The wear and tear of a washing machine’s components can occur over time, with the shock absorbers being one important component that frequently exhibits symptoms of malfunction. These parts are intended to lessen vibrations and guarantee that the machine operates smoothly throughout spin cycles. Your washing machine’s performance may noticeably alter when they begin to fail.
It’s critical to identify the early warning indications of failing shock absorbers in order to stop additional machine damage. Unusual noises, excessive shaking, or even unbalanced loads are examples of common indicators. In addition to being annoying, these symptoms could shorten the life of your appliance.
You can prevent future expensive repairs by being aware of the warning signs and acting quickly to address them. Let’s examine a few of the main indicators that your washing machine’s shock absorbers may require repair.
| Signs of Malfunction | Description |
| Loud banging during spin cycle | The washing machine makes loud noises or bangs when spinning. |
| Excessive vibration | The machine shakes more than usual, especially during spinning. |
| Unstable drum | The drum feels loose or unstable when moved by hand. |
| Leaks | Water may leak from the machine during washing due to imbalance. |
| Longer washing times | Washing cycles take longer as the machine struggles to balance. |
The shock absorbers in your washing machine may be broken if it begins to make strange noises while spinning, shakes more than usual, or moves unevenly. Because these components are meant to lessen vibration, when they break your machine becomes unsteady, noisy, and less effective. Early detection of these symptoms can help prevent more damage and costly repairs.
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- Disassembling the shock absorber
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Is the shock absorber broken?
To remove and replace the damper, you shouldn’t start disassembling household appliances right away. Prior to planning the repair, you must make sure this component is functional. What specific actions are required to identify the issue?
- Disconnect the equipment from all communications.
- Remove the top cover of the housing, having first removed the bolts holding it in place.
- Reach the washing machine tank with your hands.
- Carefully press on it from above to lower it by about 5-7 centimeters.
- Then release your hand sharply and see how the tank behaves.
If the dampers are functioning properly, the tank should rise, return to its initial position, and stop right away. When the component starts to actively swing in various directions, much like a pendulum, it is obvious that the shock absorbers require replacement or repair.
Furthermore, even in the absence of such diagnostics, the breakdown of the racks can typically be fixed. The following explanation helps you to understand why the shock absorber is defective:
- during washing, the machine creaks and hums loudly;
- during the spin stage, the washing machine actively jumps in place or even changes its location with the help of peculiar jumps.
If any of these signs appear, there’s a problem with the "home assistant." However, figuring out the source of the malfunction is just as important as identifying the breakdown. What specific reasons might these be?
- Natural wear of the automatic washing machine – long-term operation affects the integrity of the liners and dampers.
- Deformation – appears due to errors in operation, transportation, as well as due to a factory defect.
- Wear of fasteners – bolts can become loose or simply break over time.
The only shock absorbers that cannot be repaired are those with damaged cylinders. Should the malfunction be linked to gasket deterioration or inadequate element attachment, you may fix the dampers on your own without contacting a home appliance repair service representative.
Disassembling the shock absorber
To give the reader a better understanding of what he will have to deal with in order to fix the breakdown, we will first carefully examine the design of the washing machine shock absorber. This will assist the user in determining whether it is better to entrust the work specialist of the service center or attempt the repair themselves.
The basic components of the washing machine shock absorber are a plastic cylinder, a metal rod, two bushings fastened to the cylinder and rod, and a unique gasket that functions as a piston. The cylinder’s gasket deteriorates over time and cannot be stopped by adding a lot of grease to increase friction inside the cylinder.
The rod will easily move inside the cylinder and in certain cases even start to fall out of it because the gasket will stop acting as a piston as soon as it fails. Let us now assume that the gasket has not failed entirely yet, allowing the rod to move freely along the cylinder but still functioning partially as a piston.
To avoid unintentionally breaking the plastic cylinder in this case, the user must carefully disassemble the shock absorber and remove the rod from the cylinder. By carefully removing the section with your fingers, you can attempt to remove the rod yourself. Since the piston has very little resistance in this state, this usually works.
Should you be unable to extract the component using your hands, you must cover the rod with a cloth, securely fasten it in a vice, and then extract it by unscrewing the cylinder. Additionally, you should not rush or use brute force during extraction. The shock absorber will eventually be disassembled and the component will come out of its seat.
Furthermore, you should examine the scenario where the washer dampers have an extra plastic screw thread cover attached to them. This addition is meant to keep the rod from falling out of the cylinder, but even with that safeguard in place, it still has the potential to do so when the washing machine is in use. If the shock absorbers on your model have a cover like that, they need to be taken off the rod first.
A major clue that your washing machine’s shock absorbers may be worn out is if it shakes uncontrollably or bangs loudly while spinning. These components are essential for minimizing vibration and maintaining the machine’s stability while it operates.
Additional indicators to watch out for include odd movement when the machine is not in use or excessive bouncing of the drum. It’s critical to take care of these problems as soon as you discover them in order to stop additional harm from occurring to your appliance.
You may prolong the life of your washing machine and avoid future expensive repairs by giving it regular maintenance and paying attention to these warning indications.
