Kenmore Washer Shakes and Walks Across the Floor

Quick Answer: Why Your Kenmore Washer Shakes and Walks#

Most likely: the part that absorbs spin vibration has worn out, and which part depends on your platform. On 110-series top-loaders (the Whirlpool platform) it is usually a worn snubber ring letting the tub swing freely, or legs that need re-leveling. On 796-series (LG) and 417-series (Electrolux) front-loaders it is worn shock absorbers, a broken suspension spring, or — on a newly installed machine — shipping bolts that were never removed, which lock the drum solid and send every bit of spin force into the floor. Start by checking level and, on a front-loader, those shipping bolts.

Likely Causes at a Glance#

Walking Through the Diagnosis#

No power tools are needed for the first checks, but unplug the washer before you tip it or pull a panel. Begin with the basics: set a spirit level on top, and if it is off by more than a quarter of a bubble, re-level. On a 110-series top-loader the rear legs self-level by gravity — lift the front about four inches and drop it to reset them — then snug the front legs with a wrench. If the shaking only shows up with a heavy, bunched load, redistribute it; that can be normal rather than a fault.

For a front-loader that was recently delivered or moved, check the rear panel for shipping bolts before anything else. They exist to lock the drum for transport, and a drum that cannot move on its suspension transmits all of its spin force straight to the cabinet and floor. Used machines are very often sold with the bolts reinstalled, so pull them — three or four bolts, a 17mm wrench on the 796 or 13mm on the 417 — and retest.

If level and bolts are ruled out, it is the dampening system. On a top-loader, the outer tub hangs from top springs and rides on a snubber ring at the bottom; when that pad wears smooth nothing limits the tub's swing, and the forces walk the machine. Replace the snubber ring (Whirlpool W10820048 or equivalent) by tipping the machine back for underside access. On a front-loader, the drum hangs from springs and is checked by shock absorbers, with concrete counterweights added for mass. Press the drum down and release: several bounces means the shocks have worn past their useful point, so replace them as a set. While the top panel is off, eyeball the springs, since a broken one is obvious and leaves the tub hanging crooked, and put a socket on the counterweight bolts to confirm none have loosened.

Floor matters too. Second-floor laundry rooms in tract homes flex on their joists and amplify vibration, so anti-vibration pads under all four legs, or a three-quarter-inch plywood board spanning several joists, can settle a machine that is otherwise mechanically sound.

Repair or Replace? The Short Version#

Rule of thumb: if the fix lands under about half the price of a comparable new washer and yours is under eight to ten years old, repair it — a snubber ring, a set of shocks, or a spring is an inexpensive part, and pulling forgotten shipping bolts costs nothing at all. Our technicians carry suspension parts for the Kenmore 110, 796, and 417 platforms — book a repair.

Frequently Asked Questions#

My Kenmore front-loader was fine for years and suddenly shakes badly — what changed?#

The shock absorbers have worn past the point where they can dampen the spin, and that shift from just-coping to not-coping happens quickly. Replace all of the shock absorbers at once.

I just installed a used Kenmore front-loader and it vibrates terribly — is it broken?#

Check for shipping bolts first. Used machines are frequently sold with the transport bolts reinstalled, which lock the drum solid; remove them before any other diagnosis.

How do I know if it is the snubber ring or the shocks?#

It depends on the platform. A 110-series top-loader uses a snubber ring, while 796 and 417 front-loaders use shock absorbers — on either, push the tub or drum down and a repeated bounce means the dampening part is worn.

Could it just be my floor?#

Yes. An upstairs laundry room flexes on its joists and magnifies vibration, so anti-vibration pads or a plywood board spanning several joists can steady a washer that is otherwise sound.