I have an 11 year old maytag atlantis that we love and do not want to trash... As soon as it fills up and starts agitating, very loud rubbing / grinding noise - I took the agitator out and it still makes the noise - held a screwdriver on the transmission and it does sound like it is coming from there, but don't know for sure if its just traveling up from the thrust bearing. Instead of the normal agitating sound, sounds like you are sliding the machine back and forth across the floor in tune with the agitator. Spin cycle works excellent. Any ideas? Thanks.