my washer makes a loud grinding or scraping noise only during the spin cycle, what's wrong?

— asked by Morgan

Quick answer: That grinding noise is typically something foreign in the drum—like a coin or bra wire—or, less cheerfully, a worn drum bearing.

Diagnosis

That grinding noise is typically something foreign in the drum—like a coin or bra wire—or, less cheerfully, a worn drum bearing.

How to Fix It

Stop using it to prevent damage. Unplug the washer and manually spin the drum by hand. Listen and feel for scraping. Check the rubber door boot (gasket) for trapped objects. If you find nothing, remove the detergent dispenser and look behind it for debris.

If That Didn't Work

If the noise persists with an empty drum, it's likely the rear bearing and seal kit failing. On front-loaders, this is a major repair requiring drum disassembly.

Heads Up

Bearing failure often starts as a faint rumble and gets worse. If caught early, you might save the tub, but let a pro handle it unless you're experienced with appliance guts.

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