Clunk / multiple rebound from rear suspension, service center says it feels "normal"

[rogersmj]

I am frustrated. I drove my R1S up to Ft Wayne, 90 minutes away, to get a bunch of stuff taken care of. They've solved most of it, except for the thing that's bugging me most -- the rear suspension.

In general, the rear end feels a little bit "nervous". Like even on smooth pavement, it's not solid. Specifically, on the right side, sometimes if you go over a small, sharp imperfection -- a frost heave crack, a little valve cover or something that isn't flush with the pavement -- you'll often feel the wheel bounce up and down multiple times, quickly. Like a dead shock, in any other car. It also sounds loud/hollow, with a clunk. Sometimes you can even hear this clunk when the strut extends slowly, like going over a speed bump. It sounds like it's bottoming out sometimes, even on small movements, like a small speed bump or little cracks in the road. And it feels like crap, and it doesn't sound/feel like this if you hit something just on the left side of the car.

The little Mazda CX-5 rental they gave me immediately felt more solid and sure over small bumps like this.

Several days later they message me, saying they can't find anything wrong with the suspension and it seems normal to them. I said that's disappointing, and I am 100% sure there's something wrong in the back end. They ask if I can come test drive it with them (90 minutes away). Really? I gave them lots of specific notes about the circumstances under which this tends to happen, plus like I said in general the back end just doesn't feel "settled" pretty much ever.

I just cannot believe this is normal and I'm not sure what to do. I guess if I can't convince them to do anything about it, I have no choice but to take it back and try a different service center? There's one opening near me in a few months.

Sponsored

 

[Nixapatfan]

Sounds like a blown shock, take a peek underneath and see if it is leaking, if it is really as bad as you described then the shock should be covered in a film of oil and dirt.

The R1S suspension is worse than the T due to the shorter wheelbase and known to be bouncy/choppy. Maybe take a test ride in another S at the SC and see if it drives just as bad.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Get your alignment checked. If the vehicle doesn't want to track right after a wheel leaves the pavement, that's usually an indicator that something is wrong with it.

 

[Golfer04]

Sounds like the same thing I have going on in my T. Been to service center and a mobile appt. They hear the noise, but, supposedly nothing wrong with suspension. Solution is to "wait until it gets worse". Normal SC.

 

[Mljmam]

Hi,
What height mode are you in when this happens? I dont like any setting other than full/standard height and soft mode. Any lower/stiffer settings feel like there is no suspension or shocks on the vehicle, and shakes you, bouncing your head off the headrest like you're in a go cart. (R1S) I also like the ride best with only 40#s pressure in the tires. Good luck.

 

[rogersmj]

Sounds like a blown shock, take a peek underneath and see if it is leaking, if it is really as bad as you described then the shock should be covered in a film of oil and dirt.

Yeah I agree it sounds like a blown shock, not leaking that we can see though.

What height mode are you in when this happens? I don't like any setting other than full/standard height and soft mode.

I drive around in Normal height/Normal ride/All purpose drive mode most of the time. It feels like this in all modes. The excess movement in the shock becomes less noticeable when I go to Firm ride mode (and thus damping is more aggressive), but of course in Firm mode the ride is compromised in other ways.

 

[DaveA]

Yeah I agree it sounds like a blown shock, not leaking that we can see though.



I drive around in Normal height/Normal ride/All purpose drive mode most of the time. It feels like this in all modes. The excess movement in the shock becomes less noticeable when I go to Firm ride mode (and thus damping is more aggressive), but of course in Firm mode the ride is compromised in other ways.

Same issue except its my front end. They say normal. Once shocks start leaking they will replace them, according to another R1T owner who had this done. I made same complaint and they said its normal.

 

[rogersmj]

Same issue except its my front end. They say normal. Once shocks start leaking they will replace them, according to another R1T owner who had this done. I made same complaint and they said its normal.

So it seems like it's not unusual for them to make this sound even without (or at least before) any leaking is obvious. Great...so I just need to make my shock leak?

What if it's all leaked out already though? I guess I would hope that they can check the shocks in some way and tell that they're not empty of whatever this fluid is.

 

[DaveA]

So it seems like it's not unusual for them to make this sound even without (or at least before) any leaking is obvious. Great...so I just need to make my shock leak?

What if it's all leaked out already though? I guess I would hope that they can check the shocks in some way and tell that they're not empty of whatever this fluid is.

I think we'd hear some metal on metal contact if all the grease/oil was gone. Hopefully?

 

[Nixapatfan]

So it seems like it's not unusual for them to make this sound even without (or at least before) any leaking is obvious. Great...so I just need to make my shock leak?

What if it's all leaked out already though? I guess I would hope that they can check the shocks in some way and tell that they're not empty of whatever this fluid is.

Put it in highest off-road ride setting and look under the shock boot, if it did leak it will still show there as that area won't ever see weather.

You can also try the bounce test in each corner if it bounces more than 2 cycles only in 1 corner then have them explain why only 1 is different.

 

[impulsoren]

If the shock is leaking internally (blown valve/seal) you won’t see anything. Previously suggested “bounce test” is a good start; the only way I can think of to test without disassembly and inspection is to take the shocks off the vehicle and compare how much force it takes to compress/extend the rod between the suspect and known good shock. Not a cheap and easy test, difficult to imagine Rivian reimbursing you for that even if you can walk in there with a busted shock to show them. But maybe…

 

[rogersmj]

Well I got it back today. They spent several days and said they had their most senior tech check every single thing in the rear suspension -- compression test, fluid level check, torqued every single bolt to spec. They took many many test drives they said, and even drove it back to back with another R1S, and they can't find anything amiss.

I know I'm more sensitive to suspension issues than most people but I just couldn't believe they didn't find anything wrong. It's hard for me to believe this is normal. It just doesn't feel right.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

Sounds like the same thing I have going on in my T. Been to service center and a mobile appt. They hear the noise, but, supposedly nothing wrong with suspension. Solution is to "wait until it gets worse". Normal SC.

Wait till out of warranty lol

 

[Druidspirit]

Well I got it back today. They spent several days and said they had their most senior tech check every single thing in the rear suspension -- compression test, fluid level check, torqued every single bolt to spec. They took many many test drives they said, and even drove it back to back with another R1S, and they can't find anything amiss.

I know I'm more sensitive to suspension issues than most people but I just couldn't believe they didn't find anything wrong. It's hard for me to believe this is normal. It just doesn't feel right.

I posted about this in another thread, but this is exactly what mine is doing. Same bounce and same clunk in the rear and seems to be worse on the right side, my SC guy had me drive with him when I took it in and he said it definitely shouldn't sound like that. Same as you, they've had it for 1.5 weeks now and can't find anything wrong with it. Mine is a 2026 Dual Large that I picked up new on 02/25. It definitively doesn't feel sure footed.

 

[rogersmj]

I posted about this in another thread, but this is exactly what mine is doing. Same bounce and same clunk in the rear and seems to be worse on the right side, my SC guy had me drive with him when I took it in and he said it definitely shouldn't sound like that. Same as you, they've had it for 1.5 weeks now and can't find anything wrong with it. Mine is a 2026 Dual Large that I picked up new on 02/25.

I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing it too. If anything changes on your end, let me know...I will certainly post updates and ping you if I ever get anything resolved.

It definitively doesn't feel sure footed.

This right here is it. In terms of that feeling, mine comes and goes. When it's in a "mood", aside from the less than great ride and clunking, the whole thing just feels nervous. Sometimes it is fine, sometimes it is definitely not and the truck feels less solid/planted than a cheap econobox.

Sponsored