How to Replace a Washer Suspension Rod

A broken suspension rod will cause your washer's internal drum to become lopsided.
Acting like shocks on a car's suspension, your standard top-loading laundry washer uses a set of
four rods that cushion the rapid spinning motion of the internal drum. Over time, these rods can
become stretched or even broken from constant tension during the washing cycles. Replacing a
failed rod requires you to access the interior of the washer; the drum will commonly look offbalance where the rod has broken as you look into the washer's interior.

1
Pull the washer out from the wall. If the washer is particularly heavy, have a friend help with the
movement. You can easily injure yourself if you strain against a heavy object.

2
Remove the washer's power plug from the wall. Do not attempt to work on the washer's interior
area with the power plugged in. Electrocution can easily occur, causing fatal injury.

3
Detach the washer's front panel screws using a screwdriver. These screws are commonly located
near the bottom of the front panel. Prop up the front of the washer on two wood blocks placed
under the feet if the screws are too difficult to reach with the washer on the floor.

4
Slightly pull the panel toward you and lift up to detach the top portion from the main washer
assembly. Place the panel aside.

5
Detach the screws on the top panel of the washer using a screwdriver. These screws may be
located at the corners or hidden just under the washer's lid. Consult the washer's manual for
specific screw locations since they differ for each manufacturer.

6
Pull the top panel off and place it aside. Look down into the washer from above and from the
open side; you should be able to locate the failed suspension rod with both the top and front
panels removed.

7
Carefully lift the washer's internal tub near the failed rod with one hand to release the tension.
Pull the rod's bottom assembly from its U-shaped connection point with your other hand. Allow
the rod to hang freely.

Lift the rod upward. Hand detach the securing cup that resides just under the rod's top assembly.
Pull the rod downward through its opening and remove it from the washer assembly.

9
Slide the new rod up into the top opening. Hold the rod securely so that the rod's top assembly
resides slightly above the opening.

10
Place the securing cup into the top opening so that it surrounds the rod's length as you continue
to hold it. Verify that the cup is seated snugly within the opening.

11
Release the rod from your grasp. The rod should hang from the securing cup at this point.

12
Lift the washer's internal tub from the bottom with one hand. Slide the rod's bottom assembly
into the U-shaped connection point with your other hand. Slowly release the tub from your
grasp. The rod should hold the tub level, along with the remaining three rods.

13
Place the top panel back onto the washer. Reattach the securing screws with a screwdriver.

14
Place the front panel back onto the washer. Secure the panel with its screws using a screwdriver.

15
Reattach the washer's power plug to the wall outlet. Turn the washer on. Observe the machine's
cycles. The internal drum should spin normally.