Samsung Washing machine emits noises and shakes while spinning

Wiki Article

A washing machine that shakes violently and emits loud banging, thumping, or screeching noises during the spin cycle is not just annoying—it can damage your flooring, hoses, and the machine’s internal components. Samsung washing machines are engineered with advanced suspension and vibration reduction technology, but they are not immune to common issues. Below is a systematic, step-by-step guide to diagnosing and solving the problem.

## 1. Start with the Most Common Culprit: Unbalanced Load

Before inspecting the machine itself, consider the laundry inside. The most frequent cause of shaking is an uneven distribution of clothes. When a heavy item (like a bath mat or comforter) wraps around one side of the drum, or when you wash a single bulky item without other textiles, the drum becomes imbalanced.

**Solution:** Pause the cycle, open the door, and manually redistribute the laundry. Break up clumps of wet clothes and ensure items are spread evenly around the drum. If you are washing a single large item (e.g., a king-size blanket), add three to four small towels to help balance the load. Samsung’s “Auto Balance” system can correct minor imbalances, but severe unevenness requires human intervention.

## 2. Check the Transit Bolts (Crucial for New Machines)

If your washing machine is brand new or was recently moved, the transit bolts—large screws that secure the drum during transportation—may still be in place. These bolts lock the drum’s suspension, and running the machine with them installed will cause extreme shaking, loud thumping, and potential permanent damage.

**Solution:** Look at the back of the machine. You should see four (or sometimes three) large bolts with plastic spacers. Remove them using a wrench or a 10mm socket. Keep them for future moves. Samsung recommends keeping the bolt hole covers on after removal.

## 3. Level the Machine’s Feet

An unlevel machine will wobble, walk across the floor, and generate a repetitive knocking sound. Samsung washers have four adjustable legs with locking nuts.

**How to level correctly:**

- Place a spirit level on top of the machine, both front-to-back and side-to-side.

- Use a wrench to turn the feet: clockwise to raise, counter-clockwise to lower.

- Once level, tighten the locking nut against the machine chassis.

- After adjustment, push the machine gently—it should not rock diagonally. If it does, re-adjust.

**Pro tip:** Install a drip pan with vibration-absorbing pads underneath, or place anti-vibration rubber mats (available online) under each foot. Do **not** use wooden shims, as they compress over time.

## 4. Examine the Floor and Surroundings

The surface on which the machine sits is critical. Soft, uneven, or slippery floors exacerbate shaking. A Samsung washer needs a rigid, level, and clean floor.

**Common floor issues:**

- **Tile or vinyl over wood subfloor:** The machine can “resonate” and cause the floor to flex. Solution: install a ¾-inch plywood base under the machine.

- **Carpet or rug:** Never place a front-loading Samsung washer directly on carpet. The carpet blocks airflow to the motor and allows excessive movement. Use a smooth, solid board beneath the machine.

- **Touching walls or cabinets:** Ensure there is at least 1 inch of clearance on all sides. If the machine bangs against adjacent surfaces, it will amplify noise.

## 5. Inspect the Shock Absorbers and Suspension Rods

Samsung front-load washers use a suspension system of rods with friction dampers (shock absorbers) and springs. Over time—typically after 3–5 years of heavy use—these components wear out. Worn shock absorbers cause the drum to bounce excessively, producing a deep thudding or clunking noise during spinning.

**How to test:** Unplug the machine. Remove the top panel (two screws at the back). Push down sharply on the inner drum. A healthy drum returns to position smoothly and stops. A worn suspension causes the drum to bounce up and down several times or hit the cabinet.

**Solution:** Replace the shock absorbers (usually 2 or 4, depending on model) and the suspension rods. Samsung sells replacement kits. This repair is intermediate—you will need a socket set and possibly a second person to hold the drum. If unsure, call a technician.

## 6. Check for Foreign Objects in the Drain Pump or Tub

Metallic scraping, grinding, or rhythmic clicking often points to small items trapped between the inner and outer tubs, or inside the drain pump.

**Common objects:** Coins, bobby pins, screws, small socks, or pet hair accumulation.

**Solution:**  

- **For front-load models:** Open the small service door at the bottom front. Place a towel down, then unscrew the drain pump filter. Remove debris. Also check the pump impeller (reachable through the filter hole) for obstructions.  

- **For top-load models:** You may need to remove the agitator (on older models) or call a technician, as accessing the outer tub requires disassembly.

## 7. Inspect the Drum Spider and Bearings (Advanced Issue)

If your machine is over 6–8 years old and makes a deep, rumbling, metallic roar that worsens with spin speed, the drum spider (the metal tripod supporting the drum) may have corroded, or the bearings have failed. This is a severe structural problem.

**Symptoms:** Rust-colored streaks on clothes, loud grinding at high RPMs, and visible play when you grab the drum and move it up and down.

**Solution:** This repair involves full disassembly of the tub assembly. Replacement of the drum spider and bearings is labor-intensive (4+ hours) and often costs more than half the price of a new machine. Unless under warranty, consider replacing the washer.

## 8. Run a Calibration Mode (Smart Control)

Samsung washers have a built-in “Calibration Mode” that resets the sensors detecting load imbalance. Do this after any physical repair.

**How to calibrate (common for front-loaders):**  

1. Unplug the machine for 30 seconds, then plug it back in.  

2. Turn the machine off.  

3. Press and hold the “Temp” and “Spin” buttons simultaneously (on some models, “Spin” and “Soil Level”) for about 5 seconds until “CB” or “Calibration” appears on the display.  

4. Press “Start/Pause.” The drum will rotate slowly for several minutes with no water. Do not interrupt it. When finished, the machine turns off.

## Final Preventive Advice

- Never overload the drum. Samsung’s capacity is for loosely filled dry clothes, not compressed stuffing.

- Wash small items (socks, underwear) in a mesh laundry bag.

- Run the “Drum Clean” cycle monthly to remove residue that can unbalance the drum.

- After every wash, leave the door ajar to dry the seal—this prevents bearing corrosion.

If after following all these steps the noise and shaking persist, contact Samsung support. Persistent violent shaking could indicate a failed main control board or a damaged counterweight—both require professional service. By methodically checking from simplest (unbalanced load) to most complex (bearings), you will solve the issue in most cases without an expensive repair call.