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).
Axle, suspension, and tyre specifications, including future design considerations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\1\ scan0179 | |
| Date | 4th May 1935 guessed | |
| -3- The front axle is a very stiff and heavy I-section beam. Springs are shackled both ends, and Alfa-Romeo radius rods are used. They say they never get any effects from hard braking, except a slight pattering if the tyres are too soft. The back axle is of the torque tube type, and they are not altogether pleased with this. The wheels float backwards and forwards in the horizontal plane at either side, and they have traced this to too much overhang of the sphere at the rear of the gearbox. They are adding extra cross-members behind the gear box and behind the driver's seat. Their rear springs they find should be much softer than the front. Tyre pressures, however [redacted], are 15 lbs in the front and 24 lbs. in the rear. The tyres they use are much larger than normal racing tyres, and, they say, a great improvement in the road holding. The rims are continued further round the sides of the tyres than usual. Their shock absorbers are double duralumin Hartfords, but not set at all tight. The chassis could be bounced up and down on them easily. They thought the idea of a combined hydraulic and Hartford shocker attractive, and said that Alfas either are or were experimenting with one. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry{Shadwell Grylls} is reporting on the Girling brakes. They say that their next car will be a rear-engined one like the German Auto-Unions, with the Porsche torsion bar suspension. They think this combination good for acceleration with a high power-weight ratio. E/TSN. | ||