Maytag 4000 front loader washer MHWE400WW01 2 1/2 years old

[Derek Collard]

Knockin noise in washer during high spin, I believe bearing is bad. Need help?

[Jerrod Sessler]

Derek,

It could be the bearing but could also be a broken spider or a broken shock.  If you pull the front cover off, you can look to see if the shocks are in place.  With the machine off, you can open the door and spin the drum and lift it up and down to get a feel for how it is spinning and if there is a problem with the spider or the bearings.  Either the spider or the bearings are basically the same level of repair.  You have to open it up and replace the parts.  You can get the bearing repair kit from us and save a few hundred in parts but if you need a spider, you will have to check to see if it is sold separately or if you need to purchase the drum with it.

Jerrod

[Derek Collard]

Jerrod, thanks for the quick reply!! I just ordered at set of your bearings and seal for it #5325-6776-4432-3240 and asked for next day shipping, can you let me know when I will get it? Thanks!!

[Jerrod Sessler]

Derek,

Yes, Amy ships daily so she will get you taken care of.

Jerrod

[Derek Collard]

Jerrod, any chance you can have Amy email me a tracking#?

[Derek Collard]

nevermind, she just sent it my way. thanks for your help and great service!

[Derek Collard]

Jerrod,

 

The seal I purchased from you looks a little smaller than the original OEM Seal, are you sure that it is not just an automotive seal?

 

Thanks

[Jerrod Sessler]

Derek,

Small how?  The inside and outside diameter should be the same.  It may not be the same thickness but that is less important.  BTW - Automotive seals are very high quality (generally) but these appliance seals are much larger than any typical auto seal.

When are you going to tear into the machine?  Or, do you have it apart already?

Regards,

Jerrod

[Derek Collard]

Jerrod,

 

Yes sorry, smaller in thickness. Just worried about them holding up better than the OEM one I took out. Glad to see the sealed bearings you sent as well. Already took apart and replaced sounds brand new again, just would like to know when I will have to dig into this job again? Any thoughts or sugestions?

 

Thanks

[Jerrod Sessler]

Derek,

I repaired my machine maybe 5 years ago and it is still going strong!

Jerrod

[Derek Collard]

Jerrod,

Replaced both bearings and seal a week ago. Leveled it up perfect and ran great for a week, now I hear the bearing knocking again?? Help

[Jerrod Sessler]

The bearings don't make a knocking sound. They make a growl or a grind or a whining sound. It is mostly likely that your spider had a crack in it that you didn't notice and it broke. It could also be a broken shock or spring but not as likely.

To see if it is a shock or spring, pull the front lower cover and lo around with a flashlight.

To see if it is a spider, open the door and turn the drum manually while lifting up and letting it down. You will be able to feel it if the spider if broken.

Even if you had the wrong seal or no seal at all, it would take much longer than a week for the bearings to fail.

Sorry - you are going to have to dig into it again.

Jerrod

[Derek Collard]

Jerrod, thanks. It's almost like a hard loud poping sound. I was thinking maybe a chipped bearing? I hear it when it is in a slow spin the most. When it kicks into high spin the poping sounds goes away???

[Jerrod Sessler]

It still sounds most likely like a spider arm broken but could be a few things. You need to open it up and investigate.

[Derek Collard]

What and where us the spider arm? Is it the flywheel that the belt runs on?

[Derek Collard]

I don't believe my model has a spider? All I remember us a shaft the metal drum has into the housing with both bearings and seal?

[Jerrod Sessler]

The spider connects the shaft to the drum. It turns inside the tank and often corrodes from electrolysis. Look up "washer spider" on line to see photos.

[Derek Collard]

It doesnt look like I have a spider?

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/Maytag-Parts/Washer-Parts/Model-MHWE400WW01/3048/0153200/W1109165/00005?blt=06&prst=&shdMod=

 

I'm going to inspect my pulley to see if it possibly has a crack?

[Derek Collard]

Jerror, I checked my flywheel and it seemed to be a little loose, I added a little lock-tight to the threads and put a little more pressure when tightning the nut. The sound went away so hopefully that will conclude this project for now.

 

Also, on a side note can you explain how your seal is different from an automotive seal? I had my local bearing shop get me a seal that matched the bearing size and it looked and measured exactly like the one you had sold me for a much cheaper price? They told me it was an automotive seal?

 

Thanks for all your help.

[Jerrod Sessler]

Derek,
An auto seal is going to be an oil seal. It isn't a quality question with the seal. What the concern is with is the oil seal have a different lip design than the water seal. It is much more difficult to seal water out of the bearings than it is to seal oil out so the auto seal often has a different direction on the lip and/or less lips than the water seal. All of our seals are water seals. They are the best quality and designed for the washing machine applications.
Thanks,
Jerrod

[Derek Collard]

Jerrod,

 

Washing machine was working great then a little knocking noice came back on 2 weeks later. It seems like there is movement in the pulley, I can gently jerk "turn" the pulley back and forth quickly and notice some slop. I believe this is making the noice when it is on a low speed. Do i need a new pulley????

 

Thanks

[Jerrod Sessler]

Derek,
I doubt you need a new pulley.  Read this post, specifically #5 as it addresses the pulley issue head on:  https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/washer-repair/KY7HtyTxmiw

Thanks,
Jerrod

[Derek Collard]

Do you have any idea of the torque specs on that nut? How many LBS?

[Jerrod Sessler]

i don't - i have never had an issue with the pulley.  it may need to have some silicone put on it or something to take up some of the space if it is sloppy.

Thanks,
Jerrod