Replacing shock absorbers on a Siemens washing machine

Each washing machine has a shock-absorbing system. Dampers are fixed under the washing tank, and springs are stretched on top. This is necessary so that during the washing and spinning process the machine "dampens" the oscillations and vibrations that occur when the drum spins. If the equipment has lost its previous noiselessness and stability, and has started knocking and "jumping", it means that the dampers have been damaged and have ceased to cope with their function. In this case, it is recommended to replace the shock absorbers in the washing machine.

How are these elements arranged?

You can replace the shock absorbers at home with your own hands without going to a service center. The main thing is to follow the instructions and observe safety precautions . Ideally, before starting the repair, you should familiarize yourself with the structure and operating principle of the pistons. Modern Siemens machines are equipped with friction dampers, which are optimally suited for machines with a centrifugal stroke. Such racks consist of several elements. The key ones are:

• Fixed body,
• A moving piston pusher, slightly “protruding” from the body,
• A movable plate through which the spacer is fixed,
• A guide that is under tension and ensures the movement of the mechanism in the desired direction,
• Sliding surface located between the lining and the guide,
• Spacer.

The damper functions due to the resistance force that occurs when its components move. The well-coordinated mechanism smoothly dampens the vibration received from the spinning drum, taking on the main centrifugal "impact". Unlike previously used shock absorbers, modern struts do not have return springs, so they last longer.

Some Siemens models are equipped with shock absorbers. These racks have a fairly standard design: a cylinder is placed inside a fixed housing, and a moving rod is fixed in the latter. For ideal interaction, gaskets are provided, rubber and polymer, treated with a special lubricant. They provide optimal sliding, smoothing out mechanical vibrations.

The damper is fixed in two places: the body is attached to the bottom of the machine using a silent block (rubber-metal hinge-sleeve), and the movable rod is screwed to the washing tank. Longitudinal movement is necessarily adjusted, for which sliding supports are installed nearby. The latter are secured with keys to prevent axial displacement.

How does a shock absorber failure manifest itself?

On Siemens washing machines, the original shock absorbers serve reliably for 5-7 years on average. However, some dampers "work" longer without any problems, while others, on the contrary, barely last 1-3 years. Everything depends on the operation of the machine and the quality of assembly. The following reasons lead to the breakdown of dampers:

• Natural wear of rubber components (seals),
• Long-term loads and constant vibrations,
• Drying out or washing out of the lubricant provided in the shock absorber housing,
• Violations of siemens operating rules.

Most often, premature damage to shock absorbers is caused by careless operation of equipment. Constantly overloading the drum, long spinning at maximum speed and washing with imbalance significantly reduce the service life of the racks. You can suspect a breakdown of shock absorbers by the following "symptoms":

• The Siemens body vibrates strongly, especially when the spin cycle is turned on at high speed,
• The washing machine constantly knocks and “jumps” around the room,
• The drive belt often comes off the pulley,
• Leaks occur through the hatch (the drum hits the body of the washing machine; the rubber seal wears out and starts to leak water).

You can't blame the dampers right away - other breakdowns have similar signs. But you can't do without checking the shock absorption system. Testing the struts is quite simple: remove the top cover, press on the tank and evaluate its behaviour. If the tank smoothly returns to its place, then there are no problems with the shock absorbers. When the drum reacts to pressure with jerks or chaotic swings, it is necessary to change the pistons.

You can finally make sure that the dampers are in good working order after inspecting them. But first, the racks need to be dismantled. This is difficult to do, but it is quite possible at home.

Opening access to details

Dismantling the dampers will require partial disassembly of the machine. Therefore, the repair begins with preparing the equipment: disconnect Siemens from communications, fix the hoses and cord on the back wall, and then move the washing machine to the center of the room. Then follow the instructions:

• Unscrew the top cover,
• We take out the dispenser,
• We unscrew the bolts and other fasteners “hidden” behind the tray that hold the instrument panel,
• Disconnect the board from the case (be careful with the wiring - it must not be damaged),
• We lower the machine onto the back wall,
• Loosen the screws that secure the bottom,
• Open the hatch and remove the outer clamp from the cuff,
• We insert the cuff into the drum,
• We detach the “end” from the body, simultaneously disconnecting the wiring from the UBL.

After removing the front panel, you can see the dampers - two posts on which the tank is fixed. Ideally, to disconnect the shock absorbers, you need to continue disassembling the machine until you remove the washing tank. But self-taught craftsmen allow you to simplify the task and remove the pistons now, when Siemens is in a "lying" position with the drum not removed. Yes, it will be more difficult, but much faster.

We change parts

To replace the dampers, you need to remove the old ones - unhook them from the body and the washing tank. From below, everything is simple: just loosen the fasteners. From above, special plastic holders are used to fix the racks. They are not unscrewed in the usual way, so when dismantling the shock absorbers, we do the following:

• Take a 13 mm drill,
• Insert the drill into the screwdriver,
• We carefully drill the fasteners, releasing the pistons.

Old shock absorbers are not repairable. They are disconnected and disposed of in the established order. Afterwards, the released seat is cleaned and treated with grease-sealant. Then new dampers are mounted: from below they are screwed with bolts to the machine body, and from above they are hooked through previously drilled holes to the tank.

Having completed the installation of the dampers, we screw the previously removed elements back into place and return the Siemens to the vertical position. Be sure to check the new shock absorbers by running a test wash. If the washing machine stops vibrating and knocking during spinning, the replacement of the racks was successful.