Half-Shaft issue thread

[kyledmb]

Interesting... I didn't know this was an issue. My Gen2 R1T is in for service right this moment for some minor fit and finish stuff that needed fixed from initial delivery. Prior to drop off, the service center reach out ans asked if they could add a half shaft inspection to the visit, to which I agreed. Curious why they are doing preemptive inspections...

That is really interesting. They didn't give you any reasoning for that?

Any info you can figure out about this would be great, if you don't mind reporting back.

Sponsored

 

[303TP]

The message said "as part of continuous efforts to ensure product quality, we would like to inspect your half-shaft assemblies." No other explanation.

I don't pickup until mid nextweek but will report back.

 

[Frisbee]

No rattles so far from my DM R1T.

 

[Jonger1150]

Interesting... I didn't know this was an issue. My Gen2 R1T is in for service right this moment for some minor fit and finish stuff that needed fixed from initial delivery. Prior to drop off, the service center reach out and asked if they could add a half shaft inspection to the visit, to which I agreed. Curious why they are doing preemptive inspections...

This is good to hear. I always figured a solution would come from this.

The technicians at the metro Detroit SC almost methodically knew how to handle my suspension noise issue back when I first brought it in.

"It's a complicated suspension and the noise is normal"

They did handle the jounce lines at the time....so some good came out of it. God knows how much money and time is wasted by the SC with these half-shafts.

 

[Mygrain]

I've been away from driveshaft discussions for 2+ years, so please excuse if this post rehashes old info. Below is an invoice from an August 2022 post (in a different thread). Note that the service part number for a quad front driveshaft was PT00055489-C. Maybe ... just maybe ... the supplier (GKN, I suspect) has implemented design or manufacturing improvements between the -C version and the current -G version.

The OP's video from that 2022 thread is gone, but I recall the video clearly showed "Made in Mexico" on the part number label.

Finally, here's a link to a 1-page PDF promoting GKN's ballspline driveshaft. Although @RivianRush's invoice (earlier in this thread) says "excessive play in the CV joints" I suspect the ballsplines may be the culprit. When the auto industry moved from RWD to FWD (decades ago), suppliers (including GKN) learned how to build quiet, reliable CV joints. Disclaimer: I left the auto industry 30 years ago, so my opinions are armchair-engineer at best.

 

[DaveA]

I was told previously that Rivian is/was kicking the can down the road with these band-aid repairs to run out the time on the contract for their half-shaft supplier. (A service tech told me this). I’m hopeful that a new revised half-shaft is coming soon if not already being implemented. The drivetrain has such a long warranty they have to do something or it’s gonna bleed them dry.

 

[SDB-2025]

This is what I am currently dealing with. Have an appointment next week. They stated they believe it’s the half shafts as well.

Sounds like the cv joint yet after reading up a little bit, I hear it almost “normal” with these trucks. But the half shaft being connected to this is the other thing that goes out. Surprising that Rivian has known about this for years and no improvements? I just bought 23 R1’T yesterday and it clicks a lot. Tesla would never allow that to continue. Not real excited about dealing with this.

 

[RivianRush]

Sounds like the cv joint yet after reading up a little bit, I hear it almost “normal” with these trucks. But the half shaft being connected to this is the other thing that goes out. Surprising that Rivian has known about this for years and no improvements? I just bought 23 R1’T yesterday and it clicks a lot. Tesla would never allow that to continue. Not real excited about dealing with this.

They only replaced my half shafts and I'm not 300 miles into the repair and no more horrid sounds and my efficiency is improved. Maybe the half shafts were causing some sort of binding or resistance not sure but car does drive better on the butt dyno

 

[Jonger1150]

Let's hope they don't do any major changes to the platform and maroon us gen 1 & 2 owners with obsolete noisy half-shafts.

As long as the R1s share half-shaft part # with new builds -- there's hope.

 

[DaveA]

Sounds like the cv joint yet after reading up a little bit, I hear it almost “normal” with these trucks. But the half shaft being connected to this is the other thing that goes out. Surprising that Rivian has known about this for years and no improvements? I just bought 23 R1’T yesterday and it clicks a lot. Tesla would never allow that to continue. Not real excited about dealing with this.

That noise is not normal.

 

[kyledmb]

That noise is not normal.

You're right. That noise is not normal. Also, I think we really miss the mark by talking about the halfshaft issue as only a noise complaint. To me, the noise is only an incremental piece to a component failure. It's easy because you can capture a video of the noise and share it online. You can hear it and it's ugly. But the real issue for me is how poorly my truck handles now and how much more loose it feels to drive. I can feel the rattle, not just hear it. Anyone else experience this?

 

[Jonger1150]

You're right. That noise is not normal. Also, I think we really miss the mark by talking about the halfshaft issue as only a noise complaint. To me, the noise is only an incremental piece to a component failure. It's easy because you can capture a video of the noise and share it online. You can hear it and it's ugly. But the real issue for me is how poorly my truck handles now and how much more loose it feels to drive. I can feel the rattle, not just hear it. Anyone else experience this?

Those are ball bearings hitting metal splines with approximately 1750 lbs. per wheel. You're gonna feel it.

 

[RivianRush]

update! just had my half shafts replaced and now My truck with less than 300miles since repair has gone into limp mode. Front drive unit is 100% dead. Truck has no regen and is making all sorts of grinding and clunking noise. Stuck in RWD with no regen and can't change any drive modes.

Rivian is sending a tow in 48 hours. The issues I have had with my truck in 2 years is never ending

 

[kyledmb]

update! just had my half shafts replaced and now My truck with less than 300miles since repair has gone into limp mode. Front drive unit is 100% dead. Truck has no regen and is making all sorts of grinding and clunking noise. Stuck in RWD with no regen and can't change any drive modes.

Rivian is sending a tow in 48 hours. The issues I have had with my truck in 2 years is never ending

Very sorry that is happening. It's beyond frustrating, and an outcome that I am nervous about happening to me. It makes me think that, in some cases, these issues aren't the halfshafts but rather worn out connection points in the drive units themselves.

 

[shap]

I was told previously that Rivian is/was kicking the can down the road with these band-aid repairs to run out the time on the contract for their half-shaft supplier. (A service tech told me this). I’m hopeful that a new revised half-shaft is coming soon if not already being implemented. The drivetrain has such a long warranty they have to do something or it’s gonna bleed them dry.

Do you mean half-shafts are covered by the drivetrain warranty? I thought it was a bumper-to-bumper warranty only.

Sponsored