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).
Modifications to the steering system, including a slower ratio to address high-speed wobbles and criticism.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 67\2\ scan0157 | |
| Date | 3rd September 1925 | |
| To BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} +8420 STEERING. X. 8430 X. 8520 R2/M3.9.25. Referring to the larger box fouling the frame, this was originally instructed to be 1/4" nearer centre, and which you agree is O.K. It is a surprise to us, as we understand this equipment has been running on the road for some time. For a very long time I have been anxious to make the steering slower, and even if we cannot immediately adopt the big worm. We were expecting Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} to tell us which pitch of worm is considered the best out of the many instructed. We have anticipated [strikethrough] that it will be in the neighbourhood of 2.2 full turns from lock to lock, and we sent you yesterday the instructions to proceed on these lines, subject to your extracting from the Expl: Dept: thier sanction. We appreciate that this matter has been delayed through the anxiety to find a solution for high speed steering wobbles, and also out of respect for PN{Mr Northey}'s judgement in these matters, who has rather discouraged the use of a slower steering. It is now pretty certain however that we must at once adopt one of these slower steerings, as we are so continually being criticised adversely with other people using the system which we have so long fathered, because they have been wise enough to use a slower ratio. Regarding the damped pendulum lever we do not understand quite what is needed for this item, but we are going over the drawings to see why any delay is necessary other than that affecting (1) splashers, (2) valances. With reference to the shock dampers we have the contd:- | ||