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).
Letter detailing brake 'judder' issues after alterations, and queries about a new throttle and assisted clutch.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 102\3\ scan0121 | |
| Date | 20th February 1934 | |
| S/W Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}...from C. Re 20-G-4. GRY{Shadwell Grylls} See me C5/C20.2.34 X5360 I think perhaps you would like to know the experience I have had with the brakes of my car. You will remember that this car is about two years old, and has altogether covered about 38,000 miles. It was in the hands of Sir Henry for some time and I think you had it experimentally. We afterwards ran it in London quite a bit and then I took it over. During all this time, so far as I know there was never any trouble with the brakes. You did something to these recently, which I believe was increasing the percentage of braking power on the front wheels. I understand from gry.{Shadwell Grylls} on the telephone that the RAD. material was not fitted, but our ordinary standard. Shortly after you altered the brakes, however, they developed a very bad "Judder" at round about 18-20 m.p.h - perhaps a bit less. Cricklewood then roughed them up but during last week's fogs the brakes again developed a "judder" at the lowest of low speeds - that is, just before one actually came to a stand-still, which, of course, was very unpleasant in driving in traffic and fogs. Crawford doped the brakes, which appears to have cured this, but I have a feeling that they are now not so efficient. I thought you might like to know this history in case it has any bearing on the present problem of the Bentley brakes insofar as the "judder" is concerned, as this only appears to have come on since the increase in the percentage of braking on the front wheels. You recently fitted a new throttle to the carburettor. Will you please let me know what you want me to watch in this respect. I understand the idea is that the air valve will not require so frequent cleaning, and possibly it does something to improve the pop-back in the exhaust. Do you want me to leave the air valve uncleaned all the time, or is there anything special you want done or noted? Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} has already written you that the assisted clutch appears to be very nice. C. | ||