noticed that the axle appeared to hold the road very much better. The explanation appears to be that the springs below the axle reduce the side thrust on the frame when one wheel strikes a bump or a pot-hole or in other words, it makes the springing so that the axle can move sideways or one wheel to bump more freely. We suggest that although allowing the axle to move more freely sideways ought to be good as regards reducing the side shocks on the body; it is not good when we have a heavy axle which the only way we can keep on the road is to take all advantage of the weight of the frame and body to keep it down. It is very difficult to appreciate the difference in movement of the body as regards comfort with the springs below or above the axle but the car as a whole feels undoubtedly very much more comfortable with the springs above the axle. We felt most unhappy about the axle bumping about on the road until we made this change. We have since tried some of the new chassis' on test which have the split springs above the axle. The axles on these cars are very good for holding the road; quite different Contd. R'L'S'D' LTD' (1000 11/17) (R'L'S'D' 210' 10/18) C' D' 2231 | ||