The short answer
On a General washer, a loud bang during the spin is most often an unbalanced load or a machine that is not level, not a failed bearing. Objects in the pump are the next most common cause and produce a noise only during drain. A genuine drum bearing failure — a rumble that grows through the spin — is the least likely cause and the most expensive. The parts that run a cycle every day are the parts that fail here, and they are ordinary parts that a technician carries on the van.
What you actually observe
- A rumble that grows louder as the spin speeds up — Drum bearings, which is the expensive end of this list.
- A scrape at the same point in every rotation — Something trapped between the drum and the outer tub.
- A heavy bang during the spin only — Balance or levelling, which is free to check and free to fix.
- NEAR MISS: a hum with no drum movement at all — That is a drive or control fault and belongs on the page for a washer that will not start.
The causes, most likely first on this brand
- An object between the drum and the tub — An underwire or a coin that has slipped past the drum seal scrapes against the outer tub at every rotation, loudest during the spin. Ranked first on a General washer: the moving parts on this platform are the ones that have been made to a service life rather than for ever.
- A coin, wire or hairclip in the drain pump — Small objects pass the drum and reach the pump impeller, where they rattle or grind every time the machine drains and nowhere else. Ranked second on a General washer: the drain path on a full-size American build is long and shallow, and it silts up quietly.
- An unbalanced load or an unlevel machine — One heavy item, or a machine rocking on a single short foot, lets the drum knock against the cabinet at spin speed with alarming force. Ranked third on a General washer: this is a high-volume platform where the hardware that cycles daily wears out long before anything exotic does.
Check in this order, and why this order
- Turn the empty drum slowly by hand and listen for a scrape — A scrape at the same point in every rotation is something trapped outside the drum.
- Note whether the noise happens only while the machine is draining — Noise tied to draining alone is the pump almost every time.
- Push each top corner in turn and watch for movement — Any rock at all is enough to turn normal spin forces into a bang.
What an owner can safely check
- With the machine off, turn the empty drum by hand a full turn, listening — Also run a hand round the inside of the door seal, where small items collect.
Tools: torchAbout 15 min
- Switch off the supply, open the pump filter at the base and clear it — Have a shallow tray and towels ready: there is always water behind that cover.
Tools: shallow tray, towelsAbout 30 min
- STOP HERE if the drum has play and the spin rumble is growing — A bearing replacement is a strip-down, and on many machines it decides whether to repair at all.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the washer or switch off its breaker before opening the pump filter or any panel, and close the water supply taps before moving the machine. A washer is extremely heavy and top-heavy with water in it, so never tip one that has not drained. There is always water behind a pump filter cover, so have towels and a shallow tray in place before opening it.
When to call a technician
Call once the machine is level, the pump filter is clear, the transit bolts are out and the drum has nothing trapped behind it — a rumble that remains is the bearing, and that is a strip-down rather than a visit. Call at once if the drum has visible play, if the machine moves across the floor during a spin, or if anything smells hot.
Nearest pages of this class
What this page does not cover
This page covers the General washer as a class, not one family or model line. Part numbers, wiring colours, torque figures and panel fixings differ from build to build and are deliberately not here. Where a family- or model-specific page exists for your unit, that page is the more specific answer and should be read first.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
