Our Kenmore (made by Frigidaire) front-loading washer (417.41142000) is now very noisy while spinning, and I suspect that the bearing is crapping out -- and, no, we have never used non-HE detergent in it.
The bearing is available from Sears or the other appliance parts vendors only as part of a whole shell-and-bearing assembly costing $150 or more (plus expensive shipping because of its size).
Questions:
- Is a suitable bearing in fact available from, e.g., an engineering supplies vendor?
- Is replacing the bearing (and, if push comes to shove, the whole shell-and-bearing assembly) all that is needed? Or is it probably necessary to replace the tub as well (about the same price again) because the shaft will have suffered damage too?
Perce