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 and issues with various vehicle components including the bonnet, steering, propeller shaft, and brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page177 | |
| Date | 14th December 1931 guessed | |
| -11- Stiffening Plates E.57179/80. The bonnet has been free from knocks. We have not observed any disadvantages from the new design of the concealed hinges except that when the bonnet is open there is no stay for it to rest on and a big strain is placed upon the hinges. STEERING. The steering is not sufficiently stable at high speeds, it has to be continually corrected and is very bad with a high wind blowing. It is difficult to hold the road with the indefinite camber that is met with on the continent. Joggles of the steering wheel were at times severe. Higher rear tyre pressures improve it and an improvement was made by increasing the poundage of the rear shock dampers. It is considered to be standard up to speeds of 90 M.P.H. There has been no sign of low speed wobbles. It has been very light and self centre-ing has been good. Oil has leaked from the bottom plate of the steering box. SIDE & CROSS STEERING TUBES to LOP.G.53601 LOP.F.56003. The friction load of the side steering tube was 3 lbs. It has remained consistent. The contacts have been well lubricated. The cross steering tube will not retain its friction load of 10 lbs. We have set it to this load three times and each time it drops to 7 lbs. and remains consistent at this load. The wear of the contacts is so small that we cannot measure it with a micrometer. It appears that the load of 10 lbs. is too high for the contacts which causes enough wear to take place until the load drops to 7 lbs. when the wear of the contacts ceases. It is a question that the spring loading is too high for the area of contacts. There has been ample lubrication throughout the mileage. The contacts are not machined to give a true full bedding on the ball ends, neither of the outer contacts were bedding in the centre, whilst the inner were bedding in the centre and not on the outer edges. Attention will have to be given to this feature as it is a complaint on all cars with steering complaints in Depots. PROP. SHAFT to LOP.G.54802 - N.L.3317. G.54920 Prop. Shaft 3.000" dia. To suit synchromesh gearbox. The propeller shaft fouled the cross member on the maximum rebound on several occasions. We have had no other trouble with it. The mechanics joints have been perfectly oil tight. It has not been necessary to add any oil throughout the mileage. FRONT AXLE & BRAKES to LOP.G.54885. Anti-squeak Pivoted type Brakes. .375 Thick Brake Shoes G.54941/2 Ferodo | ||