Suspension Creaks Changing Drives Modes (up/down)+R1S

[JalenHurtsBirds]

Just took ownership of a 2023 r1s that had about 18,000 mi on it.

Was playing around with it in the driveway the other day and changed the drive modes. It started mechanically creaking on both axle and making noises when the car was raising up and down. It's not live valves opening or closing but more metal creaks.

I'm not sure if the drive modes had been changed in a while, but is this normal?

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[Armeniandave]

Mine does it also s oI believe it is normal. I've had a loaner and it did it too.

 

[Tango45]

I think that, on raising and lowering, it's relatively normal. I had clicking when making changes to throttle input and included it in a larger service ticket. When I got to the service center and drove around the parking lot with them, they noticed it right away and knew what the issue/fix was. My advice is to keep a list of issues and once it gets to a point where you have a bunch or you have a serious one, set up an appointment and include them all. When you get there, be open to being told "that's normal". In my experience, at this point, the service centers know (most) of the issues and can hear them on a test drive right away. I wouldn't, however, just open a ticket for a single odd noise or minor issue. Anything that threatens a trip or daily usability, open a ticket; anything that sounds off, but doesn't have any other impact, take a note and wait for a critical mass of issues or the emergence of a larger issue.

Just my approach.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Clicking is normal and if your in park or at a stop in drive or reverse some creaking will be heard as well. The creaking is coming from the brakes as the height of the vehicle changes. The sound is much like an ice when your on a hill and stopped and you initially let off the brakes and quickly reapply them.

 

[JalenHurtsBirds]

Clicking is normal and if your in park or at a stop in drive or reverse some creaking will be heard as well. The creaking is coming from the brakes as the height of the vehicle changes. The sound is much like an ice when your on a hill and stopped and you initially let off the brakes and quickly reapply them.

Thanks for the reply. It's not so much clicking or valves opening and shutting, but creaking/ticking/metal noise. What you describe does sound like it what it is though.

Does it mostly do it when you're in park or on the break and adjusting drive modes?

Will it make these noises in neel mode? Also will the suspension constantly adjust while driving or does it in whatever mode we have picked?

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Thanks for the reply. It's not so much clicking or valves opening and shutting, but creaking/ticking/metal noise. What you describe does sound like it what it is though.

Does it mostly do it when you're in park or on the break and adjusting drive modes?

Will it make these noises in neel mode? Also will the suspension constantly adjust while driving or does it in whatever mode we have picked?

Yes those are normal sounds. Can be heard when moving too but less likely to hear as speeds increase. The brake creaking sound only happens when stopped. Yes it will also happen when going into kneel mode but seems less preval when lowering vs raising.

Suspension does adjust while driving to maintain current ride height. If you have auto ride height turned on, it will automatically switch between the low and standard ride height based on the speed. The only other time it will automatically change. Ride heights is if you have it any high ride height. If you're in high high and you go over 45 it will lower you back down into the standard.

 

[LNL_HUTZ]

The creaking is coming from the brakes as the height of the vehicle changes.

This is the answer for most creaking-type noises, which happened in my old Ram with air suspension and now with my R1T. The raising and lowering sequences happen one set of wheels at a time so your headlights never pitch up and blind people. So on the way up, it’s rear-front-rear-front and on the way down it’s front-rear-front-rear. If you think about the brakes, they are holding all four wheels in place while the height change creates a little bit of rocking, so something has to give.

OP, if this doesn’t sound like a rational explanation for what you are hearing in your Rivian, then you might want to get it checked out. I’m not sure about the “metal noise” part of your description.

 

[JalenHurtsBirds]

Yes those are normal sounds. Can be heard when moving too but less likely to hear as speeds increase. The brake creaking sound only happens when stopped. Yes it will also happen when going into kneel mode but seems less preval when lowering vs raising.

Suspension does adjust while driving to maintain current ride height. If you have auto ride height turned on, it will automatically switch between the low and standard ride height based on the speed. The only other time it will automatically change. Ride heights is if you have it any high ride height. If you're in high high and you go over 45 it will lower you back down into the standard.

What mode do you recommend for just local road driving and smooth highway driving.

This is the answer for most creaking-type noises, which happened in my old Ram with air suspension and now with my R1T. The raising and lowering sequences happen one set of wheels at a time so your headlights never pitch up and blind people. So on the way up, it’s rear-front-rear-front and on the way down it’s front-rear-front-rear. If you think about the brakes, they are holding all four wheels in place while the height change creates a little bit of rocking, so something has to give.

OP, if this doesn’t sound like a rational explanation for what you are hearing in your Rivian, then you might want to get it checked out. I’m not sure about the “metal noise” part of your description.

I'll post a video when I get back to my house and update. Thanks for the quick reply.

Is there a specific mode you recommend for just regular local road driving and highway? It's the wife's SUV so just trying to get everything set up for her.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

What mode do you recommend for just local road driving and smooth highway driving.

I keep mine in standard. You will get slightly better efficiency in low on the highway but with less suspension travel. The ride is a little bit rougher on anything but very smooth while maintained highway.

 

[Treebeard]

Just took ownership of a 2023 r1s that had about 18,000 mi on it.

Was playing around with it in the driveway the other day and changed the drive modes. It started mechanically creaking on both axle and making noises when the car was raising up and down. It's not live valves opening or closing but more metal creaks.

I'm not sure if the drive modes had been changed in a while, but is this normal?

Yes it’s normal. Air is moving, joints are moving, plastic is moving.

 

[godfodder0901]

Just took ownership of a 2023 r1s that had about 18,000 mi on it.

Was playing around with it in the driveway the other day and changed the drive modes. It started mechanically creaking on both axle and making noises when the car was raising up and down. It's not live valves opening or closing but more metal creaks.

I'm not sure if the drive modes had been changed in a while, but is this normal?

Make sure you aren't pressing the brakes when changing heights.

 

[JalenHurtsBirds]

Make sure you aren't pressing the brakes when changing heights.

So just have in park and not hold/breaking? Or do it while driving?

 

[godfodder0901]

So just have in park and not hold/breaking? Or do it while driving?

Do it whenever you need, just don't sit there with your foot on the brakes. If you are parked, the vehicle will apply brakes to the axle that isn't moving.

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