Bearings gone - repair or replace?

longbaygirl

Bearings gone on washing machine + leaky soap dispenser.

Washing machine over 4 years old. Had extensive use - we are a family of 5 and often have a lodger too. Washing machine going most days, often more than once.

Should we repair or just buy a new one.

Is it all downhill after this length of time with washing machine?

fingerman

If it was me (family of 4, 5th on the way!) - I'd buy new.

You can probably get a new one for not far off the cost of repairing yours, and it should be more economical and in warantee

And if you do get yours fixed there's no gaurantee something else will go :rolleyes:

money_savy

I had a same problem few weeks back and I was suggested to go a for new one as the cost of getting new bearing and fixing it is not cost effective. Mine was 5 years old.

tranmay

I replaced the bearings in my washing machine for about £20 BUT its not that easy to do and if my machine was used as much as yours ,def go for a new one

epz_2

unless you are fitting it yourself then fair enough but i cant imagine the cost of parts and labour would be worthwhile against a new one and an extended warranty.

sjc_2

It's not an LG Direct Drive Model by any chance?

Had exactly the same problem, but was noticed by it going more and more noisy then marking clothes with the grease from the bearings.

Anyway I noticed in time as my free 5yr guarantee runs out today 02/07 so called in engineer. Took him a good few hours to resolve involving swapping the drum and bearings, but since all this the Soap Tray has started leaking, so he's coming back to replace that tomorrow having waited a week for the parts.

Hopefully it should last me another 5 years now

TBH I have been well impressed with the LG and would get another especially if the 5yr guarantee is available more same me loads over the period and I have only made two calls on it.

As a tip I always now set reminders for myself a month before warranties run out, then review the item to see if there is any little fault or niggle I have been living with and call out the engineer. Very glad I did with the Washer save me a couple of hundred quid.

longbaygirl

Yes, same as yours direct drive, and now marking clothes with grease too.

Waiting for someone to give me a quote for repair before I decide.

Think I only got a 2 year gurantee tho, but can't find receipt anyway.

sjc_2

When you get a quote I guess it will be around the £200 mark, because they insist on replacing the drum even though it is not always necessary. This is because depending upon how damaged the bearing are you sometimes can not get the old bearings off the drum.

Mine luckily came off easy but still got a new drum as it is under warranty and old one is now an incinerator in the garden.


Yes you could do it yourself and just get the bearings but it is a big job, took the engineer who had done loads before nearly two hours. You literally have to dismantle everything and take the whole drum out and reassemble. You will also need a new rubber/foam seals for the drum as when you open it the old ones will break away.

Unusual they have gone so quick, must get used a hell of a lot. We have two youngsters and ours is on nearly every day at least once.

matphil

sjc wrote: »

It's not an LG Direct Drive Model by any chance?

Had exactly the same problem, but was noticed by it going more and more noisy then marking clothes with the grease from the bearings.

Anyway I noticed in time as my free 5yr guarantee runs out today 02/07 so called in engineer. Took him a good few hours to resolve involving swapping the drum and bearings, but since all this the Soap Tray has started leaking, so he's coming back to replace that tomorrow having waited a week for the parts.

Hopefully it should last me another 5 years now

TBH I have been well impressed with the LG and would get another especially if the 5yr guarantee is available more same me loads over the period and I have only made two calls on it.

As a tip I always now set reminders for myself a month before warranties run out, then review the item to see if there is any little fault or niggle I have been living with and call out the engineer. Very glad I did with the Washer save me a couple of hundred quid.

I have the same washing machine and have just had the bearings and drum replaced.
My 5 year guarantee is up in November. Maybe this is the average length of time that the bearings last for.
My soap drawer has also started leaking now but I didn't connect this problem with having the machine fixed.
I have also been very impressed with this machine.

[Deleted User]

I have an LG Direct Drive machine.., about three years old.., model WM-16336FD.

I don't know much about washing machines but its getting noisier and noisier at the start of the wash, then the noise stops and starts again in the middle of the wash. Its been happening for a while but today it was pretty deafening altho it was only doing a half wash lol. I thought it could not be bearings as its not noisy on spinning except when I've filled the machine. However, the drum swings very freely when I try to wobble it (like its fixed to nothing). I'm sure this is not supposed to be so. The drum moves smoothly when I turn it tho.., no grating.

Any idea's anyone. on what the problem could be? I've drained the pump etc. I am pretty sure it came with a five year guarantee but gawd knows where I put the receipt lol. I am not sure if I should phone LG.., last thing I need is a huge repair bill.

ormus

when you lift the drum up by hand, there will be a definite clunk, if its the bearing.
otherwise it could be a bra wire trapped between the drum and casing. (or any object).

stray bra wires are a very common problem.