Amana Washer Shaking and Loud — What’s Happening
When your Amana washer shakes or makes loud noise during the spin cycle, the machine is usually out of balance. Amana describes this as a condition that causes noise, vibration, reduced spin speed, longer cycle times, and decreased performance. In some top-load models a flashing spin light can also point to a drain hose or installation problem that contributes to vibration and poor spin behavior.
The symptom can come from something simple like overloaded or unevenly distributed laundry, or from mechanical issues like worn suspension parts, a loose inner tub, or damaged bearings. If the spin light is flashing, Amana also recommends checking the drain hose for kinks, blockages, or incorrect installation depth in the standpipe.
Most Likely Causes
- Unbalanced or overloaded laundry An uneven load or too many clothes in the basket is one of the most common causes of shaking during spin.
- Washer not level or feet not firmly on floor If the unit wobbles or the leveling legs are not adjusted correctly, the cabinet will vibrate excessively during spin.
- Worn or damaged suspension parts Shock absorbers, suspension rods, or springs lose their damping over time and let the tub bounce and shake.
- Drain hose kinked, blocked, or inserted too far A drain hose pushed too deep into the standpipe or kinked can leave the spin light on and disrupt proper operation, contributing to vibration and noise.
- Loose inner tub or worn tub wear pad If the mounting hardware or support points are loose or worn, the inner tub shifts and causes loud banging and shaking.
- Defective tub seal or bearing A worn bearing or damaged seal produces grinding noise and lets the tub move excessively during spin.
- Transmission wear or damage If the tub is loose even after confirming the mounting hub and retaining bolts are tight, the transmission may be worn or damaged.
How to Diagnose and Fix
- Run the washer with a properly sized, evenly distributed test load and compare behavior to an empty or deliberately unbalanced load to confirm whether the complaint is load-related.
- Check that all four leveling feet contact the floor evenly and the cabinet does not rock, then adjust and lock the leveling legs as needed.
- Inspect the suspension system by checking shock absorbers or suspension rods for correct position, wear, breakage, or loss of damping, and replace any that are damaged.
- Push down on the tub or basket by hand and release it to see if it bounces excessively or does not settle quickly, which indicates worn suspension components.
- Inspect the drain hose routing to confirm it is not kinked, blocked, or inserted too far into the standpipe (maximum depth varies, standpipe height should be minimum 39 inches and maximum 96 inches).
- Inspect the inner tub mounting hardware and hub for looseness, and check for worn support points or a damaged tub wear pad.
- If the washer has a flashing spin light or other diagnostic indication, enter the machine’s diagnostic mode, retrieve stored codes, and test related functions before replacing parts.
- After any repairs, run the washer through a recalibration or reset cycle where applicable, then retest with a balanced load.
Parts You Might Need
| Part | Notes |
|---|---|
| Suspension rod kit | Amazon | Replaces worn or broken rods that stabilize the tub during spin. |
| Shock absorber or damper | Amazon | Restores damping when the tub bounces excessively or settles slowly. |
| Tub bearing and seal kit | Amazon | Fixes grinding noise and excessive tub movement from a worn bearing. |
| Drain hose | Amazon | Replace if kinked, cracked, or unable to route correctly into the standpipe. |
Related Error Codes
If your appliance also shows a code on the display, these match this problem:
- Amana Washer Dlo error code
- Amana Washer Drn error code
- Amana Washer Du error code
- Amana Washer F5 E2 error code
- Amana Washer F7 E1 error code
- Amana Washer F8 E1 error code
- Amana Washer F8 E2 error code
- Amana Washer F9 E1 error code
- Amana Washer Fd error code
- Amana Washer Hc error code
- Amana Washer Ldl error code
- Amana Washer Ldu error code
When to Call a Pro
If the washer still shakes or makes loud noise after redistributing the load, leveling the machine, and inspecting the drain hose, the problem is likely internal. Replacing suspension components, tub bearings, or a transmission requires disassembly of the cabinet and tub, along with special tools for some models. A qualified appliance technician can enter diagnostic mode, retrieve stored error codes, and determine whether the issue is in the suspension system, tub support hardware, bearings, or transmission before ordering parts.