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).
Front axle control and steering characteristics of the 20 HP model compared to other models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 101\1\ scan0078 | |
| Date | 12th November 1929 | |
| X 5420 To Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/AD12.11.29. X7420 20 HP. FRONT AXLE CONTROL. With reference to Da{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}2/M8.11.29, we do not think the 20 HP. has ever been so susceptible to loss of steering control through front braking torque as the 40/50 HP. We think the reason is that the 40/50 HP. originally had considerably more front braking than the 20 HP. and it was then that we got this complaint. Additionally the 20 HP. front axle starts life with 3 1/4° as backward lean, whereas the Phantom has only 1 1/4°. Whilst therefore, we do not wish to say that the front axle control is unnecessary, we have not been pressing for it. If the front axle control is brought in on the 20 HP. we hope that the spring seats will not be lowered as on the Phantom II as this gives us bad results. The 20 HP. steering at present seems to satisfy almost everyone, and therefore we are rather averse to making front axle changes. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||