Tub Spring

If you load a washing machine unevenly, it will spin out of balance. But our washer seemed to make noise during the spin cycle regardless of how the load was distributed. I suspected that the suspension or balancing springs were getting tired, and ordered a replacement set.

First I disconnected the washer from the water and power supply, then I laid it on its back.

The tub rested on the back of the washer, making two of the three suspension springs relax, and they were pretty easy to pull out with pliers. After the first two were out, I had to support the tub with a couple 2x4s to relax the third suspension spring.

Installation was the reverse of removal - install the lower suspension spring, remove the 2x4s, then install the two other suspension springs.

The tub balancing spring was easy to replace, and probably wasn't the cause of the problem.

With $25 in parts and about 15 minutes, my washer spins much more quietly.

Took some online research to figure out how to get the cabinet off. Once inside I fitted the wear pads which were a breeze to remove using a knife blade to pry them up and removing them using the screwdriver. The springs were replaced one by one using strong fingers. The machine went through the spin cycle without any rocking or self-destruct noises.

The tub was out of alignment and water fell behind it and onto the floor. My brother-in-law suggested my problem could be the tub balancing spring and when I moved my washing machine, there it was on the ground.
The schematic does not show where it hooks up. So after I did what I thought looked right, the machine still did not work properly. Then I replaced the three suspension springs and that didn't solve the problem.
I found a whirlpool "do-it-yourself" repair book at the library and was prepared to tear into the machine. However, I did not have the tub balancing spring in the correct spot at one end. It hooks up from one of the outer bracket to the back of the housing unit along between the legs. There is a hole that had rusted through. I simply drilled a new hole nearby and low and behold it works!
Easy fix - the frustration was with the poor schematic.

went by the instution in the box with the part went very well thanks

I thought I would find broken springs but everything looked good. Comments and video very helpful.I figured springs must be stretched or worn out ,so for the money I figured worth a try. Insallation went well, washingmachine runs like a new machine. Much better than spending money on a new one. Thanks

REMOVED CASING TIP OVER WASHER DISCONNECTED WATER PUMP. DISCONNECTED MOTOR THEN REPLACE COUPLING THEN REASSEMBLE MOTOR THEN REPLACED WATER PUMP.

Disconnected the bracket screws that held the suspension springs in place - fed new springs into bracket and reattached. Local repairman told me that springs dont wear out, they break - wrong, they do lose their tension and thereby lose the ability to counterbalance the spinning load. Washing machine now spins like new - no wobble or shake.

3 online people recommended tilting the machine on the side and replacing the 3 suspension springs. Someone else recommended changing the tub pads. That is the wrong approach. It is actually easier to remove the case than turn the machine on the side. Once you do it once or twice it takes less than 2 minutes and it doesn't distort the suspension. You don't even have to disconnect the hoses. When I originally examined the machine lying on it's side I saw that the tub balance spring was still attached to the tub but the other end had detached. I looked for the place to reattach it. I found a place on the glide plate. Unfortunately this was the wrong place and the machine continued to bang away. When I realized that the spring had to be attached to the lower frame rather than the glide plate (one week of looking). I even wrote to the Repair guru. Once I found my mistake the repair took 5 minutes and no tools other than the phillips screwdriver to take out the 2 screws for the case. I replaced the tub balancing spring for good measure. The machine works great.

Replaced warn springs with new ones in the kit followed the instructions that were included was quick and easy now the washer works like new

Removed the outside body of washer. Used 1/2 plywood between drum and wear pads to make space to pry out pads with screwdriver. Replaced suspension springs and tub spring (use waterproof grease on end of springs. Put washer back together and tested. Problem solved washer not walking all over floor anymore. Thanks for you help.

After removing the 2 phillips screws at the base of the control panel, I flipped the panel toward the back. Using a screwdriver, I popped off the spring clips, releasing the cabinet. I removed the 1/4" hex head screw on the spring mount and removed the old spring and replaced with the new. I repeated this with the other 2 springs. The spring bracket in the rear also holds the tub balancing spring. It is easily replaced while replacing the suspension spring.
If this didn't fix the problem, we were going shopping for a new washer. After this repair, it operates like new!

I tried to remove the outer console to get to the tub wear pads easier. This proved difficult for me for some reason. So I tipped the machine on its back at about a 45 degree angle. You will see the tripod support holding up the tub. The pads lie in between the bottom of the tub and on top of the tripod support . You won't be able to see the pads since the are on the top of the support, but you will see the two insert tabs of each pad sticking out. There are about 120 degrees apart from each other. I pushed up on the tub and slipped the piece of wood in between the tub and tripod support close to the pad. Taking a screwdriver and hammer I punched out the wear pad insert tabs. You can replace the old pad with the new one by using some force with your hands. Some pop right in and some you need to use a little leverage, maybe with the piece of wood you used to hold up the tub. Be careful not to get the pads greasy, keep clean as possible. Worked great.

removed two phillips screws from control panel. lifted panel to reveal two clips on both sides of machine. used flathead screwdriver to remove clips. tilted whole body up and away. pushed drum towards first spring and removed it . installation was reverse of procedure. did not fix it because basket had rusted at shaft bottom under agitator and put basket out of balance.

Changing the springs was a ...snap. The more delicate task was to figure out how to get to them; for this model, the back panel comes off (after removing 3 screws, the drain hose and drain hose plastic coupler, removing the 2 screws holding the control panel, pivoting the control panel and finally removing two spring clips. Also, the plastic water diverter takes a little bit of patience to be unhooked from its slots in the back panel as it will not slide out with the back panel. With the back panel off, the entire "shell" can be removed, exposing the guts. I twisted the tub to release the tension in the suspension springs and replaced them, one by one. Finally, the counterweight spring. I also lubed the support pads to allow for a "friendlier" leveling. Re-assemble, replace the old and cracked water supply hoses, and time for a beer and my girlfriend's obligatory OOOOHs and AAAAHs... All in all (cleanup and test included..) about one hour.

It took a lot of surfing the internet to find good web sites for information. One was part select . I removed the cabinet from the washing machine per instructions. Then I replaced the suspension springs. That was easy. Took about 10 minutes. However, it didn't fix the problem. So I decided to replace all the suspension pads without a total tearing down the unit. It was almost impossible to put the new ones in because they don't press in easily. One other thing, there are plastic cups with pins in them that look like they are missing cotter pins. After hours of searching. I found partselect.com
THESE ARE THE SHIPPING PINS THAT KEPT THE MACHINE FROM MOVING AROUND DURING SHIPPING. THEY TOOK THE COTTER PINS OUT AFTER SHIPPING. THEY ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. My story ends here because my machine is still shakes violently. I have offered my washing machine for parts on our local freecycle website so as to keep it out of the landfill.