Upgrading Gen 1 (14mm) Tie Rods to Stronger Gen 2 (16mm) Tie Rods

[superfluid]

Earlier Gen 1 Rivians have 14mm tie rods that are less-than-ideal tie rods for rock crawling and heavy trail use. Edit: Mine is a 2023 Gen 1 R1S.

A few fellow Lone Star Rivian Club members with earlier Gen 1s like mine broke their tie rods on the trail, which resulted in lengthy recovery times and long days. Rivian appears to know their first-gen tie rods weren't up to the task and fitted all Gen 2s with stronger ones. People outside of the Rivian community even know about the issue: On the trail a few weeks ago, a guy in a side-by-side stopped me and said, "Watch out for those Rivian tie rods. Me and 11 Rivians got stuck behind a guy who broke his." I'm heading back out onto the trails next weekend and want to avoid that situation if I can.

I looked at tie rod reinforcement options like the after-market BusterBrace, but I was concerned about the possibility of damaging the steering rack if the tie rod doesn't break when it should. Cliff told me Rivian Service recommended he update his tie rods to the second-gen rods with a much larger diameter (16mm) and beefier design. That was the solution for me.

After speaking with Rivian Support and the Austin Service Center numerous times to determine which tie rods I already had and which the SC needed to order, I got the the second generation rods installed yesterday. I also bought a spare set of second-gen inner tie rods so I could do a field repair if necessary. Parts and pricing below.

These photos show the second-gen rods' geometry and how much beefier than are than the first-gens. I'll take them on the trail next weekend and, hopefully, have nothing to report.

Major shout-out to Lee and the fine folks at the Austin SC for bumping my appointment and getting me in before I hit the dirt!

Spares for field repairs.

FIrst-gen rod for comparison.

Parts and Pricing

• Second-gen inner and outer tie rods parts and labor: ~$1,000.
• Alignment: $260
• Pair of inner tie rod spares: $344

Here's a detailed breakdown along with part numbers if you want to get this work done on yours.

Concern:
- Customer states: they would like upgraded 16mm tie rods installed
Cause:
- Customer purchase
Correction/Remedy:
- Tie Rod, Outer, LH (Remove and Replace) | Labor Code: 101010010 | 1.1 hr* | $220.00
- Tie Rod, Outer, RH (Remove and Replace) | Labor Code: 101010110 | 0.1 hr* | $20.00
- Tie Rod, Inner, LH (Remove and Replace) | Labor Code: 101011010 | 0.2 hr* | $40.00
- Tie Rod, Inner, RH (Remove and Replace) | Labor Code: 101011110 | 0.2 hr* | $40.00


Parts: Quantity: Price:
OUTER_TIE_ROD - 700 AND 900
Part# PT00042441-G
1 $162.32
NUT - M14X1_5 HX FL PTM CL10 R107G
Part# SC00023721-A
1 $5.85
OUTER_TIE_ROD - 700 AND 900
Part# PT00042441-G
1 $162.32
NUT - M14X1_5 HX FL PTM CL10 R107G
Part# SC00023721-A
1 $5.85
INNER TIE ROD
Part# PT00038426-E
1 $159.08
INNER TIE ROD
Part# PT00038426-E
1 $159.08


Hope this helps.

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[lpez210]

Im grateful for this information and pricing. My next interest would be if you could get some video of how hard you can push the rivian without breaking the rods.

Please update after your trip! Happy trailing!

 

[superfluid]

Im grateful for this information and pricing. My next interest would be if you could get some video of how hard you can push the rivian without breaking the rods.

Please update after your trip! Happy trailing!

Here's some video from a test track run I did a year or so back. I'm working on a much more comprehensive writeup of how far I've pushed my Rivian, but it'll be a few months before I finish it.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...ter-cruising-through-technical-terrain.25436/

 

[lpez210]

Here's some video from a test track run I did a year or so back. I'm working on a much more comprehensive writeup of how far I've pushed my Rivian, but it'll be a few months before I finish it.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...ter-cruising-through-technical-terrain.25436/

I've already seen that . Been a subscriber for a while now. Love your vids

 

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Man, that's really nice. Great write-up and photos. Appreciate hearing the SC was so willing to work with you. Safe travels!

 

[Anguyenmp]

Thank you for the write up! I am deliberating doing this as well. Can you walk me through your thought process of replacing proactively and buying spare 16mm vs just buying a spare set of 16mm and keeping them with you and replacing if the 14mm tie rods broke?

I'm deliberating the full cost of replacement and new spares vs just buying a single set of 16mm for ~$300 or replacing proactively and keeping the old 14mm as spares. Thanks!

 

[zefram47]

Your own measurements in the pics don't add up. The smallest part of the tie rods both appear to measure 13-14 mm. Where exactly are Gen1s breaking/bending them? I already need to get in for an alignment since I swapping out my ATs. If this were provably a good upgrade, now would be the time for me to do it, but those don't look markedly beefier.

 

[lpez210]

Your own measurements in the pics don't add up. The smallest part of the tie rods both appear to measure 13-14 mm. Where exactly are Gen1s breaking/bending them? I already need to get in for an alignment since I swapping out my ATs. If this were provably a good upgrade, now would be the time for me to do it, but those don't look markedly beefier.

visually the diameters can look the same (13–14mm), but the real Gen 1 failures happened closer to the inner threads near the rack, not the outer shaft. Gen 2 rods are internally beefed up with stronger material and better thread engagement, not just girth. If you’re already doing an alignment and plan to off-road, it’s cheap insurance. But for mostly street, it’s probably overkill unless you're running bigger tires or hitting tough terrain.

 

[superfluid]

Thank you for the write up! I am deliberating doing this as well. Can you walk me through your thought process of replacing proactively and buying spare 16mm vs just buying a spare set of 16mm and keeping them with you and replacing if the 14mm tie rods broke?

I'm deliberating the full cost of replacement and new spares vs just buying a single set of 16mm for ~$300 or replacing proactively and keeping the old 14mm as spares. Thanks!

Good question.

I replaced proactively because the 16mm tie rods are incompatible with the 14mm rods. The inner and outer rods have to be replaced together. Because the inner tie rods are by far the most likely to break (per Rivian support and anecdotal evidence), I only wanted to buy and carry a set of inner rods. With a set of spare 16mm inner rods, I needed 16mm outer rods. So I replaced both and got a spare set of inners.

 

[sfvR1S]

Interesting. Something to keep in mind after I find rock sliders to install before heading out for a shakedown run.

 

[BrentInCO]

Earlier Gen 1 Rivians have 14mm tie rods that are less-than-ideal tie rods for rock crawling and heavy trail use. A few fellow Lone Star Rivian Club members with earlier Gen 1s like mine broke their tie rods on the trail, which resulted in lengthy recovery times and long days. Rivian appears to know their first-gen tie rods weren't up to the task and fitted all Gen 2s with stronger ones. People outside of the Rivian community even know about the issue: On the trail a few weeks ago, a guy in a side-by-side stopped me and said, "Watch out for those Rivian tie rods. Me and 11 Rivians got stuck behind a guy who broke his." I'm heading back out onto the trails next weekend and want to avoid that situation if I can.

I looked at tie rod reinforcement options like the after-market BusterBrace, but I was concerned about the possibility of damaging the steering rack if the tie rod doesn't break when it should. Cliff told me Rivian Service recommended he update his tie rods to the second-gen rods with a much larger diameter (16mm) and beefier design. That was the solution for me.

After speaking with Rivian Support and the Austin Service Center numerous times to determine which tie rods I already had and which the SC needed to order, I got the the second generation rods installed yesterday. I also bought a spare set of second-gen inner tie rods so I could do a field repair if necessary. Parts and pricing below.

These photos show the second-gen rods' geometry and how much beefier than are than the first-gens. I'll take them on the trail next weekend and, hopefully, have nothing to report.

Major shout-out to Lee and the fine folks at the Austin SC for bumping my appointment and getting me in before I hit the dirt!

Spares for field repairs.

FIrst-gen rod for comparison.

Parts and Pricing

• Second-gen inner and outer tie rods parts and labor: ~$1,000.
• Alignment: $260
• Pair of inner tie rod spares: $344

Here's a detailed breakdown along with part numbers if you want to get this work done on yours.

Concern:
- Customer states: they would like upgraded 16mm tie rods installed
Cause:
- Customer purchase
Correction/Remedy:
- Tie Rod, Outer, LH (Remove and Replace) | Labor Code: 101010010 | 1.1 hr* | $220.00
- Tie Rod, Outer, RH (Remove and Replace) | Labor Code: 101010110 | 0.1 hr* | $20.00
- Tie Rod, Inner, LH (Remove and Replace) | Labor Code: 101011010 | 0.2 hr* | $40.00
- Tie Rod, Inner, RH (Remove and Replace) | Labor Code: 101011110 | 0.2 hr* | $40.00


Parts: Quantity: Price:
OUTER_TIE_ROD - 700 AND 900
Part# PT00042441-G
1 $162.32
NUT - M14X1_5 HX FL PTM CL10 R107G
Part# SC00023721-A
1 $5.85
OUTER_TIE_ROD - 700 AND 900
Part# PT00042441-G
1 $162.32
NUT - M14X1_5 HX FL PTM CL10 R107G
Part# SC00023721-A
1 $5.85
INNER TIE ROD
Part# PT00038426-E
1 $159.08
INNER TIE ROD
Part# PT00038426-E
1 $159.08


Hope this helps.

Looks like they’ll make me call and plead to get this upgrade.

 

[lpez210]

Instead of asking to upgrade I would of asked to just purchase the part so I can do it myself. Asking to upgrade they immediately think they will have to replace it which in turn they are liable.

 

[BrentInCO]

Instead of asking to upgrade I would of asked to just purchase the part so I can do it myself. Asking to upgrade they immediately think they will have to replace it which in turn they are liable.

I understand, but I don’t have the time skills or tools to do this. I did a little investigating / reading up and it seems that a pro should be doing it and that Rivian should do the alignment after the replacement.

 

[jfoonly]

New tie rods apparently came in sometime during MY 2023. See another recent thread (same OP, but they didn't reference it here?) (or others, search DHD). if you can't tell by looking or measuring, definitely call and they can tell by your VIN.

 

[superfluid]

Looks like they’ll make me call and plead to get this upgrade.

Yeah, I spoke to at least three different support reps and two SC techs to clarify my ask and figure out a game plan. My impression is that retrofitting tie rods is not SOP.

The biggest complication came from them having to research which tie rods my VIN had and determining if the new tie rods were actually bigger. Support had to ship the parts to Service who then had to confirm they were bigger. I didn't want them to put new rods on unless they were stronger than my existing rods. Service confirmed they were bigger, so we moved forward with the install.

Tip: Explain to Support and Service why you want the second-generation rods. I told them I do a reasonable amount of technical off-roading because that's what the Rivian was made for, and I wanted a retrofit because I didn't want to get stuck on a trail. They understood and loved that. As a technical manager who often gets requests from stakeholders in the form of solutions instead of requirements, I appreciate the clarity that comes from understanding the use case. Rivian Support and Service did, too!

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