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).
Road test report detailing issues with a vehicle's rear axle, steering, brakes, and springing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\1\ scan0287 | |
| Date | 21th May 1936 | |
| { GRY.{Shadwell Grylls} HYMAN . { HARDY { MARTINDALE To. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From. G.W.H. X300 a GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/2/JAB. HOTEL DE FRANCE, CHATEAUROUX, Indre. France. 21st May 1936. 58-1 * 32. EX. Tuesday night. We proceeded to Paris Wednesday morning arriving at the Depot at 11-30 A.M. The car was immediately put on the ramp. The rear axle cover was removed and we could see the differential casing. The outside curve of the casing is exactly like the one designed for production and the one I have brought out for 22.G.V. I sent you the following telegram immediately after lunch hour :- ROBOTHAM. EXAMINED 32 EX REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL AS PRODUCTION PROCEEDING TO CHATEAUROUX WEDNESDAY BEDOIN THURSDAY. Afterwards I received your telegram by phone from Châteauroux and George V.{VIENNA} F.{Mr Friese} Dodd had been very busy locating knocks and rattles from underneath the rear part of the chassis, and had located a metalic knock from the side clearance of the rear springs in the rear shackles. There was .015" end clearance in these shackles. We had these washered up whilst at Paris. This has completely cured the heavy metalic knock when going over rough and pavé roads. The noise now is the rumbling of the body and the jazzing of the axle. My impression of the car is as follows :- Steering A feeling of insecurity at speed with the steering, not at all stable, feels like two lumps of lead at the other end of the steering. Car was continually diving right and left on the road from Boulogne to Beauvais. BRAKES. Too much front braking. Car wants to tie itself in knots when any sudden application is made; makes one wonder what would happen if a serious application of the brakes was made. Valued my neck in preference to trying it. Braking very nice with progressive pressure, but plenty of clanking going on somewhere round about the servo. SPRINGING. Consider it a good ride until you start to pick out numerous faults. (Continental conditions). Perfectly smooth roads not considered. On medium road surfaces, the ride both front and rear is a series of small sharp hard vibrations, like hard tyres. There is a low rumbling going on all the time. At speeds of 70-80, the car is very much inclined to pitch, very easily | ||