How To Fix A Samsung Washing Machine That's Shaking Or Vibrating

Wiki Article

A washing machine that violently shakes, vibrates, or “walks” across the floor during a spin cycle is not just annoying—it can damage your floor, hoses, and the machine’s internal components. For Samsung washing machines, this issue is almost always caused by one of four main culprits: **transit bolts**, **uneven flooring**, **overloading**, or **worn-out suspension parts**. Below is a step-by-step guide to diagnosing and solving the problem.

#### 1. Remove the Transit Bolts (For New Machines)

If your Samsung washer is brand new or recently installed, the most likely cause is that the **shipping/transit bolts** are still in place. These bolts lock the drum during transport to prevent damage. Running the machine with them installed will cause catastrophic shaking.

- **How to check:** Look at the back of the machine. You should see 4 large bolts with plastic spacers. If they are present, they must be removed.

- **How to fix:** Use a wrench (usually 10mm or 13mm) or a socket wrench to loosen and pull out each bolt. Cover the holes with the supplied plastic caps (found in the manual bag). **Save the bolts** for future moves. Once removed, the drum should move freely when pushed by hand.

#### 2. Level the Washing Machine on a Solid Floor

An unlevel machine is the most common cause of shaking in older units. Even a slight tilt can cause the drum to spin unevenly.

- **Tools needed:** A bubble level and an adjustable wrench or a 19mm open-end wrench (for Samsung’s locking nuts).

- **The floor matters:** The machine must be on a **hard, flat, and solid surface**. Avoid rubber anti-vibration pads (they can amplify wobbling). Do **not** install on carpet or soft flooring.

- **Step-by-step leveling:**

    - Place the bubble level on top of the machine (side-to-side and front-to-back).

    - Locate the four adjustable legs. Turn the **lock nut** (upper part) counterclockwise to loosen it.

    - Turn the **leg** (lower part) clockwise to raise the machine or counterclockwise to lower it.

    - Adjust the front legs first. The machine should have a very slight backward tilt (about 1 degree) so it doesn't walk forward. Then adjust the back legs.

    - Once level, tighten the lock nut firmly against the washer’s base to prevent the leg from vibrating loose.

    - **The diagonal rock test:** Push down on opposite corners (front-left and back-right). The machine should not rock. Repeat for the other diagonal.

#### 3. Check the Load Balance and Type

Samsung washers use high-speed spinning (up to 1400 RPM). An unbalanced load is a very common trigger for shaking.

- **Overloading:** Stuffing too many clothes prevents them from tumbling freely. The drum tries to spin a solid mass, causing violent shakes. Reduce the load size—the drum should be no more than 3/4 full for most cycles.

- **Underloading:** Washing a single heavy item (like a bath mat, comforter, or one pair of jeans) can cause imbalance because the item clings to one side of the drum. Add 3-4 towels or similar items to counterbalance.

- **Mixed heavy/light items:** Washing heavy towels with lightweight shirts will cause the towels to fall to the bottom while shirts float. Sort laundry by weight.

- **Clumping:** Bed sheets or large blankets can wrap around one side of the drum. Pause the cycle, manually untangle the load, and redistribute it evenly.

#### 4. Inspect Internal Suspension Components

If the machine is level and properly loaded but still shakes, internal parts may be worn. Samsung washers use either **springs + shock absorbers** (front-load) or a **suspension rod system** (top-load).

- **For front-load washers:** Unplug the machine. Remove the back panel or tilt the machine forward (with help) to access the bottom. Look at the **shock absorbers** (black or white cylinders with rods). If any are leaking fluid, cracked, or have excessive play, replace them as a pair (both left and right).

- **For top-load washers:** Remove the rear access panel. Check the **four suspension rods** (long metal rods with plastic cones at the top). If the plastic cones are flattened, cracked, or covered in black dust, the rods have failed. Also, press down hard on the drum from the top—if it bounces more than once or makes a clunking noise, the rods need replacement.

- **Counterweight bolts:** Inside the front or top panel, there are heavy concrete or plastic counterweights bolted to the drum. Over time, these bolts can loosen. Open the panel and check that all counterweight bolts are tight.

#### 5. Examine the Feet and Floor

Sometimes the solution is simpler than it seems.

- **Damaged feet:** The rubber pads on the bottom of the adjustable legs can wear out or fall off. If missing, the metal leg vibrates directly against the floor. Replace the feet (available at Samsung parts stores) or use adhesive felt pads designed for appliances.

- **Floor flex:** Stand next to the machine during spin. Does the floor itself vibrate or bounce? Wooden floors with weak joists can flex. In this case, install a 3/4-inch plywood base under the machine to distribute the weight, or move the washer to a concrete floor location.

- **Shipping bolt leftovers:** Double-check that no small parts from the transit bolts (like the plastic spacers) are stuck under the drum. Remove the lower front panel and inspect.

#### 6. Run a Calibration Mode (For Digital Inverters)

Samsung’s newer “Digital Inverter” and “Quick Drive” models have a self-calibration feature that resets the drum’s balance sensors.

- **How to calibrate (front-load):** Remove all clothes. Turn off the machine. Press and hold the **Spin** and **Temp** buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds until “CB” (Calibration Balance) appears on the display. Press **Start/Pause**. The drum will rotate slowly for 2-3 minutes. Wait for it to finish and turn off automatically.

- **How to calibrate (top-load with dial):** Turn off, then press and hold **Water Level** and **Temp** (or **Delay End** and **Spin**) for 3 seconds until “CB” shows. Press Start.

#### When to Call a Professional

If you have completed all the above steps—transit bolts removed, machine level, load balanced, suspension and shocks intact, calibration done—and the machine still shakes violently, the issue could be:

- **A cracked drum spider:** The metal arm holding the inner drum is broken. You’ll hear a loud metal scraping sound.

- **A failed bearing:** The drum will feel rough when turned by hand, and there may be a grinding noise.

- **Main control board failure:** The board isn’t regulating spin speed correctly.

In these cases, the repair cost may exceed the value of the machine. For a machine under 5 years old, contact Samsung support. For older units, consider replacing it.

By systematically working through these steps—from simple transit bolts to internal shocks—you can fix 95% of shaking issues in a Samsung washing machine without a service call.