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).
Phantom steering issues, attributing the problem to balloon tyres and proposing a hydraulic damper solution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 17\3\ Scan035 | |
| Date | 8th August 1925 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to BJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} X7430 RL/M18.8.25. RE. PHANTOM STEERING. X. 8430 X. 8420 X. 7430 X. 235 X. 4565 I cannot see why the new axle can have any detrimental effect on the steering of the type complained of, so that if it proved a practical and strong job, the phenomenon of steering need not give any anxiety as regards this axle. I believe the trouble has come about entirely through the use of balloon tyres, and possibly before these can be recommended for very fast large cars it will be necessary to add more damping to the steering system. This I have long thought should be hydraulic, but not in the form suggested by Lanchester, but just in the simple form of an hydraulic damper similar to that used for the vertical movement of the axle, just as a means of dissipating the energy. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||