whirlpool862
Well-known member
I think the 4.2 to 4.3 cu ft VMWs had more or less issues than others, depending on what it was, depending on what it is. The older style like in the image was discontinued in 2022 but they were very common, and were the largest of the “six light” VMWs. The newest style of the 4.3 is a different design and is not like this style.
I’ve heard they were most prone to bad basket bushings and I agree. Hubs also seem to be a very common failure for these. Suspension rods and the hub seem to be a common failure point. The bearings rarely fail on this style and that’s a huge plus, usually it’s the splines that fail or they leak oil when the gearcases fail. I guess those had better bearings or seals than the smaller VMW’s (or even the newer style 4.8 VMWs, online I’m seeing more of the extra big VMWs with roaring bearings). I don’t usually hear those style VMW’s roar on spin cycle unlike the smaller ones or the newest large style. The VMW’s with this type of basket get bearing failure significantly less often than the 3.6 to 3.8 or the porcelain tub units do.
I’m not a technician, and my results are based on my friend (who’s an appliance technician) experiences with these . I have a friend who’s an experienced appliance technician and he said that he often sees hubs, suspension failures, and tub bushing issues, and he said he rarely sees this type of VMW with noisy bearings. He says when he gets in a VMW with bad bearings he often sees the 3.6 to 3.8 stainless tub ones or the 3.4 to 3.6 porcelain tub ones, and he said he’s been seeing more of the newer style big tub VMWs (the ones that are 4.7 to 4.8 cu ft) with bearing failure.
Of course, this style was often more overloaded due to the larger basket.
As for the actuator, those had the same actuator issues as the others, same goes for the clutch and noise during agitation.
The image shows the highest end of the 4.3 VMWs, but there were several others (such as the MVWC565FW and WTW5000DW). This style often got the worst rap, but I don’t know why. Bearing failures on these units seem rare, and they also seem rare on the commercial VMW’s.
I know these didn’t wash as well as the tall impeller VMW’s or the porcelain tub VMW’s. I think the 2019-present 4.7 to 4.8 VMWs wash similar to these.
I’ve heard they were most prone to bad basket bushings and I agree. Hubs also seem to be a very common failure for these. Suspension rods and the hub seem to be a common failure point. The bearings rarely fail on this style and that’s a huge plus, usually it’s the splines that fail or they leak oil when the gearcases fail. I guess those had better bearings or seals than the smaller VMW’s (or even the newer style 4.8 VMWs, online I’m seeing more of the extra big VMWs with roaring bearings). I don’t usually hear those style VMW’s roar on spin cycle unlike the smaller ones or the newest large style. The VMW’s with this type of basket get bearing failure significantly less often than the 3.6 to 3.8 or the porcelain tub units do.
I’m not a technician, and my results are based on my friend (who’s an appliance technician) experiences with these . I have a friend who’s an experienced appliance technician and he said that he often sees hubs, suspension failures, and tub bushing issues, and he said he rarely sees this type of VMW with noisy bearings. He says when he gets in a VMW with bad bearings he often sees the 3.6 to 3.8 stainless tub ones or the 3.4 to 3.6 porcelain tub ones, and he said he’s been seeing more of the newer style big tub VMWs (the ones that are 4.7 to 4.8 cu ft) with bearing failure.
Of course, this style was often more overloaded due to the larger basket.
As for the actuator, those had the same actuator issues as the others, same goes for the clutch and noise during agitation.
The image shows the highest end of the 4.3 VMWs, but there were several others (such as the MVWC565FW and WTW5000DW). This style often got the worst rap, but I don’t know why. Bearing failures on these units seem rare, and they also seem rare on the commercial VMW’s.
I know these didn’t wash as well as the tall impeller VMW’s or the porcelain tub VMW’s. I think the 2019-present 4.7 to 4.8 VMWs wash similar to these.
Attachments
Last edited:
