Washing machine manufacturers have been accused of making appliances that are so costly to fix it is cheaper to buy a new oneWashing machine manufacturers have been accused of making appliances that are so costly to fix it is cheaper to buy a new one.Leading brands have changed the design of their machines so they are virtually impossible to repair, consumer group Which? Owners are then left with the choice of either forking out for a costly replacement part – or paying far less to replace the machine altogether.The discovery calls into question the honesty of companies that run advertising campaigns based on promises to deliver machines that are good for the environment.said the bearings – a vital part of the washing machine – were being sealed away where repairers cannot access them. Bosch, Beko, Indesit, Hotpoint, AEG and Zanussi all make machines that have so-called sealed drums.Experts at the consumer group compared modern washing machines with those from the 1980s and 1990s – and found that the older models were more easily taken apart and fixed.

In 2012, waste and sustainability experts WRAP found that 41per cent of people had replaced washing machines that were less than six years old, mostly because the machine had broken down. Laundry appliance expert Adrian Porter said: ‘If you own one of these [modern] machines and the bearings fail, which is one of the top five most common problems, you may have to replace the whole machine as it would be uneconomical to repair.‘It seems that washing machine design has changed over time – and not for the better.’Research found most people would expect a washing machine to last around 12 years, but a large number develop faults within five years.member Ian Mitchell was told he would need to pay more than £200, plus labour to replace an entire drum on an appliance he bought in 2009. He said: ‘I bought a washing machine in 2009. It has been very reliable, but recently the spin cycle has been excessively noisy.said the bearings – a vital part of the washing machine – were being sealed away where repairers cannot access them.‘

The repairer confirmed that the drum bearings had gone. But when he took the top off the machine, the drum (and bearings) were sealed inside a plastic outer tub so they can’t be replaced.‘Folded T Shirt 3d ModelThe entire drum would need to be replaced, costing more than £200, plus labour. Smooth Move Tea To Loss WeightI was his second customer that day, the first customer had an identical problem.’ Budget Blinds Photo GalleryBeko, Indesit and Hotpoint all make machines with sealed drums. AEG and Zanussi offer a small number with unsealed drums, but they are being phased out. Bosch has both types. Miele, which has a reputation for reliability, has one machine with a drum that is not sealed, the £849 WDA 210. Firms that have moved to sealed drums said they were more reliable.

said manufacturers need to offer a selection of models that can be easily repaired, and must tell customers which machines have sealed drums. ‘As consumers, we should consider paying more for a high-quality machine that can be repaired as needed,’ it added.The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances said no manufacturer ‘builds an appliance to fail’. Front Load Washing Machine Bearing & Seal Repair Kit - 5300137158 1 x 2 x 2 inches Repair whining bearings in front load washing machine (various models) 3.8 out of 5 stars #454,028 in Home Improvements (See top 100) #2,070 in Home Improvement > Appliances > Large Appliance Accessories > Washer Parts & Accessories This saved my washer exactly what I needed. was just what I needed to make the repair everything fit like new the old bearings were worn out thanks. Kit works well . All parts fit precisely. washer is like new. installation is not difficult. would recomend to all

Not a bad job to do, seal is off lesser quality than OEM. 2 months in, several loads through.. still quite no leaksJust wish they put the brass spacer in the kit. These bearings were the correct ones for my washer.I installed them and my machine runs great.Not a easy repair but I knew that going in. Frigidaire Washer O-ring Gasket 134146100 Frigidaire Bearing & Seal Kit Front Load Washer 131525500 131275200 131462800 SAMSUNG SEAL OIL GW PJT EPDM OEM Original Part: DC62-00223ASo… saw a deal on a used front-load washer (in need of repair – suspected bad bearings), figured I’ve replaced a zillion bearings on cars before, so thought I’d buy the washer and see if I can fix it.Now technically, you’ll find that all the major Whirlpool parts outlets include these as part of a $400-500 rear tub. Yes, Whirlpool wants you to buy the big honking tub because 1 or 2 $10-20 bearings stopped working. Presumably you’re then supposed to throw your old tub away. If I ever start an “I hate the environment” club, Whirlpool’s the first company I’m asking to join.

So bearings are a bit of a pain to find. Well, maybe not that bad. /washerrepair.aspx where you can find bearing numbers for a number of Kenmore & Whirlpool Duet machines). It’s worth noting that you can buy seals or seals+bearings directly through their site as well.Otherwise, you can find bearings online for anywhere from $3.50 up (depending on the quality of bearing you’re looking for – I doubt I’d opt for anything less than something made in Japan which is a good bit more, or a stainless steel bearing which starts at around $20), or find them at your local bearing shop. Now finding a new seal is a pain, though the site mentioned above carries them.I was going to write up a big massive guide with pictures, but as it turns out, others have already put together impressive YouTube videos. The one I’d recommend using as a guide is embedded below./washerrepair.aspx – and again, they sell the seals and bearings for the Whirlpool Duet WFW9200SQ02 as well as other models./watch?v=Rd5NKbpVSRMIf you’re interested in getting a general idea as to the process, I’d suggest the short YouTube video.

When you’re actually ready to buckle down and start disassembling, watch the long one.In case you wanted some pictures anyway, I took a few during disassembly before I realized that my pictures were never going to compete with a video. Here they are if you want to see them anyway.A few notes (watch the video first, or you won’t know what I’m referring to):My original bearings were… well… in bad shape. It’s clear why the previous owners couldn’t stand the noise from the unit anymore:These are the inner bearings, and they’re obviously toast. Things got so bad that some of the bearings wore through the cage and fell out (there was a mess of rusted metal shavings left behind). What’s left of this bearing ws seized to the shaft, so I had to use a grinder/dremel to cut away until I was close enough to the shaft to snap it off.You can see the seal behind the bearings (black, covered in rust) – upon removal, it actually looks to be in great shape, but obviously it didn’t do it’s job.

The outer bearings were in surprisingly good shape, but they’ll be replaced anyway.on The Process: -Despite the many things that need to be disconnected/labelled, it’s a pretty quick process. -Once I got to the shaft/bolt/bearings… let’s just say it took about 80% of the time I spent. -While you could use a hex screwdriver for everything, the 7mm socket on a ratchet is probably a better idea where possible (easier on the wrists, and less chance of stripping). You WILL need the hex screw for a couple items though, so don’t go thinking you can do it all with the socket. -Bearing replacement reminds me very much of bearing replacement on cars (the process, and the headaches I ran into). If you’ve ever swapped brake drum bearings, this should be comfortable territory for you.on Whirlpool… -Very disappointing that they don’t sell the bearings & seal separately.  Clearly a conscious effort on their part to rake customers for cash. -Based on reviews I’ve seen around the web, bearing failures are very common.

From the sounds of it, the bearings/seals that Whirlpool uses aren’t that great to begin with, and if you use non-HE detergent, it’ll suds up and quickly get in behind the seal and start wrecking the bearings. You HAVE to use the HE stuff. -Another common issue on these washing machines (usually noticed when draining) is that either they won’t drain, or you’ll get a nasty noise from the pump.  There’s a “catch” by the pump (filter) which has usually picked up coins/socks/etc. I found a penny and a foam bra insert left by the previous owners in my washer. If you’re doing the bearings you’ll be pulling off the pump anyway, so you may as well open the catch and clean anything out of it. -I wouldn’t buy another Whirlpool unless it were being sold used for cheap (in need of repair). Unless of course they change their ways (for starters, have the bearings as a serviceable item which they sell parts for).on The Video (linked further up)… -A fantastic video, and a big thanks to Jerrod from HomeTask for putting it out there to help people around the globe repair their own machines.

-Again, make sure everything’s disconnected from the tub before you drop it. The video isn’t quite as thorough when it comes to all the connectors. -If the video helps you, by all means consider buying the seal (and possibly bearings) from his site. If for whatever reason that won’t work for you (need a specific method of international shipping that isn’t listed on the HomeTask site for example), it’s possible to find kits on eBay, though I suspect the quality of Jerrod’s seals is probably better than the average eBay kit (and cheaper too). Finally, I’m not in any way associated with the HomeTask site. The video’s simply awesome, and I think HomeTask deserves some positive word-of-mouth for putting it up. If you find other videos that you believe are super-helpful in repairing/maintaining/etc a Whirlpool Duet WFW9200SQ02 Washer, have some tips of your own, or found additional places for bearings/seals/etc for these washing machines, feel free to post it in the comments below.