Please Help: Direct Drive thumping noise

[blockeight88]

Hello everyone. As most of you know, I have restored this 1994 Kenmore direct drive washer back in March. Everything pretty much works flawlessly except I will often hear an intermittent thumping noise during low and high spin. I have had 2 other direct drive washers that did not exhibit this issue. My floor is not reinforced, so unfortunately that doesn't help.

I am posting 3 videos of the issue. Standing in front of the washer I can hear a thumping noise near the bottom right leg. I have checked and both legs and tight and the machine is level.

At first I was led to believe the issue was due to a loose motor shaft or bearing. I tried 3 motors including a brand new one and the issue still persists. I replaced it with a used one that had a very tight bearing (shaft) today and the issue seems better, but still persists. *I will add that while the videos are demonstrating an empty load, I still hear it on full loads, but it's intermittent.

Here is what I have replaced:

Suspension Plate
https://www.searspartsdirect.com/pr...0K_gwdy5qhYgQa0yhLSogYXGhNhoLk8RoC4-0QAvD_BwE

Tub Support
https://www.searspartsdirect.com/pr...MauTVoD1dOGWi3Q4gaRfM-qJeX2nsjDRoCKJMQAvD_BwE

Washer Basket Drive Assembly
https://www.searspartsdirect.com/pr...kSngtmrXy_jtVlBKmQqKkZxUN-DbkxwhoCwB4QAvD_BwE

Wash Basket
Drive Block
Suspension Springs
Water Inlet Valve
Gearcase
Pump

 

[drummerboy928]

This seems to be a fairly normal direct drive thing. Of the DD machines I use regularly (Amana and Catalyst) they both do this during spin. The noise seems to be directly caused by the tub kind of “shimmying” while spinning due to the way it balances. If you watch, the noise lines up with when the tub shakes. As I said, this is fairly normal in the world of DDs, at least from my experience. However others who may be more knowledgeable may be able to tell you exactly why the machine does this and if there’s any way to lessen the effects. I hope this helps

 

[nmassman44]

Its normal that a direct drive washer does this...Every direct drive washer I have used did this when there is no load in the wash basket...when there is a load not so much. I think its because of the water in the balance ring looking for a place to "bunch up" and counteract the load being unbalanced in one spot. No load no place to go and then you get the thumping.

 

[blockeight88]

Thank you both for your replies. I should’ve added that sometimes with a full load I will still hear the noise which leads me to believe something isn’t right. It varies, though if I stand right in front of the machine, I could feel the vibration which is like a pounding noise Seems more likely to happen when the tub is unbalanced.