Frigidaire Washer: Replacing Motor Carbon Brushes

Bottom line: Sparking through the motor vents, a burning smell, or weak spin on an older Frigidaire top-loader often means worn universal-motor carbon brushes. Replacing them is an intermediate 30-45 minute job — but first confirm your machine even has brushes, because most modern Frigidaire washers do not.

Unplug the washer completely. Motor brushes carry mains voltage during operation. Allow 5 minutes after unplugging for any capacitor discharge.

Tools and parts#

Step by step#

1. Confirm your model has brushes#

Check the model number under the lid. Older FFTW and FWS or GLWS top-load models may use universal motors with brushes. An EFLS front-loader or a newer FFTW top-load from 2015 on uses a brushless induction motor with no brushes at all, so this repair does not apply.

2. Access the motor#

Unplug the machine, then release the cabinet by inserting a putty knife 3 inches from each front corner to trip the spring clips, and tilt the cabinet back on its rear pivots, securing it so it cannot fall. The motor is at the bottom, driving the transmission by belt or coupler.

3. Locate and remove the brushes#

The carbon brushes sit in spring-loaded holders on opposite sides of the motor, pressing on the commutator (the segmented copper ring on the armature). Release each holder's clip or screw and the brush slides out with its spring and lead. Note the orientation.

4. Inspect the commutator#

With both brushes out, look at the copper commutator surface. Light-to-dark copper is normal, but deep grooves or scoring mean it needs professional resurfacing, and burned or blackened segments point to a shorted armature — either of which makes brushes alone a poor fix.

5. Install the new brushes#

Seat each new brush in its holder with the spring behind it and the curved face toward the commutator, then secure the clip or screw. Each brush should slide freely; if it sticks, clean the holder with compressed air, since a bound brush loses contact.

6. Bed in the new brushes#

New brushes have a flat face that has to wear to the commutator's curve. Run four or five short spin cycles with two or three towels; slightly rough operation and minor sparking are normal during bedding-in, as is a faint hot-pencil smell of carbon dust. After that the motor should run smoothly with little sparking, and an acrid electrical smell instead means you should stop and look for a shorted winding.

7. Reassemble and test#

Lift the cabinet forward until the spring clips snap back, then run a full load at maximum spin. The motor should run quietly with no hesitation, excessive sparking, or burning smell. Recheck performance after a week, and re-inspect the commutator if it degrades.

If it still sparks or drags#

• Brushes wear out fast: a rough commutator grinds them prematurely and needs resurfacing, or the motor needs replacing.
• Still sparks after bedding-in: shorted commutator segments or armature windings — likely a motor replacement.
• Runs one direction only: one brush is not contacting; confirm both are seated and their springs are pushing them in.
• New brushes wear unevenly: one holder is dirty or slightly bound, so the brush drags rather than sliding — clean both holders with compressed air before reinstalling.

When to call a pro#

A scored commutator or shorted armature is beyond a brush swap. See our washing machine repair cost guide or book a same-day repair.