UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan
Well-Known Member
Anything is possible if you ignore cost. There is cost associated with not using an off-the-shelf product from suppliers. There is engineering cost. Manufacturing cost for suppliers to set up tooling and production line specific to just one customer, which means loss of production volume on existing product that they could sell to everyone. And being a lower volume order, all this add up to cost inefficiency. Rivian is not Toyota or GM. It doesn’t have as much clout on suppliers to do things like this. They would have to do it in-house. And that is a cost of its own. Small scale. No economy. It’s just more efficient, for manufacturing and service, to use a readily available and somewhat universal part.I am NOT a mechanical engineer (or better yet not a Mechanic) but couldn't you design the long straight "rod" that is the "weak point" to be detachable at BOTH ends so the week link is easily field servicable? I understand for alignment you probably only want adjustment on one end of it, but could instead of the interior side being a bigger piece with more parts, just "unpin/unscrew" long straight "rod" replace and be on your way. For an offroad vehicle the weak link should be cheap and easy to replace in the mud. Not a $500 part that is less than simple (not saying exactly difficult, just involved)
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