Maytag A612 Damper pad inspection and replacement questions

[dangerboy]

I am trying to inspect and possibly replace the damper pads on my A612 Maytag dryer. I bought this washer a while go to put into service at my cabin and so far I have replaced the belts and the inlet water valve on it. I want to make sure the washer is good to go for a long time before I put it in service. I have tried loosening off the nuts on the eye bolts about as far as they will go without completely releasing the springs and then balancing the washer on a 4x4 but doing that only lets me see the very bottom of the damper pads which appear to be in reasonable condition but maybe worn down to the last couple millimeters of pad.

It seems to me the only way I'm going to be able to see the entire damper pads is if I remove the nuts on the eye bolts completely and release the springs. What I'm wondering is how difficult it's going to be to get the Springs back into the eye bolts if I release them. They seem like pretty stiff Springs and I am just here by myself.

Also, if I've got a couple millimeters of wear still left on the pads, should I bother trying to replace them at this point or are those pads likely good to last for quite a while longer given that this cabin only gets used in the summer and the washing machine doesn't see a whole lot of use during the entire year.

Thanks.

 

[dangerboy]

How much wear is left on these pads?

Okay, I figured out how I should be able to reconnect the stabilizer springs without too much trouble so now I have a clear view of the pads. There appears to be at least a few mm of pad left (see photo). Now I'm wondering if I should leave well enough alone and leave the current pads in place or if I should replace them. This washer is in my summer lakeside cabin and will only get regular use a couple months of the year mainly for washing sheets and towels and maybe a few bathing suits and pairs of shorts. I have a new set of damper pads here ready to put in so I could do that while I have the machine all apart but I'm curious to know about how much longer these existing pads are likely to last if I just give them a good covering with silicone gel Lube and leave them in place.

Can someone who has experience with this please have a look at my photograph and give me their opinion on whether or not I should bother to change these pads out now or if I should just leave the existing pads in place and keep the new set I bought around as spare parts when for when I may need them X years down the road?

I should add that I know nothing about the history of this machine so I don't know if these pads are original or if machine's been serviced and these pads have been recently replaced.

TIA

 

[combo52]

Maytag Damper Pads

These pads wear very little of nothing at all. They tend to come loose if either the glue fails that holds them to the steel base plate or if they get too dry they tear loose from the base plate.

 

Since you have it apart this far give them a good oiling with any lubricant that is good on polyester type plastic and put the machine back together and don't worry about them.

 

John L.