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).
The performance of the springing, steering, brakes, and cooling system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 22\3\ Scan086 | |
| Date | 28th February 1932 | |
| -3- Springing. The springing is very good. From the feel of the car we should say that comparatively low rating springs are used with very little damping. (Luvax hydraulic shock dampers are fitted). The road springs do not appear to be a well finished job and no means of lubrication is provided. Ball bearing spring shackles are employed. For high speed work and fast cornering, additional damping would be preferred to counteract the rolling which at first appears rather uncomfortable, and dangerous on corners but after extended use does not worry one very much. Steering. A Bishops cam-type steering is employed; it is a good steering and notably free from joggles and shocks; it is rather heavy shunting but appears to be becoming freer with use. The steering at high speeds is not quite as direct and stable as might be desired, the fault we should say lies with the insufficiently damped springing rather than with the steering. Brakes. The braking system employed is the usual Lockheed system assisted by a Dewandre vacuum servo operated from the induction system. Brakes are generally very good, free from noise, effective and directionally stable. If the brakes are applied when the engine is not running (i.e. without the assistance of the Dewandre vacuum servo) the braking is very ineffective. This condition however is seldom likely to occur, the throttle is not allowed to close and the engine therefore will not stop unless switched off. The hand brake lever operates a transmission brake which is very fierce and effective; owing to the excellence of the foot brake system the hand brake would only be used to keep the car stationary. Cooling System. The fan and water pump are driven by belt from a pulley on the front end of the camshaft at approximately camshaft speed. A strip type radiator rather similar to the American 'Harrison' radiator is employed with a loose shell, the matrix is made by Coventry Radiators & Presswork Co Ltd. | ||