R1 Traditional Suspension Kit?

[Eric9610]

Has anyone developed a standard suspension kit that can replace the air suspension on the R1? I know other brands have aftermarket kits that can accomplish this. I believe a lot of people would be interested in something like this.

Sponsored

 

[Great Gatsby]

Not that I've seen. I wonder if we will ever see something like this on the R1. Maybe they can pull a Tesla and remove the air suspension and glass roof and swap for cloth seats to make the standard model even cheaper. Honestly, not a terrible idea.

 

[beatle]

Since the shocks are integrated with the truck's hydraulic roll control system, I think the possibility of this occurring is near zero. Plus, the advantages of air suspension on a truck are incredible. It seems that a lot of the coil conversions I've heard of are just for air-only systems on older sedans where maintaining an expensive air suspension becomes prohibitively expensive.

 

[madhat]

Since the shocks are integrated with the truck's hydraulic roll control system, I think the possibility of this occurring is near zero. Plus, the advantages of air suspension on a truck are incredible. It seems that a lot of the coil conversions I've heard of are just for air-only systems on older sedans where maintaining an expensive air suspension becomes prohibitively expensive.

Would be a great long term maintenance solution, but I see rivian just letting your R1 be bricked over supporting mods that affect their software's control over the vehicle. Now we're talking jailbreaking the software along with the suspension change . Which may be a required solution as these go out of warranty and rivian stops supporting especially G1s

 

[Eric9610]

If you are able to have a pre-configured port for ride height where it locks it to say standard, low or even high it could trick the software. Also I would assume that if developed the hydraulic position on the knuckle would stay so you would never know they are non air. Considering its 4k a corner to replace the air system and support for G1 and 2 will eventually end this will be a no brainer option and Rivian should even consider this as a service item for out of warranty cars...

 

[beatle]

I think the HRC is even more complicated than that. I don't believe it can just be effectively capped off and retain reasonable handling, but I could be wrong. There would definitely be compromises in capability by getting rid of its adjustability.

If you're looking for a solution after Rivian stops supporting the trucks (should be decades from now), then Rivian should make service manuals and diagnostic software available instead of nuking them from the internet so people can still keep the trucks on the road with factory or 3rd party replacement air dampers.

 

[savethemanual]

Would love to see Rivian offer a less complex suspension on the R1's and usher in a lower price point, but I know the reality is that's much easier said than done...especially on the production line when it's currently set up for the same on each vehicle.

 

[savethemanual]

Not that I've seen. I wonder if we will ever see something like this on the R1. Maybe they can pull a Tesla and remove the air suspension and glass roof and swap for cloth seats to make the standard model even cheaper. Honestly, not a terrible idea.

On the MY, glass roof is still there! Was less expensive to simply remove the UV coatings and cover it from the inside.

 

[Eric9610]

Would love to see Rivian offer a less complex suspension on the R1's and usher in a lower price point, but I know the reality is that's much easier said than done...especially on the production line when it's currently set up for the same on each vehicle.

I think a more reasonable solution is for them to engineer an out of warranty replacement version that can be purchased and installed for say $5-6k. (all 4 corners included) essentially a 1 and done after the first replacement of air suspension that seems to be failing at 67k miles. They could even sell 3 version / positions for the suspension Low, STD, High and let users choose the fixed height. This would be a win / win and the engineering is not so significant.

This is not true for all Rivians. OG Quads are always Quad in All-Purpose.

I think the HRC is even more complicated than that. I don't believe it can just be effectively capped off and retain reasonable handling, but I could be wrong. There would definitely be compromises in capability by getting rid of its adjustability.

If you're looking for a solution after Rivian stops supporting the trucks (should be decades from now), then Rivian should make service manuals and diagnostic software available instead of nuking them from the internet so people can still keep the trucks on the road with factory or 3rd party replacement air dampers.

I think its actually very simple and the hydraulics from my understanding are roll stabilization similar to using anti roll bars just continually adjusting. This should have no impact on air vs coil. In fact, this same system is on mclarens and they use coil. In the end its a matter of making a coil spring with the housing and sensors related to the roll stabilization system.

 

[beatle]

Rivian's dampers integrate with the HRC via a 3rd valve in the damper. Just yanking them out and capping the rest of the system will make the truck ride like a shopping cart or a pirate ship without a lot of tuning.

I can't think of any manufacturer who has re-engineered and downgraded their already-sold vehicles' systems just to make it cheaper for some of their owners to repair them - especially a feature that strongly differentiates their vehicles from the competition. To think that Rivian cares that these are expensive to repair out of warranty is silly. Rivian doesn't even want to allow people access to service manuals to save them money and to cut down on service center traffic. This whole effort would be a colossal waste of money for Rivian.

 

[Nixapatfan]

Not going to happen without tweaking the software. The kinetic sway bars will throw error code and go in turtle mode if no pressure is detected, same with air springs. Even if you figure out how to fool the sensors you still need to make custom sway bars and mounts. The way the subframe is laid out in relation to the suspension and drive motors there really isn't much room to get a sway bar in and around the drive motors. Also the hydraulic lines are above the battery so those would just need to be cut and left in place.

By the time you do all that you might have been better off just building generic Oem like parts instead as most of the cost is the Rivian brand premium.

 

[iansriv]

Would love to see Rivian offer a less complex suspension on the R1's and usher in a lower price point, but I know the reality is that's much easier said than done...especially on the production line when it's currently set up for the same on each vehicle.

I wanted that at the time I git my R1. I suppose the R2 is that.

 

[savethemanual]

I wanted that at the time I git my R1. I suppose the R2 is that.

Yeah, but it's not a three row like the R1S.

 

[Swezey]

Yeah, I understand the sentiment here.

But from a practical stand point. Not gonna happen. It's moving backwards. And the headaches to solve, once (if) solved, will be more expensive than the existing system.

Don't buy an R1, or any premium vehicle, if you're unable or don't want to pay for maintaining it.

We would need many more R1s on the road to make this even economically reasonable for a 3rd party to consider building. (IMO)

Sponsored