Rivian repair by owner

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Several comments here say that brakes should last 100,000 miles, but there are plenty of reports here of brakes needing replacement at 40,000 to 50,000 miles.

Rivians are not Teslas so saying "My Tesla ...." is an apples and oranges comparison. There are some obvious and some speculative reasons as to why some Rivian owners need brakes around 50,000 miles:
- Rivian is a 7000 lbs + vehicle.
- Rivian automatically applies the brakes when coming to a stop, regardless of regen setting.
- Owners who dislike regen can reduce the amount of regen, therefore requiring more braking.
- Rivian may use a softer brake pad material to enhance braking
- Use of high regen reduces the amount of brake use but has the side effect of potentially increasing rust on the rotor, as the rotor is not scrubbed consistently.
- Rust will increase pad wear.

Every time I see “my Tesla this and that”… Does anyone see a Tesla badge on their car or “Tesla” on their DMV papers?!

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[Mark H]

Several comments here say that brakes should last 100,000 miles, but there are plenty of reports here of brakes needing replacement at 40,000 to 50,000 miles.

Rivians are not Teslas so saying "My Tesla ...." is an apples and oranges comparison. There are some obvious and some speculative reasons as to why some Rivian owners need brakes around 50,000 miles:
- Rivian is a 7000 lbs + vehicle.
- Rivian automatically applies the brakes when coming to a stop, regardless of regen setting.
- Owners who dislike regen can reduce the amount of regen, therefore requiring more braking.
- Rivian may use a softer brake pad material to enhance braking
- Use of high regen reduces the amount of brake use but has the side effect of potentially increasing rust on the rotor, as the rotor is not scrubbed consistently.
- Rust will increase pad wear.

We have replaced the pads on Rivians at the 60,000–70,000 km (40,000-mile) mark, finding the inboard pads in the 20–30% range while the outboards were still at 80%.
BTW There are a wide range of pads available from aftermarket suppliers now.

 

[beatle]

Every time I see “my Tesla this and that”… Does anyone see a Tesla badge on their car or “Tesla” on their DMV papers?!

I'm sure the people who own Teslas do. I know when I had "my Tesla" it had a few badges on the car and my registration said Tesla.

Rivians are not Teslas so saying "My Tesla ...." is an apples and oranges comparison. There are some obvious and some speculative reasons as to why some Rivian owners need brakes around 50,000 miles:
- Rivian is a 7000 lbs + vehicle.
- Rivian automatically applies the brakes when coming to a stop, regardless of regen setting.
- Owners who dislike regen can reduce the amount of regen, therefore requiring more braking.
- Rivian may use a softer brake pad material to enhance braking
- Use of high regen reduces the amount of brake use but has the side effect of potentially increasing rust on the rotor, as the rotor is not scrubbed consistently.
- Rust will increase pad wear.

I don't see them as apples and oranges. More like different varieties of apples. Both cars use brakes infrequently compared to an ICE vehicle, and that carries with it the risk that the pistons in the calipers may seize, the pads may chunk off due to more frequent sticking to the rotor, etc. My 2015 Model S needed brakes at 50k as the pads had partially seized in the caliper due to infrequent use and likely little to no maintenance during 4 years in the snow belt. I also had to use the brake when slowing to a stop as that car only had induction motors. Rivian recommends brake service (clean and lube) every 12k if you drive on salted roads. Tesla does now as well. I'm not sure if that recommendation was always in place, however.

 

[cpucrazy]

I recently had an issue where something in the washer fluid resivour was broken and I tried to fix it myself, but getting access to it was next to impossible. Removing the tub let me see that it was wedged between the frame and the body panels, good on rivian for using what could be wasted space, but I definitely could not get my hands where they needed to go and I was not about to remove body panels by myself to get to the resivour. I ended up just taking it to the service center.

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