Having troubles with your washing machine? If it’s shaking more than usual, the suspension rods might be bad. In this article we will discuss how to tell if your washer suspension rods are bad.
Keep reading to learn:
- What is a washer suspension rod?
- How do you know if your washer suspension rods are bad?
- How do you replace a washing machine suspension rod?
- The cost to replace a washing machine suspension rod
What is a washer suspension rod?
Washer suspension rods support the tub of your washer and help to keep the machine stable. When they are broken, the machine shakes or vibrates more than it’s meant to.
The more rods that go bad, the more excess movement you’ll see.
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How do you know if your washer suspension rods are bad?
The biggest sign of bad washer suspension rods is that your machine is vibrating or shaking more than usual, or more than it did upon purchase.
In order to know for sure, you should look inside of the cabinet of your washing machine. Locate the washer suspension rods and assess any damage.
Keep in mind that these rods aren’t the only thing that can cause your washer to tremble. For instance, another common source of the problem is broken shock absorbers.
It’s also quite possible that your machine has multiple broken parts causing the issue. Running your machine while one part is broken can cause other parts to break as well, and the damage will continue to pile up until the problems are resolved.
You’ll also want to make sure your machine is on level flooring and that your loads are balanced before moving onto other troubleshooting.
Recommended >> Cost to Replace Washing Machine Bearings
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How do you replace a washing machine suspension rod?
If you don’t have experience fixing appliances, it can be a satisfying thing to do! With that said, if you’re uncomfortable tinkering, it’s always best to have a professional look at your machine.
Here is a break down of the steps to replace suspension rods as outlined in the video above:
- First and foremost, unplug your washing machine
- Disconnect hot and cold water hoses and then the drain hose
- Using a 1/4 inch nut driver, remove the upper screws that hold the hinges on (only remove the upper screws)
- Tape down the washer lid and then lift the top of the washer up and rest it against a wall. If there is no wall nearby, use a lanyard (this step is critical so that the hinges are not supporting the top of the washer’s weight alone)
- Lift up on the suspension rods to take the bearing and bearing cup off (if there are support springs, be sure to remove those from the rod)
- Unhook the suspension rods and hang them on the rear frame to support the circular washing tub (do this for all four suspension rods)
- Remove the bearing cup by pressing in on the tabs
- With the rods and bearings removed, lower the top of the washer back down
- Reinstall one of the upper screws from step 2 back into the hinge so that the top of the washer stays in place when laid down on its back
- Lay the washer on its back
- With the washer laid down, take the protective cover off then pull out all four suspension rods
- Feed the new suspension rods in through the bottom of the washer and hook them to the frame
- Reinstall the protective cover from step 11
- Stand the washer back up
- Unscrew the top screw from the hinge to allow the washer top to open back up
- Lift the top up and rest it against a wall
- Install the new bearing cup
- Reattach the support springs (if your washer has them) to the suspension rods
- Lift the suspension rod up through the bearing cup then snap on the new bearing
- Turn the bearing and lock it onto the suspension rod, then lower it down into the bearing cup (repeat this process for the other three suspension rods)
- Close the washer lid and reattach the hinge screws in the rear of the machine
- Reattach the drain hose, then the hot and cold water hoses
- Plug your washer back in and you are done
Cost to replace washing machine suspension rod
Washing machine suspension rods are relatively cheap, with a pack of four selling at around $20-$30. If you order online, you can save quite a bit of money doing the project yourself. Here are our suspension rod recommendations for some of the common washing machine brands:
Hiring a professional may cost anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on your area and the repairman you choose.
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Of course, there is also the possibility of other parts being broken in the machine. This can add considerably to your costs.
While repairing the suspension rods on their own can be budget-friendly if you do it yourself, this can be unsafe if you don’t know what you’re doing.
The process can also become much more expensive if you break the machine further while attempting to fix it.
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