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).
Issues with rear and front spring deflection, its effect on steering, and potential compromises.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\2\ Scan270 | |
| Date | 14th May 1930 | |
| -3- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Bm.1/ML.14.5.30.Contd: cars leaving the Works have over 9" rear spring deflection under full load which means that they are on the absolute limit and we are getting complaints of hitting the buffers. On the other hand, they cannot have much more than 3" front deflection without striking through. We think that we have gone too far with flexible rear springs and not far enough with flexible front springs. The attached note from Bm. indicates the results obtained with the 4½" deflection front springs on Phantom 1. We agree that the steering is adversely affected by these springs but we consider that we shall have to work to get it right, though naturally the lower rating front springs ought not to be fitted to anything but purely luxury type vehicles. Apart from these weaker front springs, we have made little or not progress in dealing with this trouble. As a standard compromise we can reduce pitching slightly by increasing the damper loads, but this is likely to bring up the old M.P.H. complaint of dithering. It is of interest to note that by means of their double rating front springs the Lancia Lambda run on an initial deflection of 7 3/4" and the higher rating auxiliary spring does not come into operation until after a further 2 1/2" deflection of this very weak spring. The fact that this car has a selective steering at high speeds is rather remarkable, though of course it is far from being ideal from the point of view of road shocks. (3) Poor Road Holding at High Speeds. The fact that we have been able to satisfy Mr. | ||