Bracket, Spring Outer (L.F.)

Unbalanced load was creating a knocking sound (as if the clothes load was unbalanced). Dismantled the washer to find that one brackets had rusted out. [FYI: 3 bracket at 120 degree apart (for the 360 degree circle)]. I found that the hole (on the bracket) where the spring holds was gone. Purchased parts. Replaced them (spring, bracket, screw). Reassembled washer then ran wash for a cycle. Successful fix.

Washer is 29 years old. Found that tub spring hooks into a simple (non-reinforced) hole in the base frame, and it had worn the hole through through the edge of the frame (key hole style). Due to age and low cost of parts, ordered all suspension springs, brackets, & pads. Once they arrived, took the tubs out (first time for that), found that the suspension pads looked fine, but the wear pads showed a lot of wear and the front one was snapped in the middle, perhaps an after effect of the spring failure. From my lack of attention, initially tried to get front pad into the wrong set of holes, a bad fit; corrected. Simply drilled a near-by hole in the base frame for the tub spring.

While the tubs were out, took them outside and scrubbed them clean. Also cleaned agitator parts using bottle brushes. Followed the PartSelect videos and owner comments for procedures, methods. Found that some miss some important info, but if you watch others you can combine the info to find what you need re disassembly/assembly.

At one point while attempting to remove the outer tub, did not realize that the screw that holds the rear spring bracket to the tub also holds the tub to the suspension plate.

Took me most of a day for the whole process, and I ended up with pulled/spasmic muscles from all the bending over, mostly from cleaning parts I think. Very helpful to have the parts breakout drawings, videos, others' experience.

Following the video that was supplied with my order was super helpful. Watching it though made the job seem very easy of which it really wasn't. My washer is about 6 years old so it had a LOT of build up on EVERYTHING making the disassembly harder than you may think. Once apart I needed to really scrub everything clean before reassembly as well. Getting the tub off without cracking it was a challenge for sure. Eventually rocking it and adding a bit of WD-40 to the shaft if eventually came off. Once it was off I was able to replace the Tub Wear Pads quite easily. Getting to it was the challenge. Installing new wear pads and new suspension springs fixed the problem. Once I had the casing back together I replaced the agitator cam set as well. I figured as long as I already had it apart why not be proactive and fix the next to fail and boy am I glad I did. Once I had it out it just fell apart in my hands with the cams showing almost no ribs at all left to latch onto.