Uh-Oh: The Dreaded Bearing Roar Has Commenced!

[frigilux]

Well, kids, on what is probably my 2002 Frigidaire front-loader's eighth birthday, the "roar of the spin" has begun. I was washing a load of bath towels and could hear it spinning upstairs at the opposite end of the house.

I thought the racket might be caused by a rapidly spinning unbalanced load, but upon inspection found it to be an almost perfectly balanced spin. The sound isn't a squeal/squeak; it's kind of a very loud whirring or a dull roar, as if gunning a car engine while in neutral.

I pulled the load out at the end of the cycle and spun the tub by hand. There's a bit of growling. I'm guessing it's the bearing. Can anyone who's familiar with this malady confirm my suspicion?

I'm actually not terribly surprised, as A) the 3.0 cu. ft. machines were notorious for this failure, and B) the machine has been oversudsed a hundred times, and liquid chlorine bleach is used in at least 3-4 loads per week.

I'm curious as to how quickly the situation will deteriorate, and how many more loads I'll get from it before it grinds to a halt---speaking of which, if the bearing fails will the tub attempt a violent escape from its confines at 900 rpm, or does that only happen with a spider failure?

Time to start saving the nickels and dimes for a new set. The big question: Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, GE, or perhaps the new Frigidaires?

All comments, advice, and anecdotes are welcomed!

 

[pierreandreply4]

whirlpool toploading washer

if you use bleach 3 4 times a weeks and the washer tends to suds alot maybe i would go with a toploading washer and i know that whirlpool and maytags are very good since they have a toploading washer that has a three spray rinse and you can also select the washe speed as well

http://www.whirlpool.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=WASHERS&cat=115&prod=1479

 

[cfz2882]

bearing alright..

it's the bearings-pretty easy fix if you are used to washer
repair,though does- require quite a bit of dissasembly-can
give details if you want...

 

[qsd-dan]

Awww, sorry to hear about the fate of the Frigidaire. 8 years is quite a long run though!

The big question: Whirlpool, Maytag, LG, GE, or perhaps the new Frigidaires?

G.O. V.I.N.T.A.G.E!

 

[lordkenmore]

If the current bearings can be replaced, that might be worth looking into.

If you do replace, you might add Speed Queen and Miele. These options would cost more, but could cost a less in the long haul--both in lower dollar costs and in aggravation since they (shouldn't) need to be replaced as often. Unfortunately, these brands might not be viable if you are planning on buying locally, however.

I have no real experience past hearsay with any front loader. But one thing I'd be looking at if I were buying new (slim chance of THAT ever happening!) is the country where the washer was made, and also who owns the company. My preference would be to buy US product. (I know that I suggest Miele, but I'm less concerned with buying German than Asian.) Thus, I'd rule LG and probably Frigidaire out.

Another thought: instead of talking about a new "set" (I assume you're thinking of both washer and dryer), you might consider just the washer. If the dryer is still working, you might as well continue using it until it's run into the earth. By doing this, you could possibly afford a better washer (Speed Queen instead of Whirlpool). Plus, long term, by buying separately, one can select the appliance that is the best possible choice. While different brands won't "match," my personal bias is entirely towards practicality--getting the best possible job for my particular circumstances.

 

[lordkenmore]

"G.O. V.I.N.T.A.G.E!"

This is also an idea well worth considering.

I have had little experience with modern washers, but what experience I've had has been--oh, how do I put this nicely?--disappointing.

The only plus I see to modern is that the capacity is big--at least compared to the vintage machines I'm used to. I wouldn't mind having a modern machine just for that capacity--but I'd never use it unless washing stuff too big for the belt drive Kenmore. With 99% of my loads, the Kenmore is quite adequate.

 

[yogitunes]

STAY AWAY FROM FRIGIDAIRE!!!....you have been warned!!!

WARNING, WARNING, DANGER, DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!

 

[appnut]

Eugene, I say get one of the new Frigidaires that was recently announced. 4.4 cu. ft. capacity AND with the sanitary cycle and prewash options and steam, I understand you couldo do basically a profile wash. And you wouldn't have to use chlorine bleach anymore--oxygen bleach like OxiClean. Besides the TOL model has a specialty cycle for washing teddy bears. Although I'd prefer washing mine in the shower or bath tub with me ;-)

 

[frigilux]

Pierre---I have a 2006 Frigidaire top-loader, but I use it only occasionally. It isn't a great washer, but I enjoy watching the indexing tub. I prefer front-loaders, and my '02 front-loader is my "daily driver".

cfz2882---while many at AW are blessed with the skill and patience to take on major repairs, I am not one of them, LOL. Although I hate to break up the identical-looking Frigidaire triplets in my laundry room, I think I'll try something new when the time comes to replace the front-loader. I'm not at all a fan of my Frigidaire dryer, with it's puny 5.8 cu. ft. drum.

Dan---While it would be fun to have a vintage washer, I'd prefer to have a new front-loader as my "daily driver". I'm not mechanically inclined, so I need a washer which can be repaired by one of my local dealers.

John---I don't have a Speed Queen or a Miele dealer anywhere near me. The brands listed above are the ones I can get locally. A shiny new Miele would certainly be a wonderful choice! When I replace the washer, I'll also replace the dryer, as I don't really like it.

Martin---While the newest line of Frigidaire washers/dryers have many improvements--and the price is reasonable--I've already owned a Frigidaire pair and would like to try a new brand. The LG 2050 is highly recommended by Consumer Reports, as well as by a friend who owns one. It doesn't sport all the bells and whistles of a top-of-the-line LG, but it and its companion dryer can be had for about $700 each. I'll have to see how long my current Frigidaire lasts. If it has another year of service left, I can probably save up for a TOL LG pair, or perhaps a Whirlpool or Maytag pair. If it will need to be replaced in six months, I'll probably opt for the LG 2050's.

 

[combo52]

FL WASHER SEAL AND BEARING FAILURES

LCB does not cause seal and bearing failures in FL washers. In fact Jason and I have proved by hundreds of customers experiences that the reverse is true, LCD will extend the life of most FL washers. I don't know where these stupid rummers get started but somebody needs to come up with some proof of this stupid idea that LCD is the cause of any problems.

 

[frigilux]

Bob---Had I not already owned a Frigidaire front-loader, I'd probably put the TOL new one at the head of my list. It has many features (steam, profile wash, 1300 rpm spin speed, prewash, huge capacity, etc) for $1000. Since I've already owned a Frigidaire, I'd like to try a new brand.

I've never owned a GE or an LG, and between the two of them, I'd probably go with LG. Then there's always the Whirlpool Duet or its Maytag sibling to consider. We'll see what plays out when the time comes. It all depends upon how long my current machine lasts.

Except for this bearing issue, I've never had a single problem with my Frigidaire front-loader in eight years. LG's are now listed as the most reliable front-load brand by Consumer Reports (9% needing repairs), followed by Whirlpool and Frigidaire (11% needing repairs).

LG-made washers make up six of the top eight machines tested by Consumer Reports. The LG 2050 comes in fifth, with a total score of 83, while a similarly priced/featured LG-made Kenmore tops the list with a score of 85. The other two machines in the top eight are Samsungs.

John--Thanks for the info about using chlorine bleach in front-loaders. I'm a big fan of LCB, so I have no plans to stop using it. I think it's one of the reasons I've never had a mold/mildew issue with a front-loader.

 

[lordkenmore]

Given that the dryer is important, you might look the hardest at Whirlpool/Maytag. I knew someone shopping for a dryer a few months back, and asked about modern dryers here. The largest number of votes were for Whirlpool.

Past that, I like that Whirlpool still makes appliances in the US. I'm far from "buy American or die!" But I do think it makes a lot of sense to buy a US product whenever it's a reasonably competent product. If I were buying new, I could see buying a Miele instead of a Whirlpool. But the case for LG--for me--is just about impossible to make. But that's just me.

The other thing that may be "just me" is that if I were shopping, I'd be looking at buying as cheap as possible. Rock bottom may not be the best choice--but in the disposable appliance era, buying something expensive (unless it's Miele) doesn't make sense to me.

Even though the dryer is on the hit list, it might still be worth considering it a separate purchase. That way, you have fewer pennies to save before buying the washer.

 

[lordkenmore]

A qualifier for my last post: the made in the US issue may or may not apply to a given front load machine. If it's something that matters, it's a good idea to check--and check at the time of purchase since these things have a way of changing fast.

 

[pierreandreply4]

here is a tip if you want to protect the bearings of your frigedair fl washe and rinse in your fridegedair fl but for the spin part of the cycle transfer the wet clothes in your fridgedair topload that you set on the spin cycle and then transfer the clothe back to your fl fridgedair washer for the rinse part of the cycle.

 

[alr2903]

Lots of good suggestions. Frigilux is your dryer the turn to start or push to start? I have broke my start knob. Just a thought check out the f/l on o stock . com. free ship, no sales tax and you can do ez pay. They also offer service policies right up front. alr2903

 

[yogitunes]

The FL you have is one of the better of the Frigidaire lines, the TL is too cheaply made....I would just stay away from the newer ones, I have the gallery series with the large square door, digital, and you cannot adjust the water level, although I have figured a way to do it, same goes for their Affinity version of these washers, works with drops of water, which is no where near enough.....

If you want the same machine you have again, check for a SEARS OUTLET in you area, discontinued models may be there at a discounted price, can't hurt...

Do what I do, when considering a new machine, I take a screwdriver in with me and open the machine up to see what its made out of and if I can adjust the water level if needed...you should have seen the shock on the cashiers faces in Sears when I did this, I want to know what I'm paying for this time around...you can also try a rent-a-center and try a few brands out before deciding....although most places will give you a refund if its not to your liking

 

[sudsmaster]

It's not a rumor...

Here's an excerpt from the Bosch Axxis washer manual:

"Bleaching

DO NOT use chlorine bleach in this washing
machine.

Decolorizing

Decolorants may contain sulphur or chlorine.
These substances can cause parts of the wash-
ing machine to corrode. Do not decolorize items
of laundry in the washing machine."

The corrosive nature of chlorine is well known. Stainless steel is particularly vulnerable to its action. The chlorine strips away the protective layer of chromium oxide from the surface of the stainless steel, rendering it susceptible to corrosion (rust) just like plain steel is susceptible. Chlorine can also attack rubber items, accelerating their deterioration by the oxidation process. Chlorine bleach being a strong oxidant.

I'd like to know how someone has "proved" that chlorine bleach prolongs the lifespan of washers...

I've never used chlorine bleach in my Neptune. It has zero mold/odor issues, and the bearings are just fine, after 10 years of regular use (average of five loads a week).

Miele washers last for decades without ever seeing a drop of chlorine bleach.

http://https//docs.google.com/fileview?id=...ODZiYWY0&hl=en

 

[nunyabidness]

Whirlpool Frontload

Whirlpool & Maytag will soon be making a frontloader in the US. The launch is scheduled for later this year, but there are some pics at the forum post below.

We doin' big pimpin, we spendin' cheese... on Whirlpool appliances

First that new touchscreen dishwasher and the Vantage top loader... and now this. Miele pricing on Whirlpool appliances, it seems. Available in red, silver and white.

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[sudsmaster]

You might want to look for the new Electrolux line of front loaders. Large capacity and reversible washer doors caught my eye, as well as a sanitize option (internal heater) on all models. They've been out for at least a year now.

Doesn't look to me that the new Frigidaire front loader (4.4 cu ft Affinity) is the same machine, though. And it can be hard to find a dealer for Electrolux brand front load washers/dryers.