The short answer
On a Gorenje 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. European cycle logic runs longer and gentler than American logic, so the machine tolerates a partial fault for weeks before it shows you an obvious symptom.
What you actually observe
- A heavy bang during the spin only — Balance or levelling, which is free to check and free to fix.
- A rattle or grind only while draining — Something in the drain pump.
- A rumble that grows louder as the spin speeds up — Drum bearings, which is the expensive end of this list.
- 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
- 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 first on a Gorenje washer: the drain and filter design assumes the owner cleans it on a schedule, and that is the assumption that fails first.
- 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 second on a Gorenje washer: European cycle logic is long and gentle, so a partial fault is tolerated for weeks and only the end of it is visible.
- Shipping bolts still fitted — Transit bolts lock the drum solidly to the cabinet, and a machine run with them in place sounds like it is destroying itself from the first spin. Ranked third on a Gorenje washer: these machines are specified for detergents and loads that a North American household often does not use.
Check in this order, and why this order
- 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.
- Look at the back panel for bolts or the holes they should have left — A newly delivered or recently moved machine with an alarming noise is this until proven otherwise.
What an owner can safely check
- 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
- Level the machine on all four feet and tighten the locking nuts — Then redistribute the load and run a spin with nothing else in the drum.
Tools: adjustable spanner, spirit levelAbout 25 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 Gorenje 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.
