Top Load Washing Machine Shakes Violently Spin Cycle

All front load washing machines have shock absorbers that are used to dampen the tub movement in the spin cycle.

Top load washing machine shakes violently spin cycle.

If the snubber pad is worn out missing or coated with a sticky substance such as detergent fabric softener or transmission oil the washer will vibrate or shake during operation. As it pauses and vibrates it checks the load balance and then the vrt technology identifies the spot where the load is unbalanced. That s because high efficiency models have a much faster spin cycle. Open the door to inspect the arrangement of your clothes.

Redistributing the load will usually solve this issue if the cause is due to too many clothes on one side of the unit. The shock absorbers or struts are attached to the base frame and to the outer tub and you will need to remove the front panel or the rear panel to access them. If the snubber pad is worn out or missing replace it. While either model of a washing machine can vibrate for various reasons front loaders tend to vibrate more than top loading washing machines.

The snubber pad dampens the vibration of the washer tub. If there is an uneven pile your drum may have simply bundled your clothes into an uneven ball. Once the washing machine sees the load is properly balanced the spin cycle continues and ramps up to maximum rpm with minimal vibration. Inspect the snubber pad.

Avoid washing single items if possible because this naturally makes the load unbalanced. Several things can cause a washing machine to vibrate and usually you can find a way to fix the problem. If the washing machine is not balanced it may shake violently during the spin cycle causing water to spill on the floor. If they are broken or damaged however the washing machine may shake violently when it enters the spin cycle.

Assuming you have a front loading washing machine recommended for energy efficiency you can access the suspension springs through the top panel. Spread your clothes out and resume your spin cycle.