Washing machine welded drums why you can’t change the bearings
Why can't you change the bearings in most washing machines any more!!
Customer´s
Hi All
I have been doing repairs for 30 years and I think it is disgusting that the manufactures do this on a lot of washing machines , there is no saving on the way that they make the drums like this, and there is only a few bolts that saves them few pennies. We are meant to be caring about the environment but now most of the manufactures are doing these welded drums to build in obsolesce. Washing Machines should be able to be repaired, where possible affordably.
I would advise all our customers and viewers to make sure, when buying a new washing machine that they ask the sales man/woman (is the drum welded or can I change the drum bearings) and If not, find one that can be done. Avoid all manufactures that build machines like this as they are deliberately building them this way so that they only last so many cycles, and there for guarantee that the washing machine will only last so many years before you have to buy a new one.
A welded Washing Machine Drum
To replace this Starts at £140 to £400 Plus!!!
A Non Welded Washing Machine Drum
To replace the bearings and seals start from £10 to about £50 Affordable!!
Some things you can do with a washing machine drum when the bearings are gone.
193 Responses to “Washing machine welded drums why you can’t change the bearings”
The wise thing to do is buy an older machine that it can be repaired. I bought a 2nd hand Bosch that had just had it its motor brushes replaced for 80 pounds. Alot of the Bosch machines have the same design. The brushes have worn in now and it now runs smoothly. Took the lid of and was glad to see screws holding the drum outer shell together. There is a little movement on the drum; not enough to say it totally worn but there is a bit of wear there so in time they may go, but because its a common model should be fixable. Being a common model its easy to get parts for, and I have even seen similar machines on ebay that look like they just need a new set of brushes for 25 quid. So happy I have found this brand/model and will stick with this as its good quality/fixable/easy to get parts/german.
Just pulled the rear bearing out from her AEG lavamat, only to find an assortment of remains behind it , see no easy way to re fit as I would now need to remove entire drum, seperate and even then it’s a lot of work.
I’m annoyed to have wasted my sunny morning on corporate greed.
As suggested I will research the new machine, this blatant corporate rip off culture is a sad and vile indictment on our species.
I hope there is ONE responsible manufacturer out there , there is certainly room for one.
No electronics,no built in obsolescence,and any colour other than white !
Yes i agree Electrolux corporate greed.
Appliances Engineer
I have just opened up my washer mashine to change the bearings, i was disgusted to find that it has a sealed tub!
Aquarius WMF 940
Yes anther hotpoint
Appliances Engineer
I just bought a new Bush F841QS 1600 spin today after reading this article and curiosity got the better of me. I removed the two Torx screws and slid the lid back to reveal the gubbins and surprise surprise a SPLIT DRUM Wah who.Just need to check to see if the parts are available for the 18mth inevitable breakdown.
Just goes to show there are still some companies that haven’t switched over yet to robbing the public.
I have a zanussi zwg7120k. I have recently purchased a set of bearings from a reputable company. How shocked was I to take the machine apart to find the welded drum case. What a waste of time! But why then I have asked myself did the company even sell me the bearings in the first place? I am NOT cutting the drum with a saw as seen on videos, the seal would never be the same again. I will definitely take your advice when purchasing another machine. Ask the sales person. And if they dont know, I will find another store that does.
Hi which company sold you the bearings in the first place and YES you should all ask which machines can have new bearings fitted! and no don’t buy one unless you get the answer.
Appliances Engineer
exactly, VESTEL the company that produce your Bush and the cheapest machines on the market, have split tubs and one the 5 and 6kg machines at least have decent bearings, that can be changed if needs be. aluminium pulleys too, insted of plastic ones used on hoover and and hotpoint. and the front of the cabinet can be taken off, unlike hotpoint and hoover (indesit and candy), the only struggle you may have is getting parts as there are very few VESTEL stockiest in the UK.
I eventually contacted Hotpoint (on-line) who initially wanted to send an engineer out to tell me the bearings could not be replaced! After a few minutes they got back to me to confirm they couldn’t.
Glad I didn’t order the bearings (which were available on-line),
I have purchased a new machine which I believe is a split tub based on the fact the split tub can be sourced as a spare part on-line!
Its a Logik, hope I haven’t been conned by the spare part website again 🙁
Just had the same problem 32 month Bosch washer cost £388 Bearings screaming need full drum assb can I find out if a Bosch WAN24100GB is it the same or another manufacturer for one that you can repair anyone know! please
Hi Paul.
Bearing gone on our Hotpoint WMUD942 G UK.
Watched your video and thought I’d have a go. Front panel cannot be removed, spot welded, so had to lift out drum through the top with bottom weight still on. Then to discover I can’t split the drum. Bastards. Up the skip it goes.
Hope your doing ok.
Cheers
John.
leave your remark about hotpoint here https://how-to-repair.com/help/washing-machine-welded-drums-why-you-cant-change-the-bearings-2/
and say what you think
Whirlpool wwcr 10400 only had this machine 14 months and bearings have failed has a sealed tub so now have to buy another machine not impressed
when you have a question please use our contact us page for 24 hour response https://how-to-repair.com/help/contact-us/
Appliances Engineer
Hotpoint rip off bastards robbing people blind with this joke and laughing all the way to the bank. Absolutely disgraceful, shameful behaviour. Why is our government who we vote for and pay the wages of, not arsed to do anything about this? Week because they want to rip off the hard working class to line their own pockets first and then their arse licking cronies after!
Rant over – Don’t buy a hotpoint WMD962 G or P both have sealed drums that you can’t replace the bearings on.
Would have to say Bosch washing machine bearing kit WAQ283S0GB/13 is the full drum costing £220 + fitting £95= Must admit I bought Bosch on Brand and WATCH guide for washing machines. So bit pissed off how poor this is.
they use to be a good machine but they have followed the rest of the manufacturers now and making sealed drums to increase sales in machines a bit of a rip off
Indesit IWME126 /UK built in washer.
Cost nearly £400 three years ago and now sounds like a cement mixer on turbo boost.
The drum casing is welded with no reliable means of splitting it.
I called Indesit to complain and they said that, as it was only 3 years old they could either sell me a new drum assembly for £130 or a new machine for £325 What a rip off !!!
When I said that a set of quality bearngs should last a lot longer than 3 years she said that 3 years was about normal.
Is this the case or did I just get a bearing made of monkey metal.
this is being done by nearly all manufacturers and its disgraceful
I have just spoken to indesit about the replacement drum assembly and mentioned, that I assumed that it would come with a 1 year warranty on the bearings. I was shocked to hear the salesman say that if you fit the items yourself then you invalidate any warranty on the item.
The warranty only applies if there own engineers fit the item (At a huge cost I assume)
Can this be right .
Is it legal.
Surely one has rights under the sale of goods act.
Its appalling how badly these large companies are treating consumers and all those guys and girls out there trying to fix peoples machines at a reasonable cost.
iam not sure where you stand i would contact the trading standards but the same machines are sold in europe with two year warranty compared with the UK 1 year now that’s another con i think.
Appliances Engineer
Ordered seals belt and and bearings which are easily available,
for CANDY FCM9 mod GV169TWC3W/1-80. Only to find out it’s got a welded casing..!!!!!
Yes all the manufacturers are up to this con, iam sorry you did not contact us before ordering parts we would have been able to tell you this
Good post
I had no idea this was the way they are building drums now….. disgusting
Yes the days of buying a machine that will last a reasonable amount of time are gone, the greed of the manufacturers is unbelievable they want you to buy one every 3 to 4 years they have no care about how much it cost to recycle and the environment how they ever get environmental ratings of AAA of the likes of which magazine is beyond me.
Appliances Engineer
Hi Paul.
Latest entailment
The new drum assembly arrived yesterday.
Great I thought my wife will stop nagging me about having to hand wash.
After carefully unpacking the unit, turned it upside down to fit the weights. What do I see.
A big hole in the casing!!
The cardboard box is not damaged at all.
It almost looks like it’s been packaged already broken.
I’m just about to call them!!
Iam sorry the here that if you had bought it from us we would have tried to do a bit better than that but sometimes mistakes happen.
when you have a question please use our contact us page for
24 hour response https://how-to-repair.com/help/contact-us/
Charmbury
Appliances Engineer
Arrgh !
Bosch WAQ283S0GB/15
Bloody Bosch ! going the way of Apple Computers, and designing things that are not repairable… ! I can not replace the early failed drum bearings, on a 3 year old machine. Disgraceful design. Do not buy this Washing Machine.
I am a Mechanical Engineer, this is disgraceful of Bosch. How Un-Green is this ?
Poor, poor, Bosch.
Buy a Washing Machine that can be repaired.
3.5 year old AEG lavamat washing machine. Cost £450. Thought I was buying a “premium” product. Bearings now worn out, extremely noisy on spin and play in the drum. £190 for a whole new drum as it’s welded taking the total to £640. Disappointed and won’t be buying AEG again. Could’ve gone cheap, lowered my expectations and just bought new again!
My Zanussi zwh7149p has a welded drum. this was not something i knew about when buying the machine. I like to be able to repair things and get very frustrated when manufacturers go out of their way to make it impossible! I wondered if it would be possible to replace the drum for a split drum the same size, so i can replace bearings next time they go, but getting limited feedback from spares suppliers.
I have a Bosch WAE24260GB manufactured in 2006. The inner drum bearing seems to have gone as it sounds like a Tank and very graunchy/squeaky when the drum is turned manually. I have stripped her down and although it appears to have a splittable drum, there is a welded panel on the front section, which is breaking up (lots of plastic debris) resulting in leakage through the ‘breached’ welded sections. I have removed all the screws and springs, but cannot figure how to split the drum without breaking the many fixing lugs/clips. I am confident I can repair the front welds if I split the drum. Any advice much appreciated.