Have original half shafts been revised?

[alexm305]

Little late on this thread but just went to SC with additional noise from front suspension. Already had replaced jounce lines, retro fitted dampners, and half shafts for past issues covered under warranty. SC said there is an updated Half shaft design for Gen 1 that they will be putting on along with new control arms that is now better addressing older/original half shaft issues. Lets see if that works but at least updated parts are coming out and worth asking about when possible.

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[aAlpine]

Just had my front halfshafts replaced on my Gen 1 quad, H revision now exists: PT00055489-H

 

[Robot Overlord]

In my last appointment to address the clicking noise, they added ting washers rather than replace the half shafts. For now, the solution is working and I'm happy with it.

Same from my experience - ting washers replaced not the half shafts (yet) on my Feb 23 R1T.

 

[Robot Overlord]

I checked mine and it is the g revision as well. Car has been flawless since getting them replaced, just hope that there is longevity

How do you check the part version?

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

How do you check the part version?

Probably label on it, or work order. https://ebay.io/m/uNolzq

 

[R1T Preds Fan]

I’ve had my washers replaced twice on my Jan ‘23 build Gen 1; they seem to last between 20k-30k for me as I’m at 86k now and the knocking is back and much louder than the first two times.

Looks like only the parts will be covered this time as the last were done just before the warranty cutoff. Of course the washers are only $6 of the $200 repair looking at my last work order

 

[Robot Overlord]

Probably label on it, or work order. https://ebay.io/m/uNolzq

I had D variants on all four corners until last week. Now I have H variant up front and the original Ds in the back.

 

[jrmbadger]

Had them replaced last October, started hearing the clicking again this spring and just had them replaced last week. H variant. They also replaced the wheel hub bearings.

 

[Robot Overlord]

Had them replaced last October, started hearing the clicking again this spring and just had them replaced last week. H variant. They also replaced the wheel hub bearings.

They didn’t replace my hubs (yet). Time will tell.

 

[jrmbadger]

They didn’t replace my hubs (yet). Time will tell.

I asked the tech if there was anything I could do to prolong the life of these and he said to ride in low suspension height because it reduces the extreme angle these things are under. I also switched from 20" AT wheels that weigh like 55 lbs each to AS that weigh like 34 pounds each and are slightly shorter (275 60 instead of 65) - so perhaps that will help.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I asked the tech if there was anything I could do to prolong the life of these and he said to ride in low suspension height because it reduces the extreme angle these things are under. I also switched from 20" AT wheels that weigh like 55 lbs each to AS that weigh like 34 pounds each and are slightly shorter (275 60 instead of 65) - so perhaps that will help.

That doesn’t sound right at all. Standard height is default for All Purpose, the mode that is designed for nearly all occasions. And alignment is optimized for it. I don’t see how a lower height and suspension angle deviations from it could possibly reduce strain on components. If anything the negative camber adds strain.

Don’t believe everything you hear from techs. They might know how to follow repair manual instructions on repairs, but they might not understand the science/engineering behind the parts they work with. Unless an engineer confirms it, the claim makes no sense.

 

[jrmbadger]

That doesn’t sound right at all. Standard height is default for All Purpose, the mode that is designed for nearly all occasions. And alignment is optimized for it. I don’t see how a lower height and suspension angle deviations from it could possibly reduce strain on components. If anything the negative camber adds strain.

Don’t believe everything you hear from techs. They might know how to follow repair manual instructions on repairs, but they might not understand the science/engineering behind the parts they work with. Unless an engineer confirms it, the claim makes no sense.

I don't know enough either way, but I swear I saw somewhere else on this forum that riding in low height was recommended for this issue - of course when I want to find it, it's buried under the other 300 pages of threads about this issue! LOL

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I don't know enough either way, but I swear I saw somewhere else on this forum that riding in low height was recommended for this issue - of course when I want to find it, it's buried under the other 300 pages of threads about this issue! LOL

"I heard it on the internet"... Yah, that has always worked. I think the crux of the issue is more about tolerances and manufacturing. Too much tolerance = slop and wear due to movement. Not enough tolerance = strain and wear/failure.

Official guidance has always been to default to All Purpose for most driving. The other modes are design specifically for occasions they are named for and not meant to be used all-the-time. But some do because they want to look cool or get most range or whatever, ignoring or not aware of consequences.

 

[jrmbadger]

"I heard it on the internet"... Yah, that has always worked. I think the crux of the issue is more about tolerances and manufacturing QC. Too much tolerance = slop and wear due to movement. Not enough tolerance = strain and wear/failure.

Found it: Rivian Forums - apparently the lower ride height setting is supposed to reduce the angle of the drive shaft with respect to the wheel. Not sure why they wouldn't design it for "normal" height as you suggested, as low is a rougher ride. Maybe @HaveBlue can chime in on what the evidence for this is.

 

[Mathme]

Gen 1 R1T with 40k miles on it. Had the half shafts up front replaced in April. Knocking noise came back and of course they replaced the ting washers and retorqued as needed. Said some of the bolts were loose. I also had to have an alignment as it was wearing funny on the outside of the tires in the 2500 miles since the half shaft replacement. Story was that repair doesn't affect alignment, but I'm still suspect.

When I asked about these half shafts needing to be replaced at 40k miles, the SA said he's seen some go at 20k and these repairs aren't that bad in price...like $750 or so. I know these things take a lot of torque on accel and decel, but this seems a bit much to me.

I also leave the truck in Auto All Purpose most of the time so it lowers the suspension when on the highway.

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