Top Load Washing Machine Shakes Violently

These springs are used to suspend the basket from the frame.

Top load washing machine shakes violently.

If the washing machine is not balanced it may shake violently during the spin cycle causing water to spill on the floor. A washing machine imbalance can be caused by a unit that does not sit level to the ground. Hook it back into the center. Assuming you have a front loading washing machine recommended for energy efficiency you can access the suspension springs through the top panel.

Once the washing machine sees the load is properly balanced the spin cycle continues and ramps up to maximum rpm with minimal vibration. If the washer is walking vibrating shaking or moving check the following. These rods can be easily replaced in about 15 minutes. There will be either a shipping rod styrofoam shipping material or cardboard base and cardboard cone.

The best way to determine the cause of shaking and vibration in your washer is to start with the simple. On 1995 and newer top load washers you must remove the shipping material just before sliding the washer into place. If the snubber pad is worn out missing or coated with a sticky substance such as detergent fabric softener or transmission oil the washer will vibrate or shake during operation. The snubber pad dampens the vibration of the washer tub.

They also absorb the vibration of the wash basket while the machine is in the spin cycle. If they are broken or damaged however the washing machine may shake violently when it enters the spin cycle. A short video about my whirlpool washer shaking madly due to worn suspension rods. It may feel like the floor is about to collapse underneath your machine and the sound can make it seem like the entire building is falling apart.

Occasionally these springs will become damaged stretched or detached which can cause excessive. The short pause and vibration when the washer spin cycle reaches approximately 400 rpm is a normal. Inspect the snubber pad. Redistributing the load will usually solve this issue if the cause is due to too many clothes on one side of the unit.

If your remove the bottom panel on a top load washer and see a spring rolling around your suspension rod fell off. When the washer vibrates it is because the drum inside is spinning the load at a rapid rate. The suspension springs on your washing machine are used to either suspend the tub assembly from the cabinet or to stabilize the tub assembly to the washer base.