When the drum bearings have worn out in a washing machine, they usually make a deep rumbling sound. Spin the drum by hand and there’s a horrible rumble. You can listen to a video later. But how can you be sure that the noise your washing machine is making is really worn drum bearings – and not something else?
This article gives advice on how to detect worn drum bearings, and gives two examples of how easily you could misdiagnose them if you don’t check properly.
Other faults can sound the same as worn drum bearings
So be warned, even if you know what they should sound like, (as this article explains), there are other faults that can sound exactly the same. I know because I once got it totally wrong myself. In my defence, I was with another engineer, and you tend to be less thorough when responsibility is shared. We were called out to a very noisy washing machine. We expected it to be the drum bearings. I opened up the door, spun the drum by hand, and we both heard what sounded exactly like worn drum bearings.
After quoting the customer to replace the bearings, it later transpired that the noise was actually coming from the motor bearings (which is quite rare). When you open the door and spin the drum by hand, you are hearing noise from not only the drum and bearings, but the drive belt and the motor too. The best way to check for worn drum bearings is to take off the drive belt. Then, when you spin the drum, you are only spinning the drum – and not hearing noise from the belt and the motor too.
A badly worn drive belt can sound the same
I’ve also come across one instance when another engineer ordered up a complete new drum and bearing kit for a customer after he’d done the same thing. I was sent out to fit them. As soon as I took off the back panel, I could see the drive belt was in a bad way, and the rubber had started to melt. When I took off the belt and spun the drum – the drum bearings were fine. So was the motor. Believe it or not, the rumbling noise was caused by the damaged drive belt. It just needed a new belt. This last case is very unusual, but don’t be too hasty to diagnose worn drum bearings. This belt sounded just the same as rumbling drum bearings.
What do worn out drum bearings sound like?
It is a big help to know what sound to listen out for. This video shows a washing machine drum being spun when the bearings are clearly worn.
Is there play in the drum?
If the drum bearings are rumbling, that’s one thing. But if you pull the lip of the drum towards you, can you lift it up and down on the shaft? If so, and there’s a lot of play, then either the drum bearing at the front has collapsed, or the drum spider may have a crack in it or be corroded. In both scenarios, it will complicate a repair, and may need an entire new drum kit at great expense. It may well be beyond economical repair.
More on noisy washing machine and worn bearings
I have other articles giving advice about noisy washing machines, and all the many possible explanations, which also includes more information about the symptoms, and further help on how to diagnose worn drum bearings in the links below.
Spares
Spares4Appliances is a spares company run by repair engineers who understand all about spare parts for appliances.
Ok My washing machine is fine until it goes on fast spin. It then sounds like a hadful of nuts and bolts are in the drum. The first time I heard it I opened the door took the clothes out expecting to find something that was causing the noise – I found nothing. Have now done 2 more washes with same noise on fast spin only. Next I took top off – nothing amiss, then took back off (eventually, how many screws) and again nothing seemed to be wrong – I have listed to the video on this sire and it does not sound like drum bearings. When I return home I will be taking the belt of and turning by hand to see how it sounds but to be honest I have turned drum by hand already and it sound fine. Therefore could it be the motor bearings? Anyone any ideas please??
If it isn’t noisy when you spin the drum by hand it’s not likely to be drum bearings. My other article linked to at the bottom of the article explains all other sources of noise on a washing machine, I’d specifically check out the section on loose tub/drum weight.
Our 2 year old washing machine had been making banging sounds during the spin cycle for about 2 weeks. Then it stopped spinning completely. I opened the back and the fan belt had come off but was in great condition. Having put the belt back on the banging continued. I have noticed rust down the back of the drum housing indicating bearing problems. Then I red this post and spun the drum with the belt off. It sounds just like your video clip. Also I lifted the drum from inside and it has about 1cm of movement independent of the housing.
would this be both a broken or loose spider arm and the bearings? And is it an expensive job to repair? Should I just invest in a new machine? Unfortunately we can’t find the paperwork for the warranty.
If it was a broken spider arm the drum would lift far more in one place where the broken spider was. These days many brands of washing machine can’t have drum bearings replaced and you have to fit a complete new drum.
Hi my machine started to make a banging noise during soon cycle. After the wash the machine was used again and it was apparent the belt had come loose. On removing the rear panel I discovered the belt in the inside of the drive wheel. After removal I spun the drum by hand and the bearings sound worn but there is a loud metalic bang on occassion while spinning? Any suggestions? Im thinking this is beond repair?
Hello Mark. It sounds like the front drum bearing might have collapsed. or there could be a crack or break in the drum spider. It sounds pretty serious.
Hi. My frontloader is 5 yrs old. On spin it made an exceptionally loud noise. So I stopped it, removed the clothes. What we found is that the drum is so loose that it actually feel like its off set.
Hello Shireen. It sounds like the drum bearings may have collapsed, or the drum spider could have broken, which is usually very serious.
my hotpoint washing machine makes noises like the bareings have gone but they havent when the washing machine spins and bangs about a bit before it desides to spin some times it dosent spin at all and i have to take the clothes out and spin it with nothing in it to get it to spin with clothes in the drum as you said in your video i think its the motor bareings that are going or the moter is on its way out machine is only 4 years old and i doint use it very often
Hello Graeme. If you disconnect the drive belt and then put it on spin you will be able to tell for sure if it is the motor are not.