Suspension squeaks. A little birdie told me...

[gd_r1t]

Mobile service came to fix a panel alignment today.

While he was here, I took the technician for a drive around the block to show him the "bird chirping" squeak noise that sounded like it was coming from the suspension when driving over bumps at low speeds.

He told me:

• This is due to the suspension's dampers (paraphrasing)
• It's totally normal and he hasn't come across a Rivian yet that doesn't make the noise
• They are planning to fix it with an OTA in the future

Found it interesting, and encouraging that they have a software solution at least identified. No indication of when that may come.

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[Yellow Buddy]

Mobile service came to fix a panel alignment today.

While he was here, I took the technician for a drive around the block to show him the "bird chirping" squeak noise that sounded like it was coming from the suspension when driving over bumps at low speeds.

He told me:

• This is due to the suspension's dampeners (paraphrasing)
• It's totally normal and he hasn't come across a Rivian yet that doesn't make the noise
• They are planning to fix it with an OTA in the future

Found it interesting, and encouraging that they have a software solution at least identified. No indication of when that may come.

Not trying to be a smart ass, but how do you fix a suspension squeak OTA?

 

[mini2nut]

Exactly my thoughts. Fix a squeak through an OTA update? A squeak is caused by two materials making contact with each other.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

Not trying to be a smart ass, but how do you fix a suspension squeak OTA?

You send an "OTA" email to the technician directing them to replace it

 

[derekmw]

Haha yeah, mine just developed this in the past week and it's almost embarrassing. When you brake or accelerate at lower speeds, the front suspension makes squeak noises like I installed polyurethane bushings without any lube. like I'm driving around in a 30yr old truck with custom suspension. haha

No way they are fixing any of this through some OTA update

 

[gd_r1t]

Not trying to be a smart ass, but how do you fix a suspension squeak OTA?

I asked the same question. To be honest, I don't really understand well enough how suspension dampers work, but the technician was very clear that it is a mechanism of the suspension dampers that's controlled by software. It sounded like it relates to the speed/frequency of how they engage, and that's what results in the bird chirping noise.

 

[NY_Rob]

... and if "it's normal" why fix it via OTA or any other way?

Seems like these guys are just winging it more often than not. Like telling recent deliveries "I think you have the new tonneau hardware... maybe".

 

[R1Tom]

Can't wait to see the release notes on this one....

 

[crashmtb]

Exactly my thoughts. Fix a squeak through an OTA update? A squeak is caused by two materials making contact with each other.

Might be a valving thing, which is a software matter.

 

[Attesan997]

Service told me the same thing about the sound being normal. Not the OTA part though, that seems questionable but stranger things have been done.

 

[NooterIA]

So just curious on this "bird" sound you got going. I've got a noise, like a squishing/creeking/griding. Is this the same or not? I swear mine is getting worse, too. Embarrassing.

 

[Prime]

... and if "it's normal" why fix it via OTA or any other way?

Seems like these guys are just winging it more often than not. Like telling recent deliveries "I think you have the new tonneau hardware... maybe".

My experience with service advisers from every manufacturer that I have ever dealt with (Lexus, Toyota, Ford, Mercedes, Tesla) is that they tell you something to get you out the door because they have a long list of repairs to get through. With Tesla and im imagining with Rivian, since they are even busier than ICE service centers, they'll just tell you to go home see if it doesnt "self resolve" after they've "tried" their fix and open another service ticket if the problem comes back. Maybe they're incentivized to complete as many service tickets as possible whether or not it actually fixes anything, no idea.

 

[ads75]

Not trying to be a smart ass, but how do you fix a suspension squeak OTA?

Radio volume goes up every time the suspension feels a bump.

 

[Aroohoo]

I wonder if this guy would have said OTA would address the the Control Arm ball joint failure and the passenger front side low suspension issue.

 

[gd_r1t]

Normally I wouldn't feel compelled to reply to Internet forum snarkiness. But the guy was super nice and seemed like he genuinely understood the situation and was not trying to BS me. In case anyone is questioning his intentions or that he was trying to get me out the door with a quick excuse. I didn't get that vibe at all.

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