Kenmore Washing Machine: making noise during spin cycle
What is this symptom?
Is your Kenmore washing machine making loud noises during the spin cycle? Common sounds like banging, grinding, or squealing indicate potential issues like an unbalanced load or worn bearings. Addressing these noises promptly can help avoid further damage and ensure your laundry runs smoothly.
Important Tips for Kenmore Models
- Shipping bolts or foam blocks from transport not removed can cause noise; check and remove if present.
Possible Causes
Unbalanced or uneven laundry load
How to Identify: Noise stops or lessens when the load is redistributed; washer vibrates or rocks significantly during spin.
Part: Drum/load distribution
Worn or damaged tub/drum bearings
How to Identify: Grinding, rumbling, or roaring noise increasing with spin speed; drum has play when moved by hand.
Part: Drum bearings/tub seal
Faulty suspension/springs/shock absorbers
How to Identify: Banging or thumping noise with excessive drum movement; machine shakes side to side. (Hello Portable
Part: Suspension rods or shock absorbers
Drive belt, drive pulley or motor coupling wear
How to Identify: Squealing or slapping noises; noise persists independent of load; belt visibly worn. (Hello Portable
Part: Drive belt/pulley/motor coupling
Foreign objects stuck in drum/pump
How to Identify: Clanking or rattling sounds; object located inside drum or pump area. (Hello Portable
Part: Drum interior/pump filter
Cracked spider arm (front load) or clutch wear (top load)
How to Identify: Severe banging or metal‑on‑metal sounds not resolved by load balancing.
Part: Spider support arms or clutch assembly
DIY Solutions
Redistribute or rebalance laundry load
- Stop the washer mid‑cycle
- Open the drum and move items so heavy and light pieces are evenly spread
- Restart the spin cycle to test noise reduction
Remove foreign objects from drum and pump
- Unplug the washer
- Inspect drum interior and around door seal for small objects
- If noise persists, access and clean pump filter or inspect pump area per manual
Inspect and tighten/replace drive belt or pulley
- Unplug washer
- Remove rear or bottom panel per model instructions
- Inspect belt/pulley for wear or looseness
- Tighten or replace belt as needed
Next step
Choose the next step for making noise during spin cycle
Confirm the diagnosis before ordering. An error code can identify the system involved, but it does not prove that a specific part has failed.
Most relevant component to inspect
Drum Bearing Kit
Supports the spinning drum and ensures smooth, quiet rotation during cycles.
- Typical part-only price
- $40 - $95
- DIY difficulty
- Hard
- Estimated time
- 120-180 mins
Where can I find the model number?
Check the rating label around the door, lid, frame, rear panel, or inside the appliance cabinet. Use the complete model number, including suffixes.
Verify the complete model and part number on the retailer's compatibility page before ordering.
Other parts options
Check related components first; use model search as a fallback.
Washer Shock Absorber
Dampens tub movement and vibration during high-speed spin cycles.
Washer Suspension Rod Kit
Supports and stabilizes the washer tub during agitation and spin.
Drive Belt
Transfers rotational power from the motor to turn the drum or tub.
Model-compatible Washing Machine parts
Enter the complete model number to browse compatible replacement parts. This is a model-based parts search, not a diagnosis that a specific component failed.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission from other qualifying purchases or service requests made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are based on repair relevance, not commission rate.
Optional routine care
Maintenance supplies
These products support cleaning or routine upkeep. They are separate from the possible repair components above and are not claimed to fix this error code or symptom.
Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets
Routine tub-cleaning supplies for residue and odor control. They do not repair a mechanical, drainage, or electronic fault.
Braided Washer Inlet Hoses
A maintenance replacement option for visibly worn external fill hoses. Verify thread size, length, and hot/cold connection requirements.
Washer Drain Hose Holder
Helps secure an external drain hose at the standpipe. It does not correct an internal pump or control fault.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Recommendations are based on routine-care relevance, not commission rate.
Professional Repairs
Replace tub bearings and seals
Replace suspension/shocks or spider support arms
Replace motor coupling, drive pulley or clutch
When to Call a Professional
Preventive Maintenance
-
Check and balance laundry loads: Unbalanced spin cycle noise
Frequency: Every load -
Inspect drum and remove objects before washing: Foreign object noise and potential part damage
Frequency: Each use -
Periodic inspection of belt and suspension: Wear‑related noise issues
Frequency: Annually
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Kenmore Washing Machine making noise during spin cycle?
How do I fix Kenmore Washing Machine making noise during spin cycle myself?
How much does it cost to fix making noise during spin cycle?
When should I call a technician for making noise during spin cycle?
References & Sources
- Kenmore Washer Spin Cycle Repair Guide Repair-Blog
Community Analytical Insights
Guidance from available sources; statistical claims are shown only for samples of at least 10 discussions
Common Issues Reported by Users
- Worn or damaged bearings
- Foreign objects trapped in the drum or pump
- Faulty drive belt or motor coupling
User Suggested Solutions
-
Inspect and replace worn or damaged bearings. To do this, remove the outer tub and check the bearings for wear. If they're damaged, replace them with new ones.
-
Check for foreign objects. Open the door and inspect the drum and pump for any items that may be causing noise. Remove any debris found.
-
Examine the drive belt or motor coupling for wear. If either is damaged, replace it by removing the back panel and accessing the motor.
Limited-source guidance; percentages and success-rate claims are not shown
View
Sources
Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:
Community Discussions
ticking/buzzing noise when trying to spin up the drum
Possible bad agitation cam inside the transmission; consider replacing the motor.
Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair
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