Repetitive and time-consuming, we dread doing the laundry just as much as you. We don’t usually put much thought into it—that is until something goes wrong.
Suddenly, you’re looking for all the possible causes behind your Samsung washer’s excessive shaking. Not to worry, we have your back.
Here, we’ll not only delve into its most common causes but we’ll also provide easy-to-follow instructions to help you stop your washing machine from shaking once and for all.
What is causing my Samsung washer to shake violently?
A Samsung washer will shake violently due to improper installation. If you run a cycle without removing the shipping bolts or leveling the washer, it will vibrate excessively during operations.
| Causes | Solutions |
| Improper Installation | • Unplug the washer. • Move your unit to access the back panel. Then, check if the shipping bolts are still attached. • Loosen each shipping bolt using the supplied spanner. • Slide the bolts and their spacers upward. Pull them out to remove them. • Install the supplied plastic covers on the holes. |
| Improper Leveling | Front-Load Washers: • Place the spirit level along the seam of the washer to check if it’s level from front to back. • Then, set it on top of the lid to check if it’s level from side to side. • Look at the position of the bubble each time and determine which leveling leg needs to be adjusted. • Use a wrench to rotate the leveling leg’s clamp nut in a clockwise direction. • Turn the height nut clockwise to lower the leg and counterclockwise to raise it. • Once leveled, rotate the clamp nut counterclockwise to secure the leveling leg. |
| Top-Load Washers: • Fill the tub with water until it reaches right below the pulsator level. • Check the position of the pulsator. If it is centered, your washer is leveled correctly. • If it’s off-center, manually adjust the height of the leveling legs to keep the washer balanced. • Use Channellock pliers to rotate the leveling leg. Turn it clockwise to lower the height or counterclockwise to raise it. | |
| Uneven Weight Distribution | • Open the washer door. • Redistribute the clothes more evenly inside the tub. • Remove or add more items to keep a balanced load. • Don’t forget to check the laundry tags, and remove items that aren’t machine washable. • Maintain at least a hand’s width of space between the top of the load and the top of the tub. • Restart the spin cycle and check if the washer still vibrates. |
| Faulty Shock Absorber | • Unplug the washer and disconnect it from the water supply. • Move the washer to access the rear panel. Unmount the back pane, and set it aside. • Unscrew the bolts on the shock absorber, and carefully pull the component out of the washer. • Push in the new shock absorber to reduce its height. • Align the bottom socket of the new component with the bottom tab. Then, reinstall the correct bolt to secure the component into place. • Insert the top socket into the mounting tab and reinstall the final bolt to lock it into place. • Reinstall the rear access panel. Then, reconnect it to its power and water supply. • Turn on the washer, and run a cycle to test if it still shakes excessively. |
Improper Installation
Manufacturers use shipping bolts to secure the drum and drum suspension of your washer during transit.
You must remove these bolts before starting operations to prevent damage to the appliance’s internal parts. It’s an important step in the installation process, which you shouldn’t skip.
If you don’t remove these bolts, your Samsung front-load washer will shake violently during cycles. You will also hear loud noises from your appliance.
| Quick Note: Top-load models don’t come with shipping bolts. Hence, you can look for other potential causes of your unit’s excessive shaking. |
Solution: To remove the shipping bolts on a Samsung front-load washer, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Unplug the washer.
- Step 2: Check if the shipping bolts are still attached to your washer.
You can access the back and do a quick visual inspection to confirm that the bolts have yet to be removed. Or, open the washer door and carefully push the drum.
It should have a little bounce to it like a spring. If it feels very sturdy when you push against the drum, the shipping bolts are still attached.
- Step 3: Loosen each shipping bolt from the back of your washer using the spanner that Samsung supplies.
Some models have four while others have three. On FlexWash models, you must remove seven shipping bolts.
- Step 4: Slide the bolts and their spacers upward. Then, pull them out to remove them.
Keep the bolts in case you’ll move or sell the appliance. You can always reattach the bolts to secure your washer during transport.
- Step 5: Install the supplied plastic covers on the holes.
Improper Leveling
Leveling is another important step in the installation process, which you shouldn’t skip. Even if you set up your washer on a solid, stable, and non-slippery surface, you should still check if your unit is balanced.
If your washer isn’t leveled correctly, it will rock back and forth during operations. Over time, it can cause permanent damage to your appliance.
Front-Load Samsung Washers
Use a spirit level to check if your front-load washer is balanced. You can also use the level to determine how to adjust the height of the washer.
To check if the washer is balanced from front to back, place the level along the seam of the unit. If the bubble moves to the front, you must lower the leveling legs.
Place the level on top of the washer near the lid to check if it’s level from side to side. If the bubble moves to the left, you either need to lower the left leg or raise the right one.
Solution: Follow these steps to level a front-load Samsung washer:
- Step 1: Place the spirit level on top of your washer to check if it’s level from side to side. Then, put it on the side, along the seam of your unit, to check if it’s level from front to back.
The bubble in your spirit level will be positioned between the leveling marks if your appliance is balanced. If it is not, it will rise to the higher side.
- Step 2: Use a wrench to loosen the clamp nut of the leveling leg.
- Step 3: Turn the height nut clockwise to lower the leg and counterclockwise to raise it.
- Step 4: Check if the washer is balanced using the spirit level. Make the necessary adjustments until your unit is leveled on all sides.
- Step 5: Turn the clamp nut counterclockwise to secure the leveling leg.
Top-Load Samsung Washers
If you have a top-load Samsung washer, you don’t need to use a spirit level to determine if your unit is balanced. Instead, you can look at the position of the pulsator while it’s submerged underwater.
Solution: To level a top-load Samsung washer, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Pour water into the tub. Make sure it doesn’t go over the pulsator level.
- Step 2: Check the position of the pulsator.
The pulsator will be centered if the washing machine is leveled correctly. If it is off-center, your washer is off balance and requires adjustment.
- Step 3: Use Channellock pliers to adjust the height of the leveling legs. Turn the leg clockwise to lower its height or counterclockwise to raise it.
Uneven Weight Distribution
If you add too much or not enough laundry, your washer will struggle to spin properly and go off balance. The tub will most likely bang against the washer, causing a lot of noise and shaking.
Aside from overloading or underloading your unit, washing large items on their own can lead to an unbalanced load. Sometimes, they can clump together and make the unit go off balance.
Typically, your Samsung washer will automatically attempt to redistribute the load to keep itself balanced. However, when it fails to do so, it will prompt a UE error code (Samsung washer UE code) and stop the cycle.
Lucky for you, it’s an easy fix. You can add or remove items from the drum to make sure the weight is evenly distributed.
Solution: To rebalance your Samsung washer, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Open the washer door.
- Step 2: Redistribute the clothes more evenly inside the tub.
Remove items to keep a balanced load. Or, add more items evenly around the agitator.
- Step 3: Make sure the tub isn’t overloaded or underloaded. There should be at least a hand’s width of space between the top of the load and the top of the tub.
- Step 4: Restart the spin cycle and check if it’s fixed.
| Tips: • Don’t wash large items on their own (e.g. blankets, curtains, and sheets). • Don’t twist sheets, towels, and other heavy items. • Don’t pack or push the laundry inside the tub. • Always check the laundry to confirm that they are machine washable. Then, remove the items that aren’t. • Maintain at least a hand’s width of space between the top of the load and the top of the tub. |
Faulty Shock Absorber
If you have an old front-load washer, its excessive shaking is most likely caused by a worn-out shock absorber.
Your washer has built-in shock absorbers that minimize vibrations during wash or spin cycles. Over time, they can get damaged or worn out, causing the washer to vibrate excessively.
Solution: To replace a faulty shock absorber on a Samsung washer, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Unplug the washer, and disconnect it from the water supply.
- Step 2: Move the washer to access the rear panel.
- Step 3: Unmount the back panel. Remove it and set it aside.
- Step 4: Unscrew the bolts on the shock absorber. Then, carefully remove the faulty component.
- Step 5: Push in the shock absorber to reduce its height.
- Step 6: Install the new component by aligning the bottom socket with the mounting tab. Then, reinstall the bottom bolt to secure the component into place.
- Step 7: Insert the top socket into the mounting tab and reinstall the final bolt to lock it into place.
- Step 8: Reinstall the rear access panel.
- Step 9: Plug in the washer and turn on its water supply.
- Step 10: Turn on the washer and test if it still shakes excessively during operations.
