Knocking Suspension Noises

[lmerani]

The suspension in my R1T clanks and knocks when going over bumps. I've read posts about noise complaints too, but mine seems excessive and I would like to get opinions and comparisons on this. Sometimes, it only takes a slight dip in the road to arouse a knock. The knock occurs either right as the front wheels hit the bump or right when the suspension starts to unload. It also seems to be worse when in a turn. For example, if turning left, the sound appears to come more from the left front. When turning right, the sound is more biased to the right. Since the wheel on the side of the turn direction is being unloaded, it could just be coincidence, but I wonder if that's a contributing factor and telling of what the issue could be.
Either way, this is very annoying and embarrassing when other people ride in the truck and are expecting an interior quality in line with a vehicle of this price and caliber.

I can't tell if it's loose suspension components, loose fasteners, or sometime loose inside the struts.

I specifically found a road that had lots of bumps to help gather a lot of sound data for the video. Hopefully the audio comes through ok. Sometimes it's hard to get the camera to pick up the audio like it truly sounds.

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[DuoRivians]

Could be the half shafts rather than the suspension

 

[DaveA]

The suspension in my R1T clanks and knocks when going over bumps. I've read posts about noise complaints too, but mine seems excessive and I would like to get opinions and comparisons on this. Sometimes, it only takes a slight dip in the road to arouse a knock. The knock occurs either right as the front wheels hit the bump or right when the suspension starts to unload. It also seems to be worse when in a turn. For example, if turning left, the sound appears to come more from the left front. When turning right, the sound is more biased to the right. Since the wheel on the side of the turn direction is being unloaded, it could just be coincidence, but I wonder if that's a contributing factor and telling of what the issue could be.
Either way, this is very annoying and embarrassing when other people ride in the truck and are expecting an interior quality in line with a vehicle of this price and caliber.

I can't tell if it's loose suspension components, loose fasteners, or sometime loose inside the struts.

I specifically found a road that had lots of bumps to help gather a lot of sound data for the video. Hopefully the audio comes through ok. Sometimes it's hard to get the camera to pick up the audio like it truly sounds.

I sympathize. Mine does the exact same thing and I have a brand new motor and half shafts only 3 weeks old. The noises they say are “normal on Gen 1”. Another owner near me had similar sounds and they found one of his shocks leaking and updated his to the newest version. He says it’s super quiet now. So check shocks to see if they are leaking as they may be kaput.

 

[lmerani]

Earlier this year, I had a number of issues which rendered a service center visit. They did suspension work and also replaced the half-shafts. They replaced them because they were ticking under acceleration and deceleration. It was a slight tick, but was prominent enough to warrant the replacement. Apparently, it can happen over time due to the amount of torque applied to them cause wear over time. The work order mentions a clunk, but what I identified was a clicking sound.

 

[Paduraru]

Same here. 22 R1T 23k miles now, starting with this problem at about 19k. After bunch of parts being replaced ( hydraulic lines, dampers, etc) on numerous service center visits, I got the " it is normal" treatment. I tried nice talking, I tried loud talking, I got all the way to the point of test driving with the regional service manager. Because I love(d) this thing so much, I even offered to pay for whatever repairs are necessary. I got the same " it is normal, there is nothing we need to do" answer. My R1S is one year younger, more miles (26k now) and does NOT have this problem. Their answer was......

 

[CrazyOne]

Could it be the ball joints? Mine has same problem and the dampers are new.

 

[Jonger1150]

It looks like you had everything replaced. What else could it be?

I have this too, it's just how a gen 1 is. Not sure if gen 2 is any different.

 

[Ilovejunebugs]

The suspension in my R1T clanks and knocks when going over bumps. I've read posts about noise complaints too, but mine seems excessive and I would like to get opinions and comparisons on this. Sometimes, it only takes a slight dip in the road to arouse a knock. The knock occurs either right as the front wheels hit the bump or right when the suspension starts to unload. It also seems to be worse when in a turn. For example, if turning left, the sound appears to come more from the left front. When turning right, the sound is more biased to the right. Since the wheel on the side of the turn direction is being unloaded, it could just be coincidence, but I wonder if that's a contributing factor and telling of what the issue could be.
Either way, this is very annoying and embarrassing when other people ride in the truck and are expecting an interior quality in line with a vehicle of this price and caliber.

I can't tell if it's loose suspension components, loose fasteners, or sometime loose inside the struts.

I specifically found a road that had lots of bumps to help gather a lot of sound data for the video. Hopefully the audio comes through ok. Sometimes it's hard to get the camera to pick up the audio like it truly sounds.

Is this a gen 1? My first r1t (gen 1) had a very noisy suspension. Rivian replaced numerous parts including front subframe, half shafts and hubs, dampers, jounce lines. Which helped a lot, but never completely got rid of all noise or the slightly sloppy feel.
However my new r1t (gen 2) is so much quieter and just feels more solid.

 

[Time2Roll]

If the vehicle has been checked I would guess it is normal even if it does not meet expectations. By the stories I read, Rivian seems a bit generous to solve issues on gen 1 if possible. My Gen2 suspension does seem a bit clunky at times and I believe it is the nature of the beast in this air - hydraulic system. It is the nature of EVs to be more aware of these issues due to no engine noise and vibrations. My usual thought is to turn up the radio.

 

[Jonger1150]

Is this a gen 1? My first r1t (gen 1) had a very noisy suspension. Rivian replaced numerous parts including front subframe, half shafts and hubs, dampers, jounce lines. Which helped a lot, but never completely got rid of all noise or the slightly sloppy feel.
However my new r1t (gen 2) is so much quieter and just feels more solid.

I suspect they will keep producing better parts to fix Gen 1 noise since they sold like 50,000+ of the things.

 

[lmerani]

If the vehicle has been checked I would guess it is normal even if it does not meet expectations. By the stories I read, Rivian seems a bit generous to solve issues on gen 1 if possible. My Gen2 suspension does seem a bit clunky at times and I believe it is the nature of the beast in this air - hydraulic system. It is the nature of EVs to be more aware of these issues due to no engine noise and vibrations. My usual thought is to turn up the radio.

I get that EV's don't have an engine to drown out some noises, but even in an ICE vehicle, if there is a knock or rattle, you still hear it. The engine isn't loud enough to completely cover up those kinds of noises. Engines produce more constant sounds vs. abrupt sounds like these are. It's sort of like the way noise cancelling headphones work. They produce a constant sound wave that can match other constant sounds and cancel them out. However, more abrupt sounds can make it through.
Rivian can say all day that it's "normal", but it doesn't make it right. It still sounds like sh*t! lol

Suggested remedies like "turn up the radio" are hilarious when you consider one of the selling points to an EV is how quiet it is since there is no engine, yet I should up the radio to make noise to drown out other noises? Maybe I should just place a diesel generator in the bed and run it at 5000rpm while driving instead. lol
If the issue is with the air suspension, I would totally buy an option to swap out the air suspension with transitional coils and allows you to deselect the "air suspension" option in the software. I am 100% a pavement warrior and don't need adjustable ride heights.

 

[lmerani]

Is this a gen 1? My first r1t (gen 1) had a very noisy suspension. Rivian replaced numerous parts including front subframe, half shafts and hubs, dampers, jounce lines. Which helped a lot, but never completely got rid of all noise or the slightly sloppy feel.
However my new r1t (gen 2) is so much quieter and just feels more solid.

It's a 2023 gen 1. It's good to hear your gen 2 is much quieter. I have seen other posts where there gen 2 wasn't any different than the gen 1, so maybe it's hit and miss?
I had a loaner gen 1 R1T for a couple weeks and it actually sounded great! Almost no rattles. So it can be achieved.
It's interesting you mention the gen 2 feels more solid. I've heard the opposite where people say the gen 1 feels more solid and like it was built better. Would you say overall, the build quality and ride of the gen 2 is better?

 

[lmerani]

Same here. 22 R1T 23k miles now, starting with this problem at about 19k. After bunch of parts being replaced ( hydraulic lines, dampers, etc) on numerous service center visits, I got the " it is normal" treatment. I tried nice talking, I tried loud talking, I got all the way to the point of test driving with the regional service manager. Because I love(d) this thing so much, I even offered to pay for whatever repairs are necessary. I got the same " it is normal, there is nothing we need to do" answer. My R1S is one year younger, more miles (26k now) and does NOT have this problem. Their answer was......

Fingers crossed the R1S stays that way. It's interesting the problem started so late on the R1T. It sounds like something is wearing out vs. "just how it is"!

 

[lmerani]

It looks like you had everything replaced. What else could it be?

I have this too, it's just how a gen 1 is. Not sure if gen 2 is any different.

One thing I wonder is if wheel sizing is a factor. I have the 21's which leads to a harder tire with less sidewall than the 20's and all terrains. Maybe the taller sidewalls absorb more bumps, dampening the blow to the suspension components?

 

[davei3]

I have a gen2 R1s, never noticed issues, and in my mind the timing of cold weather plus hitting highway bumps and expansion joints at high speed in low suspension mode “feels” like it was the door-opener to me hearing these issues. No idea if it was coincidence or cause. Combination of squeak, rattle, and knock. Heading into service center in 2wks to review. The sound is front right only and improves a bit when suspension is in high.
Interestingly I did not hear it in warmer weather and my 22”s. I changed to 20” A/T for the winter and then noticed it. It’s a Rivian spec wrangler AT tire but it’s a tire rack rim. Hopefully nothing about the offset etc is different and causing it.

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