Driving like a boat - air suspension at fault?

[hudesigns]

Today I drove over 6 hours in my 2016 R1S dual max mostly on highway. At one point I was trying to avoid a tractor trailer suddenly merging in front of me, i swirled forcefully into outside lane. At that instant R1S swayed like a big boat becoming kind of unstable. It felt so clumsy. Funny thing is that it reminded me of my old AMC Pacer I had in late 80s! Is it normal behavior for R1S gen2? Or it has something to do with air suspension being not fully tuned?

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[electruck]

what were your suspension settings at the time (mode, height, ride feel)? the higher and softer the settings, the more it will do that.

 

[Killer95Stang]

Really... You are comparing a Rivian R1S to an AMC Pacer...... C'mon....

Even Wayne and Garth appreciate the upgrade...

 

[hudesigns]

what were your suspension settings at the time (mode, height, ride feel)? the higher and softer the settings, the more it will do that.

I usually use auto setting and on highway it’s on Low.

 

[hudesigns]

Really... You are comparing a Rivian R1S to an AMC Pacer...... C'mon....

Even Wayne and Garth appreciate the upgrade...

it just popped up in my mind at that moment! I still love it.

 

[sfvR1S]

It is a 7,000 lb suv so it wasn't meant for high speed slalom. I'm pretty sure every large suv probably would've behaved similarly.

 

[beatle]

It could be air, but it could also be hydraulic. The R1 uses hydraulic roll control, and if it's not properly pressurized, it can't create the roll resistance needed to keep the truck flat. This hydraulic pressure also affects damping.

Does the suspension oscillate a lot over bumps?

Try it in sport mode. It should corner pretty flat for a truck.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

2016? There’s your problem right there. You’re from another dimension and somehow crossed into this one, where laws of physics (and vehicle weight) is clearly different from what you are used to in your dimension. PS-ride firmness, not mentioned, is a factor in weight transfer and vehicle dynamics. Stability setting also a factor in defining how much the vehicle responds to your inputs. Pending setting, it may be intentionally less responsive—in order to help you maintain control.

 

[ndmiller]

Emergency maneuvers are by default executed in an emergency. There is no normal, you suvived, didn't spin or roll, and it felt odd. If the suspension was stiff with no give you most certainly would have spun or rolled 7000lbs is a bunch pf physics that cannot be overcome.

 

[hudesigns]

2016? There’s your problem right there. You’re from another dimension and somehow crossed into this one, where laws of physics (and vehicle weight) is clearly different from what you are used to in your dimension. PS-ride firmness, not mentioned, is a factor in weight transfer and vehicle dynamics. Stability setting also a factor in defining how much the vehicle responds to your inputs. Pending setting, it may be intentionally less responsive—in order to help you maintain control.

Just realized it’s 26 already! if it’s by design I’m all good with it. I do remember however when I tried off-road mode it struggled to get to high position. It even show warning that suspension was overheating and asked me to try it later.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Just realized it’s 26 already! if it’s by design I’m all good with it. I do remember however when I tried off-road mode it struggled to get to high position. It even show warning that suspension was overheating and asked me to try it later.

If you have a suspension leak, and you don't use kneel mode, you'd know it judging by how the car sits overnight, or over a couple days—lower than where you left it or listing to one side like a boat taking on water. You'd also hear the suspensions compressor running more often than it should (as well vehicle height as it tries to keep up with the leak).

If attempting to change height while stationary, and not in neutral, the suspension has to fight against traction of tires and gravity acting on all 7k+ lbs of car.

For a vehicle of its size and weight, a normal R1 shouldn't feel like a boat—except for when parking in tight spaces.

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