LG Front Load Washing Machine Dampers Replacement

Written By: Bill Gilbert

Comments: 2

LG Front Load Washing Machine Dampers Replacement

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the dampers in your LG front load washing machine.

The dampers support the drum while reducing the vibration transmitted to the chassis. If a damper is worn out or broken, the washer can become unbalanced during a wash cycle, resulting in excessive machine wobble and component damage.

This guide will work for most LG front load washing machines. This guide is written with a model WM3050CW washer. If you have a different model, you may encounter some minor disassembly differences, but the overall repair process will be the same.

The metal ring holding the rubber boot can be difficult to reinstall. You can buy this tool to make the reinstallation easier, or ask additional people to help.

Tools

Step 1

Before you begin your repair, perform the following:
Turn off the main water supply
Unplug your washer
Disconnect all water connections at the rear of your washer

Step 2

Remove the screw(s) securing the top panel brackets to the back panel.
You don't need to remove the screws securing the brackets to the top panel.

Step 3

Slide the top panel towards the rear of the device to disconnect its clips.

Step 4

Tilt the top panel upward to completely disconnect it from the chassis.
Remove the top panel.

Step 5

Pull the detergent drawer away from the chassis as far as it will go.

Step 6

Press down on the "Push" button to disengage the clips securing the detergent drawer.
Pull the drawer out of its slot on the chassis and remove it.

Step 7

Disconnect the connectors attached to the control panel.
Always grip cables by their connectors and not the wires themselves.

Step 8

Remove the screw(s) securing the control panel to the top edge of the chassis.

Step 9

Remove the screw(s) securing the detergent dispenser.

Step 10

Use a flathead screwdriver, or a pry tool, to unclip the control panel from the chassis.

Step 11

Remove the control panel, making sure to thread any cables through the chassis.

Step 12

Open the front door completely.

Step 13

Use needle nose pliers to grip the spring end of the metal ring at the bottom of the rubber boot.
Pull the ring away from the chassis to separate it from the boot.

Step 14

Use your hand to completely pull the ring off the boot.
During reassembly, perform the following:
Insert one end of the ring into its groove along the boot's perimeter.
Use pliers to slowly stretch the ring around the boot's perimeter until it's completely nested in its groove.
Be sure the spring is centered at the bottom of the boot when you reinstall it.
This procedure will take significant force.

Step 15

Use your fingers to pull the boot off its lip on the front panel.

Step 16

Slide your fingers around the lip of the boot until it's completely separated from the panel.

Step 17

Open the filter panel at the bottom of the front panel.
Unclip the filter panel.

Step 18

Generally, you should drain your machine when you are repairing the pumps or any hoses leading to or from them.
Place a bowl next to the machine.
Pull the drain filter hose out of its slot in the chassis enough to lay over the bowl.
Remove the plug at the end of the drain filter hose to release excess water into the bowl.
During reassembly, re-plug the drain filter hose and thread it back through its slot in the chassis.

Step 19

Remove the screw(s) securing the filter trim.

Step 20

Pull the filter trim straight off the front panel to remove it.

Step 21

Remove the screw(s) securing the lower front panel.

Step 22

Remove the screw(s) securing the door latch.

Step 23

Pull the door latch through its slot in the chassis and let it hang on its wire.

Step 24

Hold the front panel against the chassis while performing this step to prevent it from falling.
Remove the screw(s) securing the front panel.

Step 25

Lift the front panel upward to separate it from its clips on the bottom of the chassis.
Pull the front panel away from the chassis to completely separate the front panel.

Step 26

Remove the front panel.

Step 27

Remove the screw(s) securing the rear panel.

I undertook this repair with the wd14071sd6 model. Unlike this picture the entire back panel has to be removed to access the rotor. This is very very awkward, as multiple electrics are also connected to the panel via plastic clips.

Phill Birtles -

Thank you for the additional information. This is especially helpful when manufacturers market different models in different areas worldwide. You would hope that a sensible design for the access, like what is shown in the guide, would be universal, but that's not always the case.

Bill Gilbert -

Step 28

Unclip the rear panel from the chassis.

Step 29

Remove the rear panel.

Step 30

Depending on your repair, you might need to access the dampers from the rear, the front, or both ends of the device. Choose whichever method works best for you.
Use a flathead screwdriver to press down on the tab securing the plastic pin.
You can also used an appropriately-sized box wrench to compress the pins.
Use a hammer to tap the pin out of its hole, still making sure the tab is compressed.
Repeat this procedure until the pin is loose enough to be removed with your hands.

Step 31

Remove the plastic pin.
Repeat these two steps for the second pin on the damper.
If your replacement dampers don't come with new pins, apply silicone grease to the old pins during reassembly.

Step 32

Slide the damper out of its slot in the chassis to disconnect it.
Remove the damper.
If you're having difficulty removing the damper, compress it to shorten its length.
Repeat the last two steps for each damper you want to replace.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Ask our Answers community for help.

Author

Bill Gilbert

Member since: 30/06/22

35117 Reputation

LG Front Load Washing Machine Dampers Replacement

Introduction

Tools

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