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).
Service complaints about brake drum wear and an evaluation of alternative materials and suppliers.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179\2\ img276 | |
| Date | 23th February 1932 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Dy.{F R Danby} BRAKE DRUMS x4612 A service complaint which has always been with us is the wear of brake drums. This is an expensive repair because it means machining the drums and new Ferodo material. For some time now we have been experimenting with different materials for brake drums, also with ribbed brake drums. We have tried cast iron drums in our own foundry, made by the Piston Ring Co. and made by Messrs. Lake & Elliott. The drums made in our own foundry developed a whole series of small cracks after excessive use of the brakes. The material which stands out to be far the best is Lake & Elliott cast iron. These people are specialising on brake drums and are supplying most of the drums for 'buses and lorries which have a very heavy duty. We do not claim that there is much gain from squeaks and groans when using cast iron drums, the great advantage is absence of wear. We are arranging that in future any cars which run 10,000 miles should have Lake & Elliott brake drums. We also recommend that J.3. or any of the new cars should start life with this material. An interesting confirmatory test of brake drums was made on Mr. Fairey's car. Mr. Fairey wore out our standard brake drums very rapidly and it was for this reason that his car was fitted up with Lake & Elliott cast iron ribbed drums on the rear, and we fitted high carbon steel ribbed brake drums on the front. After 4,000 miles, which included a 2,000 mile Continental tour, we examined the car and found that the Lake and Elliott drums were in perfect condition but the high carbon ribbed steel drums on the front had worn considerably and were badly grooved. These have now been replaced by Lake & Elliott type drums in the front. HE. | ||