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).
Steering improvements for the 40/50 HP model, comparing road reaction and performance with other steering systems.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\Q\2April1927-June1927\ 80 | |
| Date | 6th May 1927 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to OY. ORIGINAL STEERINGS. X8430 R8420 There is no doubt that on the 40/50 HP. the new type axle has very considerably improved the steering. Nevertheless we are of the opinion that at speeds above 50 m.p.h. on a bad road there is still a considerable amount of road reaction to be felt on the wheel when the worm and nut have become perfectly free with hard usage. We have an excellent road for shewing up this point in the neighbourhood of the Works, and when we last tried 7-EX we were conscious of the defect mentioned. We tried the latest type of Marles steering on the 'Invicta' over the same road and while being light, selective and self-centering, we did not get road reactions. We hold no brief for the Marles steering, having tried it with but moderate success on the Phantom, and we appreciate that it may deteriorate with wear, also that on a car of the size of the Invicta the steering problem is in no way as difficult as on a 2 1/4 tons vehicle - we do however feel that the projected improvements to the Phantom steering are well worth while. We are somewhat disappointed with the result of lowering the ratio in the worm and nut considering the attendent increase in the difficulty of manufacture. We believe that the alteration to the side steering tube contd :- | ||