How to change the shock absorbers of a Zanussi washing machine

Any modern washing machine is equipped with a high-quality shock absorption system so that excessive vibration during washing and spinning cannot damage the “home assistant”. The washing tub is supported at the bottom by dampers, while the top is held in place by springs. Unfortunately, this system is not perfect, so over time it may begin to fail. If you notice that your washer has started to make a strange noise during its cycle, wobble or even bounce, then most likely you need to replace your Zanussi washing machine shock absorbers. Let's figure out how to properly test and replace this important unit.

Let's get acquainted with the parts that need to be replaced

Removing old dampers and replacing them with new parts is very simple if you carefully follow our instructions. This does not even require any special tools other than those that can be found in any home. At the same time, self-repair will allow you to save on calling a technician, who may charge several thousand rubles to replace this unit.

First of all, you need to carefully study the design of the element to make it easier to work with. In equipment from the Zanussi brand you can find friction dampers, which have a fairly simple design.

• Frame.
• Piston.
• A movable pad through which the spacer is fixed.
• Spacer.
• Guide.

Sliding surface.

Each of these parts is necessary to effectively handle vibration. The element body itself is stationary, while the piston extends slightly from the body, and the guide ensures the movement of each element in the required direction. Parts of the workpiece move to create resistance. As a result, the damper takes on the increased vibration of the washing tank and dampens it so that other key components of the washing machine do not suffer from high loads. In the newest “home assistants” from Zanussi, the dampers come without age-related springs, and therefore last approximately 5-8 years.

As for the old SMs of this company, you can find classic shock absorbers in them, consisting of a body, a cylinder and a movable rod. In this device you can also find a rubber seal with a special non-drying lubricant necessary to ensure perfect gliding.

The damper itself is attached from below to the body of the device using a silent block, while from above the movable pusher-piston is screwed to the washing machine tank. Near the dampers there are special sliding supports placed there to ensure longitudinal movement. And to prevent axial displacement, these supports are secured with dowels.

We make sure that the shock-absorbing system requires repair

As already mentioned, on average, original dampers work effectively for 5-8 years, and sometimes even longer. At the same time, the shock-absorbing unit can last only a few years if the user does not follow the basic operating rules. What generally affects the condition of dampers?

• Wear and tear during active use of the device.
• Failure due to excessive loads and continuous increased vibration.
• Washing out technical lubricant from the damper body.
• Failure to comply with rules and precautions, for example, frequent overloading of the device, installation on an uneven floor, lack of alignment to the building level, and so on.

The last point should be examined in more detail. It includes regular overload of the drum, for example, washing 7 kilograms of clothes when the manufacturer has set a limit of 5 kilograms, frequent spinning at maximum speed, processing clothes when an imbalance occurs in the drum instead of eliminating the imbalance. Each of these reasons individually significantly reduces the service life of the shock-absorbing unit, which can be said about the situation when the user regularly violates all the manufacturer’s recommendations. How to determine that dampers need to be changed?

• The machine began to wobble and vibrate during the spin cycle.
• The device began to make strange noises during operation, such as knocking and rattling.
• The washer bounces in place or even moves around the room by jumping.
• The drive belt regularly falls off the pulley.

A leak appeared from under the hatch due to the fact that the drum regularly hits the body of the device, the rubber seal breaks and water flows out through the damaged cuff during the operating cycle.

Any of these signs can inform the user about dampers that are gradually failing, but there is no need to rush to install new ones, because the problem may be in another key component of the Zanussi washing machine. This is why system diagnostics are needed to accurately identify the problem.

Fortunately, it is very easy to check the quality of dampers at home. To do this, you need to remove the lid of the washing machine, press on the tank so that it drops at least 5 centimeters, and then suddenly release it. If the tank immediately returns to its standard position, then everything is in order. But if the tank begins to swing chaotically in different directions, then the shock-absorbing unit must be urgently changed.

You should not use the machine in this condition, because you risk damaging not only the dampers, but also the bearings with the washing tub. Therefore, if the tank swings for a long time after diagnostics and does not return to its original state, then you need to additionally inspect the racks. You can find them at the bottom of the case, for which the device will have to be partially disassembled.

How to get to the counters?

You can also handle disassembling household appliances with your own hands, even in a situation where you previously had no experience in repairing washing machines. To do this, you need to carefully prepare and strictly follow the instructions.

• Disconnect your Zanussi washing machine from the water supply, sewerage and electricity.
• Disconnect the drain and inlet hoses.
• Move the device away from the wall to make it easier to work with.
• Remove the bolts holding the top panel, and then remove the cover itself.
• Remove the detergent drawer.
• Unscrew all control panel latches.
• Carefully remove the control panel itself.
• Place the machine on the back wall, after placing unnecessary towels or rags under it.
• Remove the clips that hold the bottom of the device in place.
• Open the hatch door and remove the outer rubber seal clamp.
• Thread the cuff into the drum.
• Disconnect the wires from the UBL.
• Remove the front panel CM.

Once you move the front wall of the case aside, you will be able to see the dampers. Typically, repair staff will disassemble household appliances right down to removing the washing tub to make the stands easier to remove, but you can shorten the process and change the dampers this way by laying the equipment on the floor and without dismantling the tank.

We dismantle damaged parts and install new ones

The last step in replacing a damaged shock-absorbing unit is removing the dampers themselves. This is easy to do from below, where you only need to loosen the fasteners, but from above you will have to tinker a little, since there the parts are secured with special plastic holders that are not so easy to remove. What should I do for this?

• Take a 13mm drill bit.
• Prepare an ordinary screwdriver.
• Carefully drill through the fasteners.

After dismantling, you need to take the damaged items as an example to the store to make it easier to find a suitable spare part. You can also simply rewrite the serial number of the washer to use it to look for a replacement.

Be sure to clean the mounting locations of the parts before installing the dampers there. Also, after cleaning, it is advisable to treat the grooves with a special lubricant. After the described procedures, you can install a new rack, fix it with bolts from below, and then attach it to the tank through the holes prepared in advance.

After completing the replacement, you will need to assemble the “home assistant” according to our instructions in reverse order. To do this, you need to attach the front wall, connect all the wires to the hatch locking device, return the rubber seal to its normal position, secure it with a clamp, and also put the bottom of the machine in place. Finally, all that remains is to install the washing machine in a vertical position, fix the control panel and insert the cuvette for household chemicals.

At this stage, you can check the dampers again by pressing your hands on the washing tub and thus checking the speed of its recovery to normal condition. If everything is in order, then you can cover the hole with the top panel and run a test work cycle to make sure that the device no longer makes noise during operation, does not bounce or change its location.