How to change shock absorbers on a washing machine with your own hands

Shock absorbers for washing machines are designed to dampen the vibrations of the tank during washing and especially spinning. Shock absorbers are installed at the bottom of the washing machine tank, and perform a function similar to shock absorbers on a machine - they smooth out vibrations. Over time, like any part of the washing machine, shock absorbers can wear out and lose their properties, as a result of which vibrations appear during the spin cycle and the tank knocks against the walls of the washing machine.

Today, washing machines use so-called dampers, which look no different from shock absorbers. And, in principle, they are called shock absorbers. Their device is slightly different.

The device of shock absorbers and dampers

The device of a classic shock absorber, which was still used on old washing machines, is as follows: a cylinder in which there is a piston, consisting of a rod with liners and gaskets. The classic shock absorber uses a return spring that sits inside the cylinder and returns the piston to its place.

In modern shock absorbers (dampers), return springs have been removed and replaced them with springs on which the tank hangs, so now you will no longer find springs in the design of shock absorbers (dampers). There are no other structural differences.Therefore, this instruction is suitable for both types of shock absorbers.

How to repair shock absorbers of a washing machine

Over time, as we wrote above, shock absorbers can wear out.Usually the same gasket and liners that create friction and make the shock absorber elastic wear out. Together with them, the cylinder itself wears out. In addition to such breakdowns, any trouble can happen to the damper, it can bend or break into pieces. As a result, beats may appear, and it may also regularly fly off the washing machine belt from the engine. In any of these cases, the shock absorber requires repair.

If the shock absorber itself is intact, but it no longer performs its function, that is, it does not dampen, then it would be sufficient to change the gasket and liners inside it. Unfortunately, manufacturers of spare parts for washing machines do not release repair kits for dampers. Therefore, it will be difficult to fix it, and it is impractical. Replacing just one gasket with liners will not guarantee performance, because in addition to them, other parts, such as a cylinder, wear out.

Therefore, the best option would be to replace the shock absorbers of the entire washing machine. Fortunately, this procedure can be easily done by hand.

How to remove and check shock absorbers on a washing machine

Before you start changing non-working dampers, you must first check them for integrity and make sure that they are really not working. To do this is quite simple. To start you will need to remove the shock absorbers from the washing machine.

To do this, you need to get easy access to them. On some models, it is enough to lay the washing machine on its side and get easy access from below.Perhaps this will not be enough to replace the shock absorbers, but it is quite enough to check.

On other washing machines, it is necessary to remove the back wall, which is mounted on several bolts and can be removed very easily.

For some washing machines, it is necessary to remove the front wall, for this you need to do the following steps:

• Remove the top cover from the washer - To do this, unscrew the two fixing bolts that are located behind the washer. Then slide the cover to the back of the machine, remove it.
• Now pull out the powder tray and also remove the bottom plastic panel that covers the drain filter.
• Unscrew the plastic top control panel - to do this, find the bolts that secure it. In addition to the bolts, the panel is connected by wires to the rest of the machine. They don't have to be disconnected. You can carefully place the panel on top of the washer so that it does not get in the way.
• Next, you need to remove the cuff from the front wall of the machine - to do this, find the clamp attachment point on the cuff, pry it with a slotted screwdriver and remove the clamp. Next, you need to remove the cuff and fill it inside the tank of the washing machine.
• Now we unscrew the front wall of the washer - for this we find the bolts that fasten it on top and bottom of the washing machine.
• The front wall remains to be held only on a special hook, and we can easily remove it. But the washing machine door lock is wired and won't let us do that. You can unscrew the lock entirely, or gently crawl your hand under the wall of the washing machine and pull the wires out of it.

After these steps, the washing machine should be without a front wall, and we can easily see the dampers.

To check the shock absorbers, unscrew the lower bolton which it is attached to the body.

And by hand try to compress and decompress the damper. A working shock absorber should be very tight. If you easily push it and return it to its original state, then the damper needs to be replaced. Worn shock absorbers can also creak when washing machine is running.

How to change shock absorbers on a washing machine

If you have determined that the shock absorbers are worn out, then need to replace them. For this:

• As we wrote above, get easy access to the dampers by removing the necessary wall from the washing machine.
• Next, you need to unscrew the lower mounting bolt, with which the shock absorber is attached to the washer body. Instead of bolts, plastic pins with latches can be used, which must be pushed and removed with whatever, while simultaneously pressing the latch.
• Once the lower damper mount is disconnected, it is necessary to similarly disconnect the shock absorber mount to the washing machine tub. It is fastened in the same way, with a bolt or pin.
• As soon as you disconnect both fasteners, the shock absorber can be removed and a new one installed in its place in the reverse order.