In matters of restoring the technical capabilities and performance of household appliances, we are accustomed to relying on service centers. However, not all breakdowns require the intervention of a specialist. Many minor problems can be easily fixed with your own hands.
One typical example is repairing washing machine shock absorbers, which you can do yourself. We will tell you how to dismantle worn parts of the shock absorption system and install new elements. Our recommendations will help you quickly and efficiently restore the operation of your washing machine.
Typical causes of breakdowns
Depending on the settings, the brand of the unit and the functions performed, the washing machine drums make from 700 to 1800 revolutions per minute. Such an impressive load, and even with the application of rotational force, can easily damage contacting parts and weaken components and connections.
If shock absorbers had not been developed to dampen the vibration of the drum and the tank containing it during the spin period, the machine would have to be repaired after each washing “session”. Their purpose is no different from the functions of similar car devices.
Shock-absorbing devices of washing machines perform work equivalent to similar parts of cars. They are designed to dampen the vibrating movements of the tank during the spinning/washing process (+)
Shock absorbers, coupled with suspension springs, eliminate direct contact between the machine’s tank and its metal body, steel and plastic parts. In the form of original supports, they are located under the main rotating part of the equipment, which is fixed in the upper part of the unit by hanging springs.
During operation of the washing machine, the supports and springs are unstable, due to which the drum, rotating at breakneck speed, can slightly shift relative to its resting position.
Those. These devices, performing spring movements, provide the drum with the ability to make the required rotations according to its status, without transferring the load to adjacent parts and assemblies.
The tank of the washing unit is suspended from above using springs, from below it rests on shock absorbers or dampers, which prevent the transmission of vibration from the drum to the body of the machine
The structural components of the washing machine, protected from vibration by shock absorbers, last much longer and are less likely to fail. True, the shock-absorbing devices themselves gradually lose their original strength during the execution of the assigned task.
Worn-out devices may require repair or replacement at an extremely inopportune moment, for example, before an evening wash, the timing of which does not allow calling a technician urgently. Or we will have to wait quite a long time for his arrival. This is where you will need information about the specifics of restoring shock absorbers and their structure.
If there is an urgent need to repair shock absorbers, work on their repair or replacement can be done with your own hands
How much does a master's service cost?
A professional service center technician can quickly solve the problem of failed parts . On the Internet it is not difficult to find the coordinates of companies servicing Indesit equipment.
When filling out an application, you must indicate the brand and model of the washing machine, describe the problem in detail, and agree on the time of the technician’s arrival.
The cost of the service is determined by a number of factors:
- Efficiency of order fulfillment (additional payment for urgency is possible).
- Model and production date of the washing machine (determines the difficulty of disassembly).
- The cost of a new spare part (the original part is more expensive).
The repair estimate usually includes:
- disassembling the washing machine,
- dismantling old and installing new shock absorbers,
- assembly and testing of equipment after repair.
The specialist will announce the full cost of repair work only after inspecting the household appliances and fully diagnosing the fault. Demanding full payment even before the start of repairs is a reason to refuse the services of a specialist (the risks of fraud are high).
It is also necessary to remember that after the repair, the service center master is obliged to issue a document - a Certificate of Work Completed with a complete list and cost of services provided, and a guarantee for the replaced part.
The average cost of replacing a pair of shock absorbers in an Indesit washing machine is 2,200 rubles.
A lot of important and useful information about repairing Indesit washing machines is presented in this section.
The device of spring shock absorbers
One of the most common types of shock absorbers for washing equipment has the so-called spring-piston design. To put it in exaggerated terms, it is a metal cylinder with a polymer sleeve at the top. It directs the movement of the rod installed in the shock absorber.
The upper part of the rod is “sharpened” to fit polymer liners and rubber gaskets, with the help of which it is connected to the drum. Attached to the base of the rod is a piston with a gasket heavily impregnated with non-drying lubricant. This lubricant is needed to increase the friction force when the rod and piston move through the cavity of the steel cylinder.
The main structural components of a spring-piston shock absorber include a metal cylinder, closed at the top by a bushing, and a polished rod with a piston
The operation of a spring-piston type shock absorber includes a number of sequentially repeated actions:
- During sudden vibrations, the shock absorber rod is set into linear motion.
- The piston pressed by the rod moves along the cylinder cavity.
- Impregnation prevents the piston from slipping without appropriate force.
- When the pressure is released, the rod returns to its original position.
- When effort arises, everything repeats.
To ensure that the air in the cylinder does not create additional resistance, the piston is perforated. When you press on it, a possible air lock can easily come out through the holes made through it.
The load that appears during rotation of the drum puts pressure on the rod, which in turn pushes the piston fixed at its base along the steel cylinder
Of course, such a mode of operation does not give reason to hope for the eternal preservation of parts rubbing against each other in their original technical condition. At first, just play appears, then wear. Moreover, only one spring support can be damaged, and there are 2 to 4 of them in different modifications of washing units.
To remove the air plug located inside the cylinder, holes are made in it (Fig. on the left). At the top, the shock absorber rod is equipped with a seat for rubber gaskets and polymer inserts, through which it is attached to the washing machine tank
The operating principle of shock absorbers for washing machines of different brands is similar, but there are some design nuances. Their size, angle of inclination, location may differ; not in all models of washing equipment they are supplemented with springs holding the drum on top.
Instead of a pair of suspensions located on top, small springs can be used, connected to a nearby upper counterweight.
In other layout options, the tank, consisting of two parts, is supported by dampers from below instead of shock absorbers. This design type is classic, therefore it is also very worth understanding the structure of these devices. It is possible that this is exactly your case.
The motor in the modification of the washing machine shown in the diagram is mounted at the top. There is no need to disassemble it completely to replace shock absorbers; just remove the side or rear part of the body
Design features of dampers
Dampers in washing machines are also used in combination with suspension springs, but their structure does not contain elements that are not very strong. In fact, this is also a steel cylinder, although it is not a rod with a piston that moves through its cavity, but simply a piston with holes in the walls to remove excess air.
The damper piston is also equipped with a friction-type gasket. It is made of porous polymer and impregnated with a non-drying lubricant that creates additional friction. There can be two or even more gaskets in the damper, it all depends on the characteristics of the device.
Both the metal cylinder and the damper moving along its cavity are equipped with rubber bushings on the outer edges, with the help of which the shock-absorbing devices are connected to the bottom of the machine and to the tank.
The damper has two main components: a piston equipped with a friction pad, and a steel cylinder in which the piston moves
Dampers are available in two versions:
- Collapsible. To repair this type, most often it is enough to simply replace the pressed gasket.
- Non-separable. Their edges are rolled. Repair of this type consists of replacing the device.
The values of the maximum permissible force possible for a particular shock-absorbing device are indicated on the damper or shock absorber housings. Typically the load varies in the range of 50 - 150 newtons. When operating in the manufacturer-guaranteed mode, washers rarely exceed these limits.
When buying a new shock-absorbing device for replacement, you should not exceed the characteristics indicated on the previous part. If 100 N is indicated on the case, then there is no need to delude yourself that an element with 150 N will last longer; you need to purchase exactly the same one or with similar indicators.
There is a motor attached to the bottom of the tank on the side; it and other components will need to be removed before removal to replace the dampers.
Minor repairs
If you wish, you can repair the shock absorbers on your washing machine yourself. Most often, the cause of failure lies in the wear of the gasket between the piston and cylinder. You can make it yourself, but this does not guarantee proper operation of the part.
If it's not the gasket that's at fault, but the spring, here's how to replace it.
- First you need to remove the shock absorber from the body by removing it from the top of the body or from the connecting unit on the tank. You need to pull the spring to the tank and carefully disconnect it with pliers, unhook the opposite end of the part. Or pry and unhook the hook for fastening the part with a screwdriver. If necessary, you need to remove all interfering elements of the washing machine body.
- Press the latch at the bottom of the part by touch and disassemble it.
- You can replace the element.
No less frequent are cases when for proper operation of the machine, it is enough just to change the lubricant in the shock absorbers.
Lithium (Litol) and calcium (Solidol) lubricants are excellent for such parts.
Diagnosis of typical faults
Shock-absorbing devices of washing machines belong to the mechanical part of household equipment. Their repair and replacement do not require fundamental knowledge in the field of electrical or even mechanics. This means that even the intervention of an amateur will not be able to cause serious damage.
Please note that unique technical documentation is issued for each model of washing unit. Service techniques are usually authorized and devices are patented. However, there are methods for repairing shock-absorbing devices that are common to almost all types of washing machines, the specifics of which are worth understanding.
The appearance of typical damage to shock absorbers or dampers will be signaled by a specific noise that occurs during operation of the machine, or too much knocking inside its body.
Symptoms of damage or wear of the shock absorber are unusual noise during washing/spin, strong knocking, excessively active vibration with body distortions
If alarming sounds are detected, their condition should be examined, and for this you need to provide yourself with access to the devices being tested. Depending on the model, for the examination you will need to remove either the top panel, the side panel, or the back panel.
Methods for diagnosing shock absorbers for washing equipment depend on the type of load:
- From the front. If, when applying force to the tank from above, folds form on the sealing collar of the loading hatch, the shock absorbers must be replaced. By the way, you can also notice a couple of folds while the machine is operating with worn-out accessories.
- From vertical. If, when applying force to the tank from above, no resistance is felt, and the tank, after interrupting the pressure, continues to swing like a pendulum, it needs to be repaired.
When carrying out diagnostics with top loading, you must definitely pay attention to how much the tank sags when pressed, if the indicated defect occurs. It would be nice to track the fact of sagging and its conditional value with a full tank load.
The signal to replace the shock absorbers will be the folds on the sealing collar, which often has to be changed no less often than the shock absorbers themselves
It is imperative to check whether there is at least some reserve for the reciprocating movement of the tank of the washing machine being examined. If it sags so that there is simply no room left for it to move during vibration, then a loud knock will occur during washing or spinning. And this is a sure sign of damage to the tank in the near future, and simply imbalance.
In normal technical condition, front-loading washing machines should not have cuff folds at all, regardless of the function being performed. Note that the formation of a single fold on this rubber seal indicates that only one of the shock absorbers is damaged.
If the folds on the cuff of the washer do not indicate damage to the shock absorbers, it means that it is worn out or deformed from the use of substances undesirable for its structure. In this case, the seal should be replaced.
In normally functioning units with a top load, if the shock-absorbing devices are not damaged, after applying force to the tank from above and abruptly interrupting the load, i.e. retracting the hand, the tank should smoothly return to its original place without excessive swinging and vibration.
If the dampers of the washing machine are damaged, then this can be determined by the cuff even with a minimum load of the drum. The presence of two folds in the seal indicates that two devices require repair or replacement
How to change shock absorbers for a washing machine?
To replace a broken part, you must first remove it, and before that it would be good to get to it.
How to do it?
- Remove the top cover of the washing machine.
- Remove the powder cuvette and the plastic panel from below. Open the dust filter cover and disconnect the drain hose.
- Carefully twist and leave the top panel, being careful not to damage the wiring.
- Remove the cuff, having first loosened the metal tie, and tuck it inside the tank.
- Unscrew the front part of the machine.
- Unscrew the door lock completely and remove the front.
- The shock absorbers are located immediately under the tank.
- Remove the latch or unscrew the shock absorbers, and then remove the parts. If, when pressed, the shock absorber compresses easily or makes a squeaking sound, then it requires replacement. Once you are sure that the shock absorbers are broken, you can install new ones.
Even if only one shock absorber is damaged, the pair must be replaced at once. If the washing machine turns out to be a model where you can only get to the shock absorber by removing the tank, then it is recommended to call a professional for this work.
You can buy high-quality and original spare parts directly from the service center. In addition to the purchase itself, you can always consult with a specialist who can give valuable advice and help you choose the part that suits your washing machine model.
Or you can order the required element via the Internet, but you should choose one that is exactly the same, or one that is as similar in characteristics as possible.
