How to Replace LG Washer Boot Seal and Drain Pump

The rubber door boot seals the drum to the front panel, and it fails when the rubber cracks, hardens, or grows mold that will not clean off. The drain pump empties the tub, and a worn one leaves standing water or throws an OE drain error. Both are held by spring-wire clamps, so the trick is releasing and re-tensioning those clamps cleanly.

Before you start#

Safety warning: Disconnect power and water supply. Drain all water through the front filter before starting. The boot seal wire clamps are under spring tension — wear safety glasses.

Part A - Door boot seal (MDS47123602)#

1 - Release the outer clamp. At the door opening, find the outer wire clamp where the rubber meets the front panel, with its spring tension point usually at the 6 o'clock position. Hook a flat-blade screwdriver under the spring and pry outward to release it, then work the clamp off around the seal.

2 - Free the front lip. Peel the front lip of the boot away from the panel metal all the way around. The seal now hangs only from its rear tub connection.

3 - Release the inner clamp. Reach through the drum to the inner clamp holding the seal to the tub. Before pulling the old seal, mark the drain-port location (the small hole that lets water drain back to the tub) and note the molded alignment triangle at the top, so the new seal indexes the same way.

4 - Fit the new seal. Let the new MDS47123602 warm to room temperature so it stretches, then work its inner lip over the tub opening starting at the 12 o'clock mark and moving down each side evenly, landing the drain port at 6 o'clock. Install the inner clamp, then stretch the outer lip over the front panel and refit the outer clamp with its spring at the bottom.

5 - Verify the seal. Close the door and check the rubber contacts the glass evenly all around, then run an empty warm cycle and watch the whole perimeter for seepage. Slight door stiffness for the first several cycles is normal.

Part B - Drain pump (4681EA2001T)#

6 - Reach the pump. With the machine drained through the front filter, either lay it on its back or remove the lower front access panel (two Phillips screws plus lower clips). The pump is the compact motor at the bottom-front, joined to a tub hose above and the filter housing below.

7 - Swap the pump. Unplug the 2-wire connector, squeeze the spring clamp on the tub-to-pump hose and slide it back to pull the hose (towels ready, water releases), release the outlet-to-filter connection, and remove the 2-3 mounting screws. Install the new 4681EA2001T matching inlet and outlet orientation, secure the screws, then reconnect the filter outlet, the tub hose with its clamp, and finally the electrical plug.

8 - Test the pump. Stand the machine up, restore power, pour two gallons through the drum, and run a Drain and Spin. Listen for a smooth whirring pump, check the hose joints for leaks, and confirm the water clears within a couple of minutes. If it runs but will not drain, check the external drain hose height and clearance.

When to call a professional#

EasyBear technicians serving Sacramento and the Bay Area carry LG-specific diagnostic tools and replacement parts on every service call.

• The outer tub lip where the boot attaches is cracked and cannot form a watertight bond.
• The pump mounting bracket is broken and the pump cannot be secured.
• You find live wires or burn marks near the pump wiring.

Need professional help?#

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