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Washing machine drum bearings

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Mark P.17/07/2011 13:29:30
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634 forum posts
9 photos
Hi all. Has anyone had cause to replace the drum bearings on a washing machine? Just wondered what sort of job it is.Told SWMBO that I could do it in a couple of days!!
 
Regards Pailo.
Nicholas Farr17/07/2011 13:59:55
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3988 forum posts
1799 photos
Hi Pailo, I have done them in the past, but the last machine I had for 23 years without trouble until the bearings went, and though changing the bearings would have been no big deal, (for me at least) it also had a mechanical seal to stop the water getting to the bearings. Anyhow the cost of a new seal and bearings V the age of the machine didn't make the effort worth while or make financial sense. But they are not normally difficult to change, the biggest part of the job is getting to them. If you do decide to change them, I would suggest taking photos as you proceed, because on some machines you may have to remove wires and pipes ect. from the outside of the drum casing. Photos before you take things off will help you put them back in the right place.
 
Regards Nick.
Gordon W17/07/2011 15:22:22
2011 forum posts
I've done one or two. The last one had a sealed hub/spider, cost £90, took it apart and found 2 standard bearings at about £15 the two. Was a fairly simple job, big hammer and tube spacer. But, after running for a couple of weeks strange noises started, the drum itself had started cracking, stress type cracks from the mounting bolts for the hub spider. So if the m/c is old I would not bother.
RJW17/07/2011 16:06:02
343 forum posts
36 photos
Done a couple of Indesits and a Creda over the last couple of years.
 
The Creda had cracked the spider supporting the drum, but had a valve problem too, so was scrapped (kept all the good bits and electronics in good hoarder fashion, much to SWIMBO's dismay) .
 
Of the Indesits, one got away with a set of bearings and seals, cost about a tenner all in with postage, and the other had broken the spider, so needed a new spider and hub assembly, cost about £30, both were still good machines so worth doing.
The bearings on them both used rubber shielded types, plus external seals on the bearing housing.
Both of the washers were done and dusted in half a day and back in action again.
 
If you get the full model number off yours and stick it in the search box on eBay, you'll probably turn up scores of hits for bearing kits and spiders etc.
Google UK will also spit out loads of mail order suppliers, some of whom cover a wide range of machines, but look for co.uk websites rather than .com though, otherwise American sites will be in overabundance.
 
Don't hang about though, otherwise your life will be misery until the job's either done, or you've coughed up for a new machine!
 
John
Mark P.17/07/2011 16:12:55
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634 forum posts
9 photos
Hi all thanks for the replys,have got the bearings and seal kit £12.00 just got to find time to fit them.
 
Regards Pailo.
john kennedy 118/07/2011 07:18:43
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214 forum posts
24 photos

Pailo, There is a good 'how to' video on you tube which I watched a couple of times. The job was more involved than I expected when I cured our Zanussi Z1. It involves more or less stripping the whole lot out.
Take it bit by bit and photograph every stage from all angles as you go.I still have one screw left... but the silence is weired and well worth the effort. You are about right , it took me about two days to do. .John
KWIL18/07/2011 09:09:35
3681 forum posts
70 photos
At least one Brand has an outer drum that is plastic, two parts bonded in the factory and you cannot remove the internal drum to repair the bearings! Replacement drum assembly costs more than a new machine, ultimate throw away society.
Stub Mandrel21/07/2011 21:10:18
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4318 forum posts
291 photos
1 articles
Pailo,
 
£12 is agreat deal for that. I have paid much more in the past, but have since discovered that you can get them very from Arc Euro Trade for a fraction of the price the spares websites charge.
 
I had trouble with one internal bearing that had disintegrated leaving the outer race jammed in place. I used a mini-tool (like a dremel) with a cutting disc to cut an angled slit in the race, it used two or three discs but I got it out.
 
The problem with washing machines is under-spec bearings and dodgy seals in an extreme environment.
 
They could use decent bearings and build them to last, but its not in their interests to do that!
 
Neil

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