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).
Clarifying the function and risks of the front wheel braking system and comparing it to other cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 73\3\ scan0274 | |
| Date | 1st February 1925 | |
| R.R. 493A (50B) (D.B. 175 25-9-24) J.H.D. 4940 EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1/LG6.2.25. To PN{Mr Northey}: from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to BJ. c. to CWB. c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} S E C R E T. FRONT WHEEL BRAKES. We made it very clear in our original notes on Front Wheel Brakes that in spite of us having reduced leverage on the front, there was always the risk of locking the front wheels. I have noticed in the reports by the Technical Press on the RR. Braking System, that several writers have imagined that with our semi servo system with servo only operating the front brakes, that this is a scheme in which it is impossible to skid the front wheels. This, of course, is wrong. Although we claim an advantage, it is a very narrow one; we are very little better than the Hispano or other cars. On the Hispano, if the rear wheels are locked, the servo cannot exert any greater pressure on to the front brakes, but it is possible to get further pressure on the front brakes by means of the foot pedal, but as the direct braking by the foot pedal is so feeble, in actual practice very little increase in braking can be obtained. It must be remembered that when we lock the rear wheels we do not release the braking on the front wheels - whatever servo pressure is going to the front wheels, it is still maintained with the rear wheels locked until the brake pedal is released. As the grip of the tyre on the road depends on the load on the wheels and road surface when the weight contd :- | ||