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).
'Silver Ghost' steering, arguing for the necessity of wheel balancing to prevent high-speed wobbles.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\N\July1925-September1925\ Scan299 | |
| Date | 1st September 1925 | |
| R.R. 493A (50 H) (D.D. 31, 12-6-25) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LGH.9.25. C To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} EY. c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} 'SILVER GHOST' STEERING. X9430 X457 We note in the minutes of the Conference reported in BJC/H17.9.25 that it was considered unnecessary to balance the wheels on the Silver Ghost chassis except in the cases of specific complaint: We assume that this applies to Silver Ghost chassis without front wheel brakes because when 4-wheel brakes are fitted, we believe there have been more instances of high speed wobbles on the Silver Ghost than there have been on the Phantom. This is due to the fact that there are many more cars on the road and they have run a much greater mileage. We cannot see how we can justify carefully balancing the whole of the revolving parts on the car including brake drums, and allow the wheels and tyres to be out of balance. As we have pointed out, other manufacturers balance road wheels and tyres. We know that it is possible for one wheel and tyre to be more than 1 lb. out of balance. The customer who is running his car in this condition must be having a miserable time with the steering, and R-R reputation must suffer. We attach a copy of a note from Cricklewood ref. Brl/H20.5.25. which shows that in May last there were a number of Silver Ghost cars fitted with 4-wheel brakes in trouble with this complaint. We have received similar complaints from the Paris Depot. We suggest it is urgent that all RR. cars fitted with 4-wheel brakes should have the wheels balanced. It is also desirable that every RR. car should run with balanced tyres and wheels. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||