Wasted $75 on a 'universal' washing machine repair kit that fixed nothing

My washer was shaking and I bought this kit with belts and dampers online. The parts didn't even fit my model (a basic Whirlpool from 2018), and I spent a whole Saturday trying to make them work. Turns out the real problem was just an unbalanced load and a loose leg. Anyone have a good way to check for simple stuff before ordering parts?

3 comments

3 Comments

paige_martin2mo ago

Totally feel your pain, that's a rough way to spend a Saturday. After a similar mess, my go-to move now is running an empty cycle with a cup of vinegar. It's weird, but it can show if the drum spins smoothly without any clothes in there. @tessacarter is right about starting with the free stuff. I also check for loose change or a bra wire stuck in the drain pump filter, that caused a crazy noise for me once. It's always the simple things you don't think of first.

tessacarter2mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst. I always try the free fixes first, like leveling the legs and checking for a rogue sock. It saves so much time and money.

anthony_sullivan682mo ago

Leveling the legs is a good start, @tessacarter, but a rogue sock won't cause most washer shakes. The real free fix is checking the shipping bolts. They're those big rods in the back that hold the drum steady for transport. People forget to take them out. I've seen a machine walk halfway across a room because of those. Also, an uneven load of towels or jeans will throw it off balance every time.