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).
Reduced ride comfort caused by fitting stiffer front springs.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\6\ Scan190 | |
Date | 12th July 1923 | |
R.R. 403A (40 H) (SL 12 12-7-23). J.H. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} ORIGINAL EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. 2628 / 4261 ✓ REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/1027.2.31. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. RG.{Mr Rowledge} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} RIDE COMFORT - REDUCED BY FITTING FWB. RE. STIFFER FRONT SPRINGS. Our tests show that when we increase the stiffness of the front springs, we reduce the quality of the springing especially on a car used as a town carriage. We feel sure that on cars which customers have run with the present standard springs, they will criticise the riding when the front springs have been increased 25%. The condition which shows up the disadvantage of the stiffer springs, is when running slowly over a fairly good road. This is a condition in which we can always appreciate any slight variation in the setting of the shock absorbers. If the shock absorbers are at all stiff, they spoil the riding. On the present standard 40/50 HP. cars, the front springs have 3.5" initial camber and from the normal deflection there is 3" bump. On the new springs used in connection with front brakes, the initial camber is 2¾", and the bump from normal deflection is 2¼". We admit that stiffer front springs may be the best compromise with the present difficulties but we feel certain that we shall not be satisfied with the inferior riding qualities. We are of the opinion that we should at least be experimenting with a control for the front axle independent of the springs. We consider that it will not be long before other makers develop a satisfactory control contd:- | ||