My washing machine makes a terrible banging noise and vibrates horribly at the end of the spin cycle (during slow-down). Every other cycle works fine. Could this be a brake problem?
With the lid open, set the cycle to spin and press the lid switch button with a pen. Wait until the drum gets to full speed and release the lid switch. If the drum makes a knocking/ thumping noise and doesn't stop spinning within 2-3 seconds, the basket drive block is worn and needs to be replaced. (The basket drive block is located on the gearcase drive shaft, under the tub and agitator) If this has been happening for a long time you may need to replace the brake and drive tube assembly as well.
Basket drive block part number is 389140
If that's not it, let me know and I will try to help you further.
Good luck!
A dozen or so loads shouldn't have caused any damage to the brake and drive tube assembly.
The basket drive block is about $20. You will need a spanner wrench to remove the span nut that screws onto the basket drive block. They have one here for about $20
Let me know if you need a walk through on how to replace it.
If the brake and drive tube tabs are bent, your best bet would be to replace the brake and drive assembly. You can try gently bending them back with pliers, but I would hate for them to snap off completely. Be careful not to damage the seal in the process.
Depending on the severity of the bend in the tabs, you may not need to do anything to them. Make sure to line up the tabs to the slots on the new basket drive block and hammer in down completely until the tabs and slots are flush. Inspect to see if the bent edges of the tabs are bent inward further than the width of the basket drive block slots. If they're bent too far in, it may wear the new block out quickly and the same issue will come up.
When you re-install the spanner nut to the basket drive block make sure to tighten it hard (use the spanner wrench and a hammer/malet.)
You don't need to grease the shaft.
Good luck!
What you did sounds perfect, I would have done the same. Glad to help you out with your machine and your wallet ;)
All the best and thank you!
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VersaStyle,
Thanks for the speedy response. The problem is definitely as you describe. I think I will dig into it tomorrow evening. It has been making the noise for 2-3 weeks, which means that we've done 12-18 loads of laundry. I have three small children and its amazing how much laundry we do. I hope that hasn't been enough to damage the brake and drive tube. I'll let you know what I find. When I mentioned to my wife that it may not be worth fixing on an 8 year old washer, she started talking about buying a $1000 front loader. Of course, she'll also want a new matching dryer. Yikes. I guess I ought to give it a try as long as the parts aren't too expensive. Thanks again.
Eric
Good call, VeraStyle.
I have broken things down to the drive block and see that it is worn out. The spaces that the drive shaft tabs engage into are missing. I need to replace the drive block, but how do I remove the drive block from the basket?
erobert73
VeraStyle,
I figured out how the remove the drive block. I simply fell out when squeezed with a pair of plyers. I'll get a new drive block tomorrow. One more thing I am concerned about is the tabs on the drive tube. The corners of the tabs on one side apppear to have been bent inward toward the gearcase shaft. This would occur if the tube were spinning in the clockwise direction relative to the gearcase shaft. I read on another forum that the tabs should be bent back into shape such that the will engage in the drive block properly. Any suggestions here? Also, should the shaft be greased as I put things back together?
erobert73
VeraStyle,
Thanks so much for your help. I've got it put back together and it seems to be working properly. I don't know how long it will last since I had to bend the tabs back into place a little. I put the new drive block on the drive tube and then bent the tab into the slots. That way I didn't bend them too far and break them off. We'll see how long it lasts. Thanks again. You called it perfectly.
Eric
At the end of the wash cycles the inside cylinder starts to spin uncontrollably and has a loud banging (marching band) noise, how do I solve this problem?
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