Seized rear calipers - Rivian stuck me with the bill

[JoulesVerne]

I have a early VIN 2022 R1T Launch Edition with about 35,000 miles on it.

After noticing some squeaking that sounded like the brake pad wear indicator, I had a mobile service technician pay me a visit. He removed the rear wheel and confirmed that the inner brake pad had less than 2mm left on both rear wheels. The outer pads had 8mm each. They should wear at the same rate.

The service center determined that the rear calipers were not floating as they should and said they would grease the caliper (not sure where). They cited the fact that the emergency brake uses the inner pad as the source of the uneven wear.

They recommended four sets of brake pads and four new rotors. After a lengthy discussion, I had them remove the rotors from the work order since the only reason they gave for trashing four good rotors was "they might squeak with new pads". I never asked about the front pads because the rep kept misquoting the work order, saying I needed four new calipers, which confused things quite a bit.

So I'm not too happy about buying four sets of pads because of a design or assembly flaw (either the e-brake eats inner pads or they should've greased the rear calipers when they assembled the truck.) They also gave no guarantee that greasing the calipers would prevent this in the future.

I thought I'd share with the forum in case this information helps anyone else. This is the first time that Rivian has left me with the bill for one of their design or assembly flaws and I hope it's not the start of a trend.

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[Andystroh]

Thanks for sharing.

It’s going to be an interesting transition as Rivian stops replacing some of this stuff under warranty. Mine is in the shop today to replace the rear dampers, and they haven’t yet been able to tell me why they need to be replaced, but they’re covering it. Concerned it would be pretty expensive if it wasn’t, and it’s similar to yours, early 22 with 35k miles. Manufacturing issue? Normal wear and tear? Hoping I get to an answer…. But bummer you’re on the hook for the brake pads, which most EVs don’t need to replace for a while.

 

[IGR]

Even on ICE cars rear break pads see very little wear.
OP, have you done any off-roading?

 

[JoulesVerne]

Even on ICE cars rear break pads see very little wear.
OP, have you done any off-roading?

Never

 

[jjswan33]

Just replaced the rear rotors/pads on my 2022 R1T a couple weeks ago, similar wear on the inside. They said my front pads were at ~40%. I also had to paid the bill for rear pads/rotors, came to ~$500

My mileage is almost to 58k miles as well so I wasn't too mad about having to small service bill. I expect I will see more the longer I keep this truck. Good news on things like suspension components is that Rivian supposedly warranties their work for 2 years and those all got replaced late last year.

 

[JoulesVerne]

Just replaced the rear rotors/pads on my 2022 R1T a couple weeks ago, similar wear on the inside. They said my front pads were at ~40%. I also had to paid the bill for rear pads/rotors, came to ~$500

What was the reason they cited for new rotors in your case?

 

[jjswan33]

What was the reason they cited for new rotors in your case?

They didn't really give a reason looking at the invoice and I didn't question it. I guess I am of the mind that as long as they are off might as well replace them. At least that is what I would do if I was doing to the work at home DIY.

 

[Riviot]

I have a early VIN 2022 R1T Launch Edition with about 35,000 miles on it.

After noticing some squeaking that sounded like the brake pad wear indicator, I had a mobile service technician pay me a visit. He removed the rear wheel and confirmed that the inner brake pad had less than 2mm left on both rear wheels. The outer pads had 8mm each. They should wear at the same rate.

The service center determined that the rear calipers were not floating as they should and said they would grease the caliper (not sure where). They cited the fact that the emergency brake uses the inner pad as the source of the uneven wear.

They recommended four sets of brake pads and four new rotors. After a lengthy discussion, I had them remove the rotors from the work order since the only reason they gave for trashing four good rotors was "they might squeak with new pads". I never asked about the front pads because the rep kept misquoting the work order, saying I needed four new calipers, which confused things quite a bit.

So I'm not too happy about buying four sets of pads because of a design or assembly flaw (either the e-brake eats inner pads or they should've greased the rear calipers when they assembled the truck.) They also gave no guarantee that greasing the calipers would prevent this in the future.

I thought I'd share with the forum in case this information helps anyone else. This is the first time that Rivian has left me with the bill for one of their design or assembly flaws and I hope it's not the start of a trend.

To clarify: Rivian only charged you for the pads, correct? And your calipers were not fully seized, just needed popped loose and greased? I'm confused by the title, it sounds like they stuck you with a bill for new calipers.

If it's just for pads, that isn't unusual. Pads wear, and unfortunately it seems faster than predicted in this case. Mine are getting low in some spots, and I suspect a stuck caliper. I'll likely DIY at the next rotation and grease them myself, I strangely enjoy brake work.

 

[JoulesVerne]

To clarify: Rivian only charged you for the pads, correct? And your calipers were not fully seized, just needed popped loose and greased? I'm confused by the title, it sounds like they stuck you with a bill for new calipers.

If it's just for pads, that isn't unusual. Pads wear, and unfortunately it seems faster than predicted in this case. Mine are getting low in some spots, and I suspect a stuck caliper. I'll likely DIY at the next rotation and grease them myself, I strangely enjoy brake work.

Yes, I'm paying for labor and pads on a vehicle that mostly stops without the aid of brakes after 35k miles.

 

[srnyoung]

What a weird thing to refuse to fix? It's not like there is anything you could do to make that problem happen. Also throws shade on any notion that they do any meaningful inspection when our Rs are in for service on other things, otherwise they would have caught the uneven wear.
So now they want the [coming tomorrow] article from Jalopnik, Car&Driver or whatever ICE apologists saying; "Major benefit of EV Rivian goes POOF!"

 

[Riviot]

Yes, I'm paying for labor and pads on a vehicle that mostly stops without the aid of brakes after 35k miles.

 

[Riviot]

What a weird thing to refuse to fix?

They fixed it, just refused to pay for a regular maintenance item. Granted, it occurred earlier than many EV drivers estimate.

This may just be an early production issue, we won't know till some newer builds get up in miles with us. I'm a March 2022 delivery with 48k, noticed inners wearing unevenly about 2k ago at seasonal switch, but there's enough to keep it going passed 50k, which is when I budgeted replacement.

 

[JoulesVerne]

They fixed it, just refused to pay for a regular maintenance item.

I would agree if the pads had worn evenly. It's not regular wear in this case.

 

[IGR]

I would agree if the pads had worn evenly. It's not regular wear in this case.

What is regular nowadays anyway? These are uncharted territory with the new tech. For decades cars were held by transmission while in park, now there are electronic actuators engage rear disk breaks, this as well might be the new norm.

 

[JoulesVerne]

What is regular nowadays anyway? These are uncharted territory with the new tech. For decades cars were held by transmission while in park, now there are electronic actuators engage rear disk breaks, this as well might be the new norm.

lol brakes are new tech

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