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).
Criticisms and comparisons of various steering systems, including issues with high-speed wobble.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\3\ Scan271 | |
| Date | 25th May 1928 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} PN.{Mr Northey} c. to CWB. x7430 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RmL/LG25.5.28. STEERINGS. X5430 x8430 We are still criticised for our steerings. We admit that they are not perfect but we believe that we are progressively getting better by concentrating on the present design and improving it by degrees. Unconventional types of steering are frequently recommended to us as being better in principle than our own - trials of these steerings almost invariably demonstrate that, while they may have certain advantages, they also have objectionable features which out-weigh these davantages. We were told the Marles steering was better than our own, the impression really coming from the fact that Marles steerings are mostly fitted on small cars. When we had a unit built up for the 40/50, we found the weight and speed range of a RR. car quite altered its characteristics and it was inferior to our own production. Similarly, cars with double steering have recently been quoted as doing away with high speed wobbles and road shocks: we tried the Cottin Desgouttes - it wobbles furiously. The Lancia steering is very far from perfect in spite of the small dimensions of the car. Lockharts Stutz had double steering and all the evidence points to his death being due to a high speed wobble. contd :- | ||