The placement of a washing machine drum is important.
If it is misaligned or has dropped, you are going to have a difficult time washing anything inside the washer. In some cases, the wash cycle is not going to start and an error code is going to pop up.
This is why it’s important to figure out what you should do if the washing machine drum has dropped.
If the washing machine drum has dropped, start by unplugging the washer, pulling it away from the wall, accessing the drum by opening the back panel, and investigating the bearings near the top. If damaged, replace the bearings or suspension rings.
It is essential to work through the different parts that can be affected when a washing machine drum is loose.
This does happen with older machines and the best approach is to open the back panel and see what is going on in greater detail.
This guide is going to showcase more on what to do if the washing machine drum has dropped.
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Steps To Follow If The Washing Machine Drum Has Dropped
1. Pull The Washer Forward
The first thing you are going to do when the washing machine drum is too low will be to pull the washer forward.
You are going to need access to the back panel.
This is where the washing machine drum is accessible. Some machines are going to allow you to pull the drum up from the top, but this depends on your specific model.
If you are looking to find out what works for your machine, read through the user manual to get a better idea of what needs to be done.
However, the most common method is to pull the washer machine forward and ensure you have unplugged it.
2. Open The Back Panel
When you have unplugged the washer and pulled it forward, you are now going to open the back panel.
There should be a few screws holding the panel and you can undo them quickly. When you have unscrewed the back panel, you will have complete access to the drum inside.
You will now want to take a look at where the drum is sitting in the washer.
This should give you a good idea of what is going on and what the damaged part might be.
3. Inspect The Bearings And Suspension Rings
For the most part, it is going to be the bearings or suspension rings that are too loose. This tends to happen as the parts begin to wear down due to constant use.
If you are lucky, the bearings are simply going to be loose and you can tighten them.
However, if it is an older washer, you will likely have to replace the bearing that has been damaged.
Look for a compatible fit and make sure you have taken the time to look at everything attaching the washing machine drum to the appliance.
Any one of these parts could be the damaged one.
4. Tighten Or Replace The Damaged Parts
There are two options in front of you at this point.
The first option is going to be to look at the bearing and tighten it. This will depend on whether or not it is structurally damaged. It is rare for this to be the case but it is still something you will want to consider.
If you do notice the bearing is damaged then it is time to replace it. You will not want to attempt to use it again.
If you use it again, it might damage the surrounding components and/or ruin the washing machine for good.
Replace the damaged part as soon as you spot it.
Final Thoughts
These are the most important steps to implement if the washing machine drum has dropped.
If the washing machine drum has dropped, it’s due to one of the bearings or suspension rings coming loose or becoming damaged. To fix the issue, unplug the washer, pull it forward, access the back panel, inspect the bearings, and tighten or replace the damaged part.
This is a process that will take a few tries to get right.
You will want to look at each part of the washing machine drum and how it attaches to the rest of the appliance. This is going to feed you key information about what is going wrong with the washing machine drum.
Whether it is a top-loading washing machine drum that has dropped or any other variation, the steps are the same.
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