How to Troubleshoot and Repair a Washer That is Shaking and Moving
If your washing machine is shaking violently and moving more than usual during its cycle, there can be a few causes. Sometimes, the shaking and moving can be caused by a misaligned part of your washer like a shock absorber or suspension spring. Other times it can be caused by your washer simply not being level. Regardless, we’re here to help you repair your washer and get it back to 100%.
Repairs like this aren’t always expensive; you may just need to go through our list of causes below. Something to look out for is any error or fault codes that may indicate what the problem is. Thanks to our straightforward guide and list of parts, common errors, and step-by-step videos, you’ll have the problem solved in no time!
Using This Page, You Will be Able to Troubleshoot the Following Symptoms
- The washer is excessively shaking.
- The washer is excessively moving.
Inspect These Common Issues First
If your washer is shaking and moving excessively, be sure to check that you aren’t making these common mistakes that could cause that problem before you move on to the next section.
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Is Your Laundry Load Even?
Uneven distribution of clothes within the washer can cause the inner tub to spin unevenly and come into contact with the outer tub, which is where the shaking and moving comes from.
Is Your Washer Overloaded?
Overloading your washer can also cause the inner tub to spin unevenly. When a washer is overfilled with heavy laundry, it will eventually cause the inner tub to make contact with the outer tub.
Is Your Washer Level?
If your washing machine is not level with the ground, it will cause an excessive amount of vibration and noise, and potentially even damage your walls and floors. To reduce this, we recommend inspecting your washer legs to make sure that each leg is solid to the floor. You can test this by rocking each of the four corners of your washer to make sure that no side is lifting. If you believe that your washer may not be level, check out our video on how to level it up.
Common Parts You May Need to Replace
Below is a list of parts that commonly fail, leading to a shaking and/or moving washer. More resources – such as part descriptions, 3D images, videos, and installation instructions – are available on the individual part pages.
- Shock Absorbers These are located between the outer tub and the base frame and keep the inner tub from shaking during the cycle. If they’re bad or broken, you’ll hear a lot of banging.
- Leveling Legs These are used to keep the entirety of the washer frame level to the floor. If these are bad, your washer normally rocks on one or two corners and shakes during use.
- Dampening Straps These support the washer tub during the cycle and keep the tub at the center of the washer. If these are bad, it can lead to the inner tub being farther to one side.
- Suspension Springs These keep the tub stable during its cycles. If worn out or broken, they will cause the inner tub to move and shake a lot.
- Suspension Pads These pads absorb the vibration and movement caused by the wash cycles. Worn-down pads will cause the washer to shake and move much more.
- Suspension Plate This plate allows the inner tub to move freely within the frame of the washer. If broken or worn out, it will cause the tub to move without boundary.
- Suspension Rods These help reduce the overall movement of the inner washer tub. If worn out or broken, they will cause the washer to hit the outside tub.
- Counterweight This helps reduce the vibrations caused by the inner tub. If worn out, it will cause the washer to vibrate more.
- Tub Balance Ring This fluid-filled ring is used to essentially counteract any imbalances the load may cause during the wash. If this ring is broken, it’ll cause the load to be farther to one side.
- Snubber Ring This ring fits between the leg and the dome assembly, which is responsible for holding the tub. When this ring is worn out, it causes the tub to bang the side of the cabinet.
- Trunnion The trunnion is mounted to the tub of a washing machine and it susceptible to corrosion over time, leading to the arms of the trunnion breaking off.
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