Half Shaft / CV Joint Noise

[G_Land79]

I have had this fixed 3 times now. The third being the service bulletin performed at a service center. The noise has returned each time within 2 months. It is not quite as bad as original (and everything does drive fine) so I have just been dealing with it now

Sponsored

 

[Mandarin]

Seems like Rivian needs a new half-shaft.

I got my half shafts replaced due to this 2 times already, last time in March or 5000 miles ago now this clunking sound is back again, exactly the same

 

[Jonger1150]

Skip to Sept 2024 and we're still dealing with noisy half-shafts and now even Gen 2 owners are reporting it.

We need these things completely redesigned and replaced. If this persists when my lease is up in 33 months (lol), I'll be looking at the Scout or other similar option. I also have an R2 reservation and if people are reporting a clunky half-shaft, that order will be canceled.

 

[R1Tom]

Skip to Sept 2024 and we're still dealing with noisy half-shafts and now even Gen 2 owners are reporting it.

We need these things completely redesigned and replaced. If this persists when my lease is up in 33 months (lol), I'll be looking at the Scout or other similar option. I also have an R2 reservation and if people are reporting a clunky half-shaft, that order will be canceled.

I read somewhere the G2 Quad is going to use flanges instead of splines. That will be a big improvement

 

[Jonger1150]

I read somewhere the G2 Quad is going to use flanges instead of splines. That will be a big improvement

That would end the issue. Isn't the point of a spline to allow for play? There has to be a way to keep that play somewhat controlled from rapidly knocking back and forth.

 

[R1Tom]

That would end the issue. Isn't the point of a spline to allow for play? There has to be a way to keep that play somewhat controlled from rapidly knocking back and forth.

I am talking the spline that connects the hub to the half shaft. So instead of that spline that seems to have tolerance issues and creak and clunk...it will be a bolted flange. But I believe this is a G2 QM exclusive due to the torque levels.

 

[Frisbee]

To bring some clarity to this discussion it would be helpful if the type of Rivian were mentioned ie Generation, model, quad, tri, dual motor. There seems to be different design issues hence type of attempted repairs.

 

[Jonger1150]

I am talking the spline that connects the hub to the half shaft. So instead of that spline that seems to have tolerance issues and creak and clunk...it will be a bolted flange. But I believe this is a G2 QM exclusive due to the torque levels.

I expect a fix for the half-shaft on all models at some point, but who knows when. This is way too noisy for a modern $80,000+ vehicle. The issue is probably cost and priority. The clunk isn't going to break anything, so they probably deprioritized a fix. And the sucky part is there's no aftermarket company who can pony up a replacement part. We just have to live with it.

The jounce line fix was made and announced only because it was so grossly loud and impossible to avoid.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

I expect a fix for the half-shaft on all models at some point, but who knows when. This is way too noisy for a modern $80,000+ vehicle. The issue is probably cost and priority. The clunk isn't going to break anything, so they probably deprioritized a fix. And the sucky part is there's no aftermarket company who can pony up a replacement part. We just have to live with it.

The jounce line fix was made and announced only because it was so grossly loud and impossible to avoid.

In my case this is for the T where I am having the annoying issues. The S makes some of what I consider normal gen1 noises from time to time over certain bumps. The T is really noisy now unfortunately.

I think @Jonger1150 is mostly correct. If its a really widespread problem Rivian doesn't likely have the manpower or parts availability to keep replacing them.

So, the cases that are really bad or broken likely get the replacement.

Most auto service has what's called an escalation policy. I have no idea what Rivian's policy is I am only speculating here. For example, a service center or dealership may only have one or two senior techs and so the more pressing issues tend to go to the more junior techs and then they will get escalated if they come back to a more senior tech who is authorized to spend more time on it.

At some point it seems like Rivian determined that addressing this with no resolution wasn't sustainable and so they call it "normal" or "within specs". I like within specs better when dealing with customers because saying something is normal can seem a bit insulting to some folks.

Regardless Rivian is aware and I am sure they are working on a long term fix for this. Until then if its really sounding bad keep taking it back.

The problem with these half shaft noises is that they sound like loose suspension components. For those that don't have a thorough understanding of the truck it can ruin the entire ownership experience and cause folks to feel unsafe driving it. Someone that doesn't know vehicles doesn't know the difference between a half shaft and control arms, knuckles, wheel bearings, etc.

My T is sounding so bad now, and its not constant, but some days it sounds like the wheel is going to come off. I had them check torque on suspension components on a previous service so I am pretty confident its safe...but it still annoys the heck out of me.

 

[Jonger1150]

In my case this is for the T where I am having the annoying issues. The S makes some of what I consider normal gen1 noises from time to time over certain bumps. The T is really noisy now unfortunately.

I think @Jonger1150 is mostly correct. If its a really widespread problem Rivian doesn't likely have the manpower or parts availability to keep replacing them.

So, the cases that are really bad or broken likely get the replacement.

Most auto service has what's called an escalation policy. I have no idea what Rivian's policy is I am only speculating here. For example, a service center or dealership may only have one or two senior techs and so the more pressing issues tend to go to the more junior techs and then they will get escalated if they come back to a more senior tech who is authorized to spend more time on it.

At some point it seems like Rivian determined that addressing this with no resolution wasn't sustainable and so they call it "normal" or "within specs". I like within specs better when dealing with customers because saying something is normal can seem a bit insulting to some folks.

Regardless Rivian is aware and I am sure they are working on a long term fix for this. Until then if its really sounding bad keep taking it back.

The problem with these half shaft noises is that they sound like loose suspension components. For those that don't have a thorough understanding of the truck it can ruin the entire ownership experience and cause folks to feel unsafe driving it. Someone that doesn't know vehicles doesn't know the difference between a half shaft and control arms, knuckles, wheel bearings, etc.

My T is sounding so bad now, and its not constant, but some days it sounds like the wheel is going to come off. I had them check torque on suspension components on a previous service so I am pretty confident its safe...but it still annoys the heck out of me.

It sounds like struts that have lost their gas seal. If I never owned a vehicle with that issue, I'd be less likely to take notice. It sounds broken.

I have never taken it offroad yet, but I'd imagine it sounds pretty loud. Gotta crank the stereo to forget about.

20 years from now when the ear doctor asks me what did I do to ruin my ears, I'll just say, "I leased an early model Rivian with half-shaft design flaws".

 

[zsherry]

2023 R1T 12k miles. Purchased used. Had this issue since I picked it up.

Experiencing the rattling/creaking at slow ~25mph speeds from the front end. I took the wheel off and noticed that the connection at the motor end has a lot of play and makes quite a bit of noise when the wheel is turned manually. Reaching out to service with this info and will see what they decide to do.

This is mostly annoying but for a $90k truck (new) it just shouldn’t be making these kinds of noises

Sponsored