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

[Druidspirit]

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.



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.

I just received a message from my SC. They said they replaced a rear damper module, stem o-ring and spacer and also drained and refilled the hydraulic fluid. So hopefully it is getting closer to being resovled.

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[rogersmj]

I just received a message from my SC. They said they replaced a rear damper module, stem o-ring and spacer and also drained and refilled the hydraulic fluid. So hopefully it is getting closer to being resovled.

Report back and if it's improved, please share your service report/invoice with me so I can hopefully convince mine to do the same thing.

 

[Druidspirit]

I sent them a message earlier and asked if it was ready and they said no. So, I'm hoping what they did fixed it. I did have a few other door alignment issues and the driver's door squeaking when going over bumps so fingers crossed they are just finishing up those things and everything is good.

 

[Druidspirit]

Report back and if it's improved, please share your service report/invoice with me so I can hopefully convince mine to do the same thing.

Got it back yesterday and at least for me, it seems completely resolved and it definitely feels more planted.

I also had some door alignment issues and my front driver's door squeaked. They fixed those but created a huge gap between the front and back door on the driver's side at the bottom black plastic piece, top is aligned now and it doesn't squeak so I won't borrow trouble and just let it be.

Here is the service report for that part:

 

[rogersmj]

Got it back yesterday and at least for me, it seems completely resolved and it definitely feels more planted.

I also had some door alignment issues and my front driver's door squeaked. They fixed those but created a huge gap between the front and back door on the driver's side at the bottom black plastic piece, top is aligned now and it doesn't squeak so I won't borrow trouble and just let it be.

Here is the service report for that part:

So now, a couple of weeks after having this work done, how do things feel?

 

[Druidspirit]

So now, a couple of weeks after having this work done, how do things feel?

It still feels more planted than before. The loud boom across bumps has come back as a slight hollow thud, not quite as bad as before and hopefully it doesn't continue to get worse. So, I have no clue. I have a service appointment to fix the alignment of the lower part of the door. I thought I could live with it, but it just looks so bad. It's aligned at the top of the door but sticks out a little over half an inch at the bottom, on the black plastic piece.

 

[Druidspirit]

Sorry about resurrecting this but just wondering if this is how all R1S's are. One day last week I got in and the booming clunk and tire dribbling were back. I was like WTF. Started poking around the UI and noticed my wife switched it back to soft ride.

So, I took it around my neighborhood which has a lot of cracks across the concrete, very similar to bridge joints. Sound and dribbling were horrible. Switched it to moderate and drove it around the same neighborhood path. It lessened a lot, the dribble was considerably less, and the booming was more of the hollow thud. Switched it to firm and did the same drive. No booming, no hollow thud, no tire dribbling. It did take a few seconds to, I guess, fully adjust. The sound and dribble slowly went away but completely disappeared.

Is this a common thing among the R1S or is mine just special?

 

[rogersmj]

What you're describing is exactly how mine is. It seems random. Some days, it's fine, but if it's not fine, the booming and sloppiness are especially noticeable in Soft. Switching to Firm/Moderate lessens the effect and eventually it mostly goes away. Then Soft will be fine again.

I can't find a pattern and it's maddening.

 

[Nixapatfan]

Maybe make a video of what you are trying to describe. Kind of hard to diagnose something like that on the internet based on description especially if it is not consistent. Might help your service center narrow down your concern if you show them a video with the noise you are referring to.

In general these trucks do make a racket at slow speeds on minor imperfections with the half shafts rattling.

 

[Druidspirit]

Maybe make a video of what you are trying to describe. Kind of hard to diagnose something like that on the internet based on description especially if it is not consistent. Might help your service center narrow down your concern if you show them a video with the noise you are referring to.

In general these trucks do make a racket at slow speeds on minor imperfections with the half shafts rattling.

I took the service center tech on a ride when I first took it in about the issue. He said it absolutely shouldn't be making the noises it was. They did a few things (see above) and I thought it was fixed but I normally just run on firm setting.

 

[Nixapatfan]

I took the service center tech on a ride when I first took it in about the issue. He said it absolutely shouldn't be making the noises it was. They did a few things (see above) and I thought it was fixed but I normally just run on firm setting.

Doesn't make much sense unless both dampers were bad and they only replaced one, is the noise still only coming from the left side?

 

[Druidspirit]

Doesn't make much sense unless both dampers were bad and they only replaced one, is the noise still only coming from the left side?

Mine always seemed to be coming from the right side, but they replaced the left side. Sounds the same now though as before, to me it sounds more prevalent on the right side. Maybe just because I'm sitting in the driver's seat?

 

[TTedP]

In general these trucks do make a racket at slow speeds on minor imperfections with the half shafts rattling.

Thats the thing. Other than an obvious dampener leak, etc - I am not sure there's a mechanical issue or just the way it is with the half shaft design, etc.

My Gen1 T was very chattery at the front. My Gen2 S is quieter overall but a little rumbly at the rear (something I didnt hear with the T and a smaller cab). It also has some of the Gen 2 cost cutting omissions in the rear (open 3rd row cubbies, the deep tub with no insert, etc) - > Big empty caverns.

At this point, I'm wondering if the acoustics of my S is such that these "normal" sounds resonate differently in an annoying way.

 

[Druidspirit]

Thats the thing. Other than an obvious dampener leak, etc - I am not sure there's a mechanical issue or just the way it is with the half shaft design, etc.

My Gen1 T was very chattery at the front. My Gen2 S is quieter overall but a little rumbly at the rear (something I didnt hear with the T and a smaller cab). It also has some of the Gen 2 cost cutting omissions in the rear (open 3rd row cubbies, the deep tub with no insert, etc) - > Big empty caverns.

At this point, I'm wondering if the acoustics of my S is such that the "normal" sounds resonate differently in an annoying way.

That's what I was thinking. I put a blanket in the tub under the back floor. I may put a few more to see if that changes the sound. Won't help with the tire dribble but maybe it's something.

 

[TTedP]

One day last week I got in and the booming clunk and tire dribbling were back. I was like WTF. Started poking around the UI and noticed my wife switched it back to soft ride.

So, I took it around my neighborhood which has a lot of cracks across the concrete, very similar to bridge joints. Sound and dribbling were horrible. Switched it to moderate and drove it around the same neighborhood path. It lessened a lot, the dribble was considerably less, and the booming was more of the hollow thud. Switched it to firm and did the same drive. No booming, no hollow thud, no tire dribbling. It did take a few seconds to, I guess, fully adjust. The sound and dribble slowly went away but completely disappeared.

Is this a common thing among the R1S or is mine just special?

I notice similar. I've even tried to keep track if it changes with different software updates. Futile. Add to that, most of the winter the truck was pretty quiet but now that things are warming up, I hear the rumbling again everywhere. Mechanically, it's all still in good shape.

What you're describing is exactly how mine is. It seems random. Some days, it's fine, but if it's not fine, the booming and sloppiness are especially noticeable in Soft. Switching to Firm/Moderate lessens the effect and eventually it mostly goes away. Then Soft will be fine again.

I can't find a pattern and it's maddening.

Yep. See above. It comes and goes. Is it real or just Baader-Meinhof?? I dunno.

My set up is 20" AT, All Purpose, Medium. Maybe a duh statement but I do feel if I drive in Sport Mode (front and rear engagement) things feel less "loose". But again, could just be characteristics of the S, short wheelbase, design adaptations and all that. I will say, my T's ride quality was much smoother and planted feeling overall. There is a real difference there.

Mine always seemed to be coming from the right side, but they replaced the left side. Sounds the same now though as before, to me it sounds more prevalent on the right side. Maybe just because I'm sitting in the driver's seat?

For sure a factor. I have a rattle in the passenger door I can only hear from the drivers seat. When I have someone else drive and I sit on the passenger side, total silence. Urgh!!

It's the curse of EV's. They're so quiet you hear everything. And Rivian still hasn't perfected all the spots to add soundproofing, deadening materials.

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