Frigidaire Washer: Replace Suspension Springs

The upper springs carry the weight of the water-filled tub from above while letting it move under control during spin. This guide covers those upper springs; if the machine bounces or walks instead, the lower shock absorbers are the more likely cause. On most Frigidaire EFLS models there are two to four springs, each hooked from the top frame rail to a bracket on the outer tub.

Before you start#

Safety warning: Unplug the washer. Springs are under tension — wear work gloves and eye protection. Support the tub before removing all springs to prevent it from dropping.

Step-by-step#

1. Reach the springs#

Take out the three Phillips screws along the rear edge of the top panel, slide it back, and lift it off. The springs are now visible running from the top frame rail down to hooks on the outer tub.

2. Support the tub#

Before unhooking anything, hold the tub up — a wood block or jack stand underneath, or a helper steadying it while you change one spring at a time. Working one spring at a time lets the remaining springs and shocks bear the load, though the tub will shift, so go carefully.

3. Remove the failed spring#

With pliers or a hook tool, unhook the upper end first where it wraps a peg or passes through the frame rail, then release the lower end from the tub bracket. Keep your face and hands out of the release path — even a tired spring can snap loose unexpectedly.

4. Fit the new spring#

Hook the new spring onto the upper frame point first, then stretch it down to the tub bracket and hook it home. At rest it should sit under moderate tension — neither slack nor stretched hard. Fitting a full set, work in left-and-right pairs so the tub stays centered.

5. Check the alignment#

With every spring in and the temporary support removed, let the tub hang free — it should sit centered without touching any wall. Push it to each side and it should return to center; push down and it should bounce gently and settle, the shocks damping it. Excess bounce means the shock absorbers (part 5304485917) need a look.

6. Test under load#

Refit the top panel and run a spin with a medium load, listening for banging, scraping, or heavy vibration. The Perfect Balance system should let the tub move smoothly without ever contacting the frame.

Troubleshooting#

• Still banging during spin: worn shock absorbers cannot be rescued by new springs — replace the shocks (5304485917) as a set for a full overhaul.
• New spring will not fit: confirm the part against your model, since lengths and hook styles vary by year.
• Tub sits low on one side: a spring is not fully hooked, or a tub-bracket hook is bent — inspect every attachment point with a flashlight.
• Machine walks the floor: that is usually a shock or leveling issue, not the springs; confirm the washer is level and all four shocks give firm resistance.

When to call a professional#

EasyBear technicians serving Sacramento and the Bay Area carry Frigidaire-specific diagnostic tools and replacement parts on every service call. Call one if the top frame-rail mounting points are bent or broken, if the tub-bracket hooks are corroded through and need tub access, or if vibration survives new springs and shocks and points to shifted or cracked counterweights.

Need Professional Help?#

• Washing machine repair service
• Frigidaire appliance repair
• Washing machine repair cost guide

Rather have a pro diagnose this? Request a free same-day diagnostic — our technicians carry Frigidaire parts on every call.## Springs or shocks? Bang and bounce are different words here

This machine suspends its tub from above on springs and damps it from below on shock absorbers, and the two fail in ways that sound similar and are not.

A bang is a spring. A weakened or broken spring lets the tub hang crooked, so during spin it meets the frame and you hear a distinct impact — often at a repeatable point in the ramp, and often accompanied by the tub visibly sitting off-centre when you look into an empty machine.

A bounce is a shock absorber. Dampers control how quickly movement dies away rather than where the tub hangs, so worn ones give a machine that oscillates, travels across the floor, and takes several beats to settle after the spin ends — with the tub sitting perfectly straight when it is stationary.

The useful test is with the machine empty and off: push the tub down firmly and let go. It should come back up and settle within a bounce or two. Repeated oscillation is the dampers below; a tub that already sits low or tilted before you touch it is the springs above.

Getting that distinction right before ordering saves the most annoying outcome available here, which is doing the harder of the two jobs and still having the noise.