KitchenAid Drum Support / Spider or Bearing Wear

Washer drum has excessive play front-to-back or up-and-down; scraping noise may be heard.

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Cracked drum spider (support arm), severely worn rear bearings, loose drum shaft, damaged front tub support

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety First: Unplug the washer. Sharp edges may be present inside the cabinet.

Step-by-step checks:

  • Check drum play: From the front, push the drum up and down and front to back. Significant movement indicates support issues.
  • Listen for scraping: Rotate the drum slowly and listen for metal-on-metal sounds.
  • Inspect rear pulley: Remove the rear panel and check for wobble in the main pulley while rotating.

When to replace: A failed spider or bearings typically requires replacement of the entire drum and/or tub assembly. This is a complex repair usually best performed by a professional technician.

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Repair Difficulty

Professional Required 5/5

Required Part

Inner Drum and Rear Tub Assembly
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