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).
Shock absorber loading, damping, and ride comfort tests on various models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 16\4\ Scan166 | |
| Date | 23th February 1930 | |
| -2- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/An.3/Al.23.2.30.Contd. inch of rear spring deflection for comfort we shall always have complaints similar to those tabulated. With regard to the shock absorber loading. We consider from our tests that we have always erred on the side of over damping for the average Rolls-Royce owner who rides in the back and seldom is driven at more than 60 M.P.H. The loads we use at present on Phantom ll are :- FRONT Up. 70. Down. 30. REAR. " 80. " 85 . These loads were arrived at by means of a series of tests lasting a considerable time carried out independently both at Derby and Chateauroux. The results of these tests were reported in Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/LG2/ 29.4.29. We started G.W.Hancock off with loads of 100 down and 50 up on both front and rear dampers and he reported unfavourably on the low speed riding. We repeated these tests recently on the front in connection with frame 'jellying'. We are just concluding a further series of tests on damper loadings front and rear which confirm that our standard poundage is on the upper limit for a good low speed ride. We have tested out the schemes of air vessels to give a small range of undamped movement on the 20 HP. and the spring controlled connecting link for the same purpose on the 40/50. The results in both cases indicate that they produce axle dither and have not a very good effect on pitching. G.W.Hancock has been running the spring controlled links on 23-EX in France. | ||