Lifting by suspension????

[PentictonRivian]

I am planning on taking my R1T to a local tire shop to have my wheels rotated (nearest Rivian Service Centre is 4 hours away and they have been reluctant to send mobile service to me). I went and showed them the lift points and the Jackpucks that I have. The fellow there said that they wouldn't need those as they will lift the truck by the suspension? What does that mean and is that safe for my truck?

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[FooF]

Tell them to lift by the jack pucks or you will go to a different shop. You can lift by the suspension but it is potentially more prone to damage. Make sure to put suspension in highest and tire change mode in service menu.

 

[cohall]

What does that mean and is that safe for my truck?

It means you should run away from that shop, quickly.

You can jack up a vehicle by the suspension parts, typically. However, this is a 7000lb vehicle, and that method is NOT an approved method for lifting a Rivian. There are only 2 methods for lifting a Rivian - Jack puck points or removing the underbody panels and putting it on a lift.

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

Tell them to lift by the jack pucks or you will go to a different shop. You can lift by the suspension, but it is potentially more prone to damage. Make sure to put suspension in highest and tire change mode in service menu.

Exactly what @FooF said.

We put together a simple video for commercial tire and DIY individuals on how to do the basics to lift your Rivian. Many customers just send the link to the video to the shop and walk them through it.

 

[Nixapatfan]

You can lift by the suspension but you shouldn't if possible, high chance of them bending/damaging the jounce lines and also greater chance of them dropping it off the lift. Find another shop they seem over confident which is always a bad sign in my opinion.

 

[PentictonRivian]

I spoke with them again and they are willing to use the Jackpucks with a different hoist.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I am planning on taking my R1T to a local tire shop to have my wheels rotated (nearest Rivian Service Centre is 4 hours away and they have been reluctant to send mobile service to me). I went and showed them the lift points and the Jackpucks that I have. The fellow there said that they wouldn't need those as they will lift the truck by the suspension? What does that mean and is that safe for my truck?

https://rivian.com/support/support-documents

Both Owner Guide and Tow Operator Guide have lifting instructions, with and without pucks. If jack(s) being used have enough reach, the vehicle (almost any vehicle) can be safely jacked from the lower suspension arm (at pivots where they join the frame).

Why? If these points aren't strong enough to lift from (and support vehicle mass)... Maybe the car isn't safe to drive at all, right? Remember, dynamic mass is far greater than static mass. If these points are strong enough to support vehicle while in motion, they are strong enough for lifting while stationary. Pucks just make it more fool-proof and don't require long reach jacks.

 

[JM.]

It is perfectly safe to lift it by the suspension. It's the weight-bearing part that handles a dynamic load far greater than the weight of the truck.

 

[JM.]

Adding a point: When I buy a vehicle that will go off road, I immediately try lifting each end using multiple locations. You never know what will/won't be accessible when you have a problem. And problem means both tire failure and being stuck. I always shoot for one frame lift point and one suspension lift point.

 

[ndmiller]

Run away.

 

[electruck]

It is perfectly safe to lift it by the suspension. It's the weight-bearing part that handles a dynamic load far greater than the weight of the truck.

Not quite true as the load applied by a jack or lift would not be applied the same as the loads experienced when driving. Suspension components are indeed designed to handle large axial loads but they are much weaker in bending and shear, such as would be experienced when lifting by the suspension.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Not quite true as the load applied by a jack or lift would not be applied the same as the loads experienced when driving. Suspension components are indeed designed to handle large axial loads but they are much weaker in bending and shear, such as would be experienced when lifting by the suspension.

Disagree with a caveat (i.e. we're both right)—it depends on what part of the suspension. And, correct, I would definitely not advise anyone place jack under mid-point of lower suspension arm.

 

[usulio]

Adding a point: When I buy a vehicle that will go off road, I immediately try lifting each end using multiple locations. You never know what will/won't be accessible when you have a problem. And problem means both tire failure and being stuck. I always shoot for one frame lift point and one suspension lift point.

Have you lifted R1 by the suspension, if so where/how?

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

A Rivian service tech lifted my truck by the lower control arm in the rear, which is a standard practice. I've also used this lifting point myself.

(credit jplblue below)

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