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 from the American branch to the UK branch discussing steering issues, specifically 'joggles' and sticking after use.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154\3\ scan0017 | |
| Date | 11th April 1927 | |
| X3682 ROLLS-ROYCE OF AMERICA, INC. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Oy3-E-41127 April 11th, 1927. Mr. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} W. Hives, Rolls-Royce, Ltd., Derby, England Re Steering Dear Mr. Hives: Many thanks for your Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/LG.22.3.27. Mr. Haldenby will have told you that we do not seem to suffer from "joggles" like the English cars we have seen, even when fitted with trial steerings having smaller worms and nuts than standard giving a steeper helix angle and a very reversible steering. Haldenby labored mightily on the steering and got us a long way out of the mess we were in when he arrived. We now get steerings very good when turned out from assembly, and every one is tested on both locks up to 180°F.{Mr Friese} with the standard oil and a 400 lb. weight on the end of the 11" pendulum lever. Our trouble is that after being perfectly fine on this test, they come back after 150 miles sticking even when cold. Your cable suggests the possibility that this may be due to forcing abrasive into the worm during lapping, and we are attempting to confirm this. (1) With regard to reactions on the steering from a rough road (joggles or "restlessness") the position of the front springs on the Phantom may have something to do with this. We figure that the front spring on the Phantom has an inclination rearwards of 1° or more, whereas our springs are approximately horizontal (as they had to be to use the old Silver Ghost non-brake axle). We taper the packings with the new axle to get the 2° pivot lean, which you suggested and which we have so far found desirable. Since we had a horizontal front spring on the Silver Ghost this | ||