[Ripley]

Our washer apparently is losing its back bearing, it's been loud on spin cycle, getting louder. The replacement part is available here, rear outer tub assembly with bearing. For some reason the bearing is unavailable separately. It looks like a pretty straightforward job, yes/no? Any tips? Is it possible something else is causing this loud noise instead of the back bearing?

I find that the Frigidaires have had a lot of back bearing problems. Am I throwing good money after bad?

We had the same model Frigidaire lose its back bearing under warranty. This replacement unit is about 7 years old.

I'm posting another thread about the pump on this unit.

Thanks!

[sidfink43]

Hi Ripley

Frigidaire designed this so that you have to replace the back half of the drum to replace the bearing, at huge expense. Even worse, they apparently designed it so the bearing fails regularly.

Given you have pump problems also, the time has come to say goodbye. Let it go.

Use the money you would have spent on a repair on a basic top loading, no frills washer. You will have a machine that washes just as good, is more reliable and costs less to repair.

Good luck

[Ripley]

Thanks, sidfink43.

Other folks are telling me the same thing, get a top loader.
If I fix the Frigidaire, I know it will fail again.
I called them and complained. They've offered a "good will" deal -- they'll pay for the part, I pay installation. Not sure what they're asking for the part, I'm guessing $300 for installation but I don't really know. I can get the part here for under $200, not unreasonable if I can get it in myself. The pump is $79. I guess a minimum cost of $300-$400 all told.

We live in a small house with a small laundry room where space is at a premium. With the front loaders on stands, there's valuable storage space underneath that I'd lose with toploaders. Kinda grasping at straws here...

The dryer is fine, I hate to spring for a new W/D set but the wife isn't going to put up with a mismatched set. I'm not sure of the policy here, when you say a "no frills" toploader, do you have any recommendations? What to buy, what to avoid. Here's what I've been told -- Samsung hard to work on, LG parts hard to get, Whirlpool good, others a little less so, stay away from GE.
Ignore this if such questions are frowned on.

[sidfink43]

Hi Ripley

Happy to answer your questions, everyone is entitled to my opinion whether they want it or not. Those of us who respond on this Forum are volunteers, so I guess we can say what we want.

For me, the top loader Roper (lower priced Whirlpool product with Whirlpool interior parts) or a Kenmore or a Whirlpool will all do a very good job of washing your clothes. You do not need anything more than the basic cycles, the rest is primarily for marketing and increasing the price. Special cycles to treat your clothes "gently" may sound good, but in the U. S. you will tire of your fashions and get rid of them well before a washer wears them out.

The basic top loader with a mechanical timer will be less expensive than a front loader, and most important will not have computer controls which fail regularly, are difficult to diagnose and costly to replace.

LG to me stands for "Lottsa Goshdarnluck" in getting it fixed, and Samsung is a mystery brand. If you stay with Whirlpool, GE or Frigidaire (notice I have left Maytag out of this) and do not overload the machine it will give you great service.

Well, that's my opinion and I am sticking to it.

[Ripley]

Thanks again.
A lot of good sales going on it seems, I'll be out looking for bargains!

[sidfink43]

Let us know what you buy and how you like it, that can help others.

Good luck