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).
Negative consequences of fitting 4-wheel brakes to the 40/50 HP model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 73\2\ scan0097 | |
| Date | 22th November 1923 | |
| CJ. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BJ. X9940 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/LG22.11.23. 4-WHEEL BRAKES. We suggest that even at this stage, we might save the Company time and money if we had the Sales opinion on certain features which we shall lose when we fit 4-wheel brakes to the 40/50 HP. as at present arranged. We have always made a feature of the splendid steering lock on the 40/50 RR. and of its ability to climb the Continental graded roads with numerous hair-pin bends without reversing. When we fit 4-wheel brakes we immediately increase our turning circle from 49 ft. to 59 ft. The effect of this on the road is more than it appears in figures. It will be a fact that the 40/50 RR. car with 4-wheel brakes will have a worse turning circle than any high grade car we know of today. Another feature is, because of the torque of the braking being taken on the front springs, it will be necessary to increase the stiffness of the front springs by 25%. This increased stiffness may not be noticeable under fast touring conditions, but when it comes to a Lady's carriage, it will undoubtedly decrease the quality of the riding. Our opinion is, the necessity for the use of 4-wheel brakes may only arise once over a very considerable mileage esepcially in the case of a Town Carriage, on the other hand, the features on the car which will be definitely less good, are features which will make themselves manifest to the owner every time he uses the car. We could send a car to London with these | ||