Suspension Clunking in Gen 2 R1S with 22" Sport Wheels—Is This Normal , fixable?

[Kaiju]

Comparing the suspension with more typical on-pavement vehicles is probably a bit of a disservice. It's not necessarily a build quality problem but an engineering compromise. Rivian designers chose a harsher duty cycle that limited their ability to tune it for on-road cloudiness.

From talking with the techs I've dealt with, Rivians have more play by spec in various suspension parts to make them hold up better for off-road abuse and that's what makes them rattly and clunky. The absence of the delicate fine adjustment is a consequence of the suspension just...not being delicate. Apparently they expect the ride quality to degrade much slower than a typical truck, but some of it was sacrificed at the outset. It also means that whenever they say the noise is 'normal' they apparently aren't bullshitting and it's just at odds with people's expectations for luxury vehicles in a similar price range.

How do land rovers or G wagons compare? It seems a bit unfair to compare to Jeeps.

Also, the laws of tolerances do mean that there will be some subset of the population that gets parts that so happen to have the worst combination of the spec limits, someone else gets the best and most people fall in between. That means that yeah, someone's Rivian sounds like a tool chest falling down the stairs, someone else's is an absolute dream and it's not just subjective pickiness.

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[RivianPVE]

Comparing the suspension with more typical on-pavement vehicles is probably a bit of a disservice. It's not necessarily a build quality problem but an engineering compromise. Rivian designers chose a harsher duty cycle that limited their ability to tune it for on-road cloudiness.

From talking with the techs I've dealt with, Rivians have more play by spec in various suspension parts to make them hold up better for off-road abuse and that's what makes them rattly and clunky. The absence of the delicate fine adjustment is a consequence of the suspension just...not being delicate. Apparently they expect the ride quality to degrade much slower than a typical truck, but some of it was sacrificed at the outset. It also means that whenever they say the noise is 'normal' they apparently aren't bullshitting and it's just at odds with people's expectations for luxury vehicles in a similar price range.

How do land rovers or G wagons compare? It seems a bit unfair to compare to Jeeps.

Also, the laws of tolerances do mean that there will be some subset of the population that gets parts that so happen to have the worst combination of the spec limits, someone else gets the best and most people fall in between. That means that yeah, someone's Rivian sounds like a tool chest falling down the stairs, someone else's is an absolute dream and it's not just subjective pickiness.

My g wagon definitely absorbs small impacts better than my Rivian and does not make any clunking noises from the suspension. That being said, the g wagon does not have air suspension and can’t hold a candle to the Rivian on twisty roads. It’s a trade off but I’ve learned to live with the noise in the suspension. Rivian had a recent voluntary recall to tighten the hubs and knuckles. I had it done the other day and surprisingly there was a small improvement over small impacts. Aside from the noises from the suspension, though, its ability to provide a decent ride and offer that level of stability in the corners is top notch in my opinion. Range rovers I’ve had in the past had a superior ride but had nowhere near Rivian’s ability in the corners.

 

[phaduman]

My Gen2 R1T (Nov build) had a front passenger side suspension make a flapping sound when going over bump…only passenger side.

the tech went for a ride, found a speed bump closeby, got down from the truck, and listened in while I drove on the speed bump. This time, the window was down and what felt like a soft plastic flapping sound was much louder metal clamping.

he said it was easy to reproduce and not normal.
A week later, I got the truck back. They had replaced the dampener. Problem completely gone.

my recommendation - roll down the window, and try and listen to the sound and record them - or get someone outside to record while you drive.

 

[Hamza mg]

According to reports clunking sounds emerge frequently in suspension arrangements when vehicles use 22" wheels. A clunking noise could be typical to some setups but you need to bring it to Rivian service for assessment anyway. Rivian technicians may conduct small modifications along with applying updates to resolve the issue. Testing another R1S should help you decide if the clunking noise is normal while also seeking potential suspension work done on different models through Rivian service.

 

[2kwik4u]

How do land rovers or G wagons compare? It seems a bit unfair to compare to Jeeps.

Boss has a Range Rover with air suspension, no clunks.
I've had an Audi with air suspension, no clunks.
Friend has a Jeep Grand Cherokee with air suspension, no clunks.

Those three alone comprise several different price points and intended usages. Jeeps are "trail rated", and honestly, are probably the closest analog to the Rivian in terms of intended usage.

It's either poorly designed, or poorly built.

 

[phaduman]

I had seen a YouTube video of how the shafts are designed to allow extension to such heights (offroad high settings), and also to handle the weight - which is higher than other SUVs mentioned above.
The two piece shaft with ball bearings is what is causing those noise?

My gen2 is very quiet so it probably masks that noise - I don’t hear it in rough roads….

 

[kyledmb]

According to reports clunking sounds emerge frequently in suspension arrangements when vehicles use 22" wheels. A clunking noise could be typical to some setups but you need to bring it to Rivian service for assessment anyway. Rivian technicians may conduct small modifications along with applying updates to resolve the issue. Testing another R1S should help you decide if the clunking noise is normal while also seeking potential suspension work done on different models through Rivian service.

What reports are you referencing here?

 

[Jonger1150]

I had seen a YouTube video of how the shafts are designed to allow extension to such heights (offroad high settings), and also to handle the weight - which is higher than other SUVs mentioned above.
The two piece shaft with ball bearings is what is causing those noise?

My gen2 is very quiet so it probably masks that noise - I don’t hear it in rough roads….

None of the mentioned vehicles in this thread have a half-shaft like this. We're granted higher articulation of movement because of it.

 

[phaduman]

that's the one - thank you @Jonger1150. OP's issue may not be the same, but just in case, lots of reading here: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/half-shaft-cv-joint-noise.8553/

 

[Jonger1150]

that's the one - thank you @Jonger1150. OP's issue may not be the same, but just in case, lots of reading here: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/half-shaft-cv-joint-noise.8553/

The clunks are from the air bags.... It's a 7000 lb. truck that's probably 7500 lbs. with rider and gear inside. That's 7500 lbs. compared to 4500 lb. SUVs mentioned in this thread. It's not going to be as quiet. The half-shaft causes little clatter sounds, the heavy truck riding on the airbags is the source of the clunks.

Maybe different airbags get substituted someday, but for now this is what we got.

 

[CrimsonTerp]

Is the sound similar to this?

Been dealing with it since day 1, and have had zero luck getting Rivian to acknowledge that it’s an issue….so I’d say only buy if you’re fine with this being your daily soundtrack.

 

[PaythePiper]

I’ve found the fix guys. I just turn on my heat and the heat pump just completely masks the suspension noise. It’s great….

 

[Qua Patet Orbis]

Like many others in this community, I've struggled with persistent issues since I took ownership of my R1S in December. Your description perfectly captures my experience, especially regarding the clunky sound when the chassis leans while navigating curves on bumpy roads or dips due to uneven surfaces.

My vehicle recently underwent a four-week service visit at the Service Center, but unfortunately, the clunky noise remains unresolved. Due to Rivian's poor quality control, my R1S arrived in a condition that should never have left the factory, with substantial misalignments and subpar fit and finish problems. In addition to a bothersome rattle coming from the HVAC fan and the clunky suspension, I genuinely like my car. I sincerely hope Rivian can become a strong contender in the adventurous vehicle segment.

Before owning the R1S, I had a 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron, which featured air suspension and weighed nearly 6,000 pounds. Throughout my two years of ownership, I experienced no issues—the suspension was exceptional. While I understand that the R1S is designed for superior off-road capability, the differences in component selection and supplier quality are significant, and they impact overall performance and reliability, in my opinion.

Rivian has positioned itself as a premium brand, so a clunky suspension is unacceptable, especially for a vehicle that costs six figures. It’s actually quite embarrassing to take friends for a spin.

Let’s hope Rivian acknowledges these issues and works to fix them for all affected customers.

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