R1T with noisy front suspension...

[JGard18]

I know I've seen a bunch of threads here about the front-end being overly noisy in these trucks. Primarily, going over bumps of any kind is a noisy ordeal. Lots of clunking noises and the like. Well, I've been one of them and just though that's how it was, because others have complained to Rivian and the answer was that everything was fine.

All of a sudden last week, I was in kneel mode, slowly exiting forward out of a parking spot, and heard a very loud metallic banging noise, which I could also feel through the floor in my feet. Nothing else happened, and it's driven normally since. But because it seems like a potential safety issue, I was able to drop my truck off to service this morning.

Immediately they were all pretty confident the dampers are bad. Engineering had already approved replacing both front dampers before a tech even looked at it. So that may be it. If you have a noisy front end like I did, could be bad dampers.

Unfortunately, the back suspension is also pretty loud over bumps, but not nearly to the level of the front, so I don't think I have a leg to stand on there, and will just let it go for now. Anyway, I'm looking forward to new dampers and hoping that my truck can eventually be as nice-riding and quiet as so many other owners say theirs is.

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[brij patel]

i wonder if they have fixed this issue to recent build? can anyone confirm it?

 

[jwanderson88]

Yesterday I took a long ride in my Rivian R1T sitting in the back seat. My truck has always been extremely quiet and smooth. It's almost eerily quiet. There is wind noise across the whole front, which you'd expect, not localized in any particular place. They road noise is very muffled. The ride is a little firm, like a truck, and controlled. It's just a very pleasant environment to spend time in and driving it around is always a pleasure. That's why I have a hard time understanding complaints about the ride and noise. I wonder if there are some problems with quality control and some are lucky like me and some aren't so lucky. Can the problems ever be fixed or are they built in? I'd like everyone to have the same experience I do. Of course, mine is almost new.

 

[Prime]

I know I've seen a bunch of threads here about the front-end being overly noisy in these trucks. Primarily, going over bumps of any kind is a noisy ordeal. Lots of clunking noises and the like. Well, I've been one of them and just though that's how it was, because others have complained to Rivian and the answer was that everything was fine.

All of a sudden last week, I was in kneel mode, slowly exiting forward out of a parking spot, and heard a very loud metallic banging noise, which I could also feel through the floor in my feet. Nothing else happened, and it's driven normally since. But because it seems like a potential safety issue, I was able to drop my truck off to service this morning.

Immediately they were all pretty confident the dampers are bad. Engineering had already approved replacing both front dampers before a tech even looked at it. So that may be it. If you have a noisy front end like I did, could be bad dampers.

Unfortunately, the back suspension is also pretty loud over bumps, but not nearly to the level of the front, so I don't think I have a leg to stand on there, and will just let it go for now. Anyway, I'm looking forward to new dampers and hoping that my truck can eventually be as nice-riding and quiet as so many other owners say theirs is.

My dampeners were replaced at 4k miles did not change the noisy suspension.

It did somehow stop the suspension drooping after the truck was sitting for a few days though.

This always makes me wonder what the cost of maintaining the Rivians will look like post warranty.

 

[DaveA]

My dampeners were replaced at 4k miles did not change the noisy suspension.

It did somehow stop the suspension drooping after the truck was sitting for a few days though.

This always makes me wonder what the cost of maintaining the Rivians will look like post warranty.

I'm sure it will be worth upgrading to the newest R1 platform vehicle by the time the warranty is kaput.

 

[JGard18]

My dampeners were replaced at 4k miles did not change the noisy suspension.

It did somehow stop the suspension drooping after the truck was sitting for a few days though.

This always makes me wonder what the cost of maintaining the Rivians will look like post warranty.

Agreed, it's a concern. Right now the service ticket is showing $4,600 worth of work about to be performed. Makes me think once the warranty is up, this vehicle may be getting traded in. We'll see though.

 

[jjswan33]

I'm sure it will be worth upgrading to the newest R1 platform vehicle by the time the warranty is kaput.

Some of us have our full warranty running out sooner than others... ?

 

[wallyman424]

I think a lot of the creeks and noises in the suspension are from the bushings. I went around with some silicone spray one weekend and lightly sprayed each joint. The difference was amazing. Didn't last forever though. Makes me tempted to take the suspension apart and use some real silicone grease.

 

[JGard18]

I think a lot of the creeks and noises in the suspension are from the bushings. I went around with some silicone spray one weekend and lightly sprayed each joint. The difference was amazing. Didn't last forever though. Makes me tempted to take the suspension apart and use some real silicone grease.

I'd be up for doing this, but did you have to lift the entire vehicle to get at everything? And/or did you have to remove the wheel well liner to get at some of the suspension pivot points? Seems like it's worth trying.

 

[dleepnw]

i agree that the suspension is "noisy" which is what makes it difficult to determine if there is an actual issue.

mine is 7 months old and i had the tocking/clunking noise from day 1. i let it ride for a month and had a service appt for other things so i asked them to look at it. turns out there was a bolt that wasn't torqued to spec. after that, the tocking went away and haven't heard it since. its been rock solid.

however, it is still a "noisy" suspension relative to any other vehicle ive owned. one thing i did notice though is after update 2023.34, it got quieter.

 

[wallyman424]

I'd be up for doing this, but did you have to lift the entire vehicle to get at everything? And/or did you have to remove the wheel well liner to get at some of the suspension pivot points? Seems like it's worth trying.

Just put the suspension in highest mode, and no you dont have to remove any wheel liners. You can reach all the bushings.

Just make sure you only use silicone spray or white lithium spray (i prefer silicone). Any petroleum based lubricant will degrade the bushings.

 

[R1Tom]

Agreed, it's a concern. Right now the service ticket is showing $4,600 worth of work about to be performed. Makes me think once the warranty is up, this vehicle may be getting traded in. We'll see though.

Kinda depends on depreciation hit. If it is brutal I may just keep it and fux as needed. But with the high cost to repair, these may depreciate alot. We will see I guess.

 

[cohall]

Mine isn’t creaking. It’s clanks, clinks, and clunks. Literally sounds like something is loose and banging around in both wheel wells. I’ve had it in multiple times and they can’t fix it. It’s super annoying and by far my biggest complaint for an otherwise absolutely amazing vehicle.
I’ve just decided to live with it. Please let us know if the dampers help solve your issue.

 

[SDH]

This is fast becoming my favorite Rivian hobby horse (I was never on the Car Play band wagon!).

Suspension ... Rivian, please, for the love of God, give your customers the OPTION to choose shocks/springs over air suspension.

I'm telling you it's sods law that just as your warranty expires, these air suspension units are going to fail and a large bill and long wait for an SC appointment are what we've got to look forward to.

 

[DaveA]

Its just crazy how its noisy on road from 20-45 mph, but when rock crawling its completely silent and feel like riding on air...no pun intended.

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