How to Fix a Suspension Pad for a Washer That is Shaking and Moving

The suspension pads in your washer can wear down over time and get to the point where they either break or stop functioning, causing your washer to either shake or move much more than it should, especially during the spinning cycle.

You can tell if your suspension pads are worn out or bad if there is an excessive amount of shaking and vibration coming from your washer and if you hear unpleasant metal sounds. This indicates that the pads are no longer functioning as they should.

Our straightforward guide just below will help you throughout the entire repair process. A repair like this isn’t always expensive, though, depending on the severity of your washer’s issues, you may need to fix or replace a few parts.

What are Suspension Pads?

Suspension pads are used to separate and prevent any metal parts from grinding on one another. If these pads are worn down, you will hear that grinding of metal-on-metal due to the reduced separation. Depending on how many pads you have in your washer, we recommend that you replace all of them, even if you only have an issue with one.

Where are the Suspension Pads Located?

You can normally find these pads below the outer tub within the washer. They are normally fixed on the metal frame, between the frame and the tub. For a more detailed view of where you would normally find these pads, refer to the 3D diagram just below.

How to Access, Remove, and Inspect the Suspension Pads

1. Pull the washer out from the wall and disconnect the power and water supply.
2. Disengage the control panel and then remove the entire cabinet from the washer.
3. Remove the agitator from the washer tub.
4. Remove the tub retainer nut, the tub cover, and the inner tub basket.
5. Disconnect the air dome tube from the pressure switch, the counterweight spring, and the pump hose.
6. Remove the suspension spring brackets, the drive block, and the outer tub.
7. To access the pads, lift the motor base assembly and pivot the suspension plate about 60 degrees.
8. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to pry the old pads off. At this point you can inspect the pads to see if they’re worn out and need to be replaced, or if perhaps there’s another issue. Proceed to the next step to install the new pads.

How to Install New Suspension Pads

1. The washer will need to be disassembled and access to the suspension plate is needed to install new suspension pads.
2. When installing new pads, ensure that the tapered edge is facing down, and line up the two pins into the appropriate holes.
3. Tap the pads into place with a sharp tap from a soft-face hammer to lock them in.
4. Rotate the suspension plate back into place, and the washer can now be reassembled.

Next: Troubleshooting the Suspension Plates

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