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).
Typed letter with handwritten annotations concerning prevalent brake squeak complaints on Bentley cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\1\ Scan350 | |
| Date | 15th January 1936 | |
| Handwritten text: Martindale. What about Zinc bonded lining. Is this supposed to be better than R.R. for squeaks. Will it cause Alum shoes to over-expand X 1245 Typed text: To Bentley Motors Ltd., LEVALLOIS / Derby............. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} SVAI/ET/15.I.36 Re: BRAKE SQUEAKS ON BENTLEY CARS Sr. has asked me to write to you concerning the above complaint, which is becoming rather prevalent. As an example, we have had to attend to chassis B.5.EJ (Embiricos) on several occasions, owing to a complaint of squeaking brakes which were, and still are, very bad. This particular car has covered about 12.000 Kms. and we have in the past re-bedded the liners and re-set the pivotted shoes on several occasions. The last time we attended to the brakes, we were going to change the liners, but owing to the customer not being able to leave the car with us for a reasonable time, we were not able to carry out this work. Mr. Embiricos is sending us his car in about a week's time, so that we can change the liners with an idea of overcoming the trouble. We should state that this owner is a speed merchant, and consequently makes good use of his brakes. We have observed when making the pivot axle change-over and when attending to brakes generally, that on quite a number of cars, there was a considerable amount of mud etc.. around the internal brake mechanism and we are inclined to think that this may be one of the causes of brake squeaks. For instance, on our Trials car B.I.CW, the front brakes began to squeak rather badly and upon dismantling the front drums, we observed that there was a considerable amount of mud etc.. around the brake mechanism. New front axle pivots were fitted to this car on the 2nd.Sept.1935; the mileage was then 33.560 Kms. and consequently the brake mechanism was thoroughly cleaned. We should mention that we relined the front brakes on the 6th instant. The car had then covered 46.000 Kms. In this case the liners needed renewing. We have fitted water excluders on two Bentley cars, viz. B.I05.CW, ex Paris Trials car, and on chassis B.54.EF, Favier. We have not yet had much experience concerning the modification, but we should imagine that the excluders should prevent mud from accumulating internally and consequently finding its way on to the liners. We are aware that water excluders should only be fitted on cars when there is a complaint of brake shudders after the washing of a car. Upon reference to Works' Quarterly Complaint List Refere Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}24/HR.I3.II.35, we note that in six months there were 41 front brake squeaks and, for the same period, 88 rear brake squeaks and that Works attended to the brakes by re-bedding the liners or re-setting the pivotted shoes. Apart from changing the liners, the | ||