How to Replace Frigidaire Washer Shock Absorbers

The shocks tie the outer tub to the base frame and damp its motion at spin speed, which reaches 1200 RPM on some models. They wear gradually over years, so the vibration creeps in over weeks rather than failing overnight. This is the focused replacement procedure — the pin-and-socket mounts, the one-at-a-time removal, and the seating checks that keep a new shock from flying loose. The Frigidaire part is 5304485917 and is shared with the equivalent Electrolux platform.

Tools and Parts#

Before You Start#

Safety warning: Unplug the washer. The tub is heavy and supported by springs — do not put hands between tub and frame during work.

Step-by-Step#

1. Open the rear panel#

With the washer unplugged and pulled out, remove the ring of Phillips screws around the rear panel. The four shocks sit low, each a cylindrical tube about 10 to 12 inches long running from the outer tub down to a mount on the base frame, with a pin-and-socket joint at each end.

2. Confirm the shocks are worn#

Grip each shock and work it along its axis. A good one pushes and pulls with firm, even resistance like a car shock; a worn one slides freely, feels mushy, or weeps oil from the body. Any oil leak is a definite replace.

3. Free the old shocks#

Each end is held by a pin with a small locking tab in the socket. Press that tab inward with the flat-blade screwdriver while pushing the pin through the socket, and once the pin clears, that end drops free. Do both ends and lift the shock out. Work one shock at a time so the upper springs keep carrying the tub while a mount is open.

4. Install the new shocks#

Line up each new shock's pin ends with the tub socket above and the frame socket below, and push each pin home until its locking tab snaps in. Tug the shock afterward to be sure it is captured — a pin left partly seated will fly out under spin force and cause sudden violent vibration.

5. Check the suspension#

With all four in, push the tub firmly to one side and release; it should recenter smoothly and settle after a bounce or two. Push it straight down for the same result. If it keeps bouncing, a pin is not fully seated or a shock is defective — recheck before you close up.

6. Test under load#

Refit the rear panel and run a spin with a medium load of a few pounds. The machine should spin with little vibration and never touch the frame, though faint rhythmic movement is normal for the Perfect Balance system. Then try a deliberately unbalanced single item — the washer should pause and redistribute or slow down rather than bang.

Troubleshooting#

• Vibration remains with new shocks: a pin may not be fully captured, or the cause is elsewhere such as a weak upper spring — recheck the mounts first.
• A shock pops loose during spin: that pin's tab never clicked, or its socket is cracked and cannot hold the pin.
• Tub hangs lower on one corner: an upper suspension spring is broken or unhooked, which new shocks alone will not cure.

When to Call a Pro#

Call a technician if a frame or tub socket is cracked so the pin cannot seat, if the tub shock brackets have corroded through, or if strong vibration outlives four good shocks — loose counterweight bolts or a cracked concrete counterweight may be behind it.

Need Professional Help?#

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