Maytag washer out of balance? (Problem Solved!)

Does your Maytag washing machine shake out of balance when you start your laundry?

Or does it work normally from start but after a short while, it goes out of balance causing your Maytag washing machine to shake?

If this is the first time your Maytag washer has gone out of balance, or if it happens often, that’s a sign that something is not right.

So the question you may ask is, why does your Maytag washing machine go unbalanced?

Improper loading of the drum or an unleveled floor can occasionally cause your Maytag washer to go out of balance. However, if your washer is properly loaded and on a leveled floor but it still goes out of balance, chances are that your drum bearings, suspension rods, shock absorbers, shaft, or snubber ring may be faulty.

You need to fix this problem on your Maytag washing machine because excessive vibrations can cause your washer to break down completely.

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Why is my Maytag washer out of balance? (Troubleshooting)

Maytag washers can go out of balance when you run a wash or spin cycle due to a number of reasons.

Your Maytag washer goes out of balanced if your clothes are not evenly distributed in the drum or if you have your washer on an irregular/unleveled surface.

These reasons are usually temporal and easy to fix.

However, if you properly load your washer, have it on a level surface, and your Maytag washer is still unbalanced, then the problem could be a mechanical issue in need of attention.

Let’s explore these 10 common reasons why your Maytag washer is out of balance and how you can fix the problem.

1. Uneven distribution of clothes in the drum

For your Maytag washer’s drum to work smoothly during the spin cycle, the clothes in it should be evenly distributed.

If your Maytag top load washer starts banging against the sides of your washer immediately after the spin cycle begins, before the speed increases, then it’s likely that the load has not been evenly distributed.

Overloading your washer beyond its capacity or filling the drum with oversized fabrics can also cause unbalance during spin cycles.

Aside from overloading, a very small amount of clothes can create an unbalanced situation.

When you have an unbalanced load, your Maytag washer will display an F0 E5 or ob Error Code.

To fix an unbalanced load during spinning in a Maytag washing machine, pause the cycle, rearrange or sort the clothes in the drum, reduce some clothes if it’s overloaded, and start the cycle.

Tips for loading Maytag washer drum:

Always check your Maytag user manual for the right amount of load suitable for each wash.
Use a washbag for small items or items that may contain foreign objects
Always confirm that you are using the correct wash and spin settings

2. Washer is on an Unleveled surface

When your front-load Maytag washing machine is on an uneven or unleveled surface, it can go out of balance.

Your Maytag washer needs an even and leveled ground to smoothly spin and operate.

An Imbalance floor causes the washer to shake violently and go out of balance.

To fix a Maytag washing machine on an unleveled surface, adjust all the legs of your washer such that your washer is standing flat and firm. You can also use rubber anti-vibration pads to control the surface on which your Maytag washer sits.

You can usually relevel the washer by tipping forward and resting them back on the floor.

Tips

Ensure that you check the level on all sides using a spirit level.
Take off the front access panel to untighten the loc nuts that hold and control the four legs of the washer.

3. Shipping bolts may still be present

If your Maytag washing machine is new and it’s getting unbalanced, it’s likely that the shipping bolts are still in place.

Shipping bolts are usually located in the back of your Maytag washer to keep the tub secure during transport.

If they are not removed before use, your washer will be unbalanced and spin violently.

The shipping bolts are usually located at the back of your washer

You can refer to your user manual to get the location of the shipping bolts in your Maytag washer model and use a wrench to remove them.

4. There is clothes or object caught in the tub

During wash or spin cycles, clothes can get stuck below the tub or between the main agitator and the inner tub and causing your Maytag washer to go off balance.

Foreign objects such as a bra wire, a coin, or buttons can also get stuck which will make your washer unbalanced anytime you run a spin cycle.

To address this issue, you need to inspect under and around the center agitator to ensure there isn’t any fabric or object stuck there.

If you find that there’s any material stuck then try pulling it out gently.

You may have to remove the agitator and inspect if no coin or wire has found its way underneath.

5. Bearings are worn out

The bearings on a Maytag front load washer are usually located between the tub spindle and the motor shaft and they support the smooth movement of the drum.

With time they can get worn out and even drop out on their own.

If your Maytag washer is out of balance, it could be that your bearings have reached their limit, and it’s time for a replacement.

6. Shock absorbers have worn out

Maytag front load washers have shock absorbers that are usually connected to the outer tub and the base of the washer.

Just like suspensions, the shock absorbers don’t last forever but can wear out from the continuous of your Maytag washer.

You can inspect the shock absorbers by opening the back panel and looking below the washer to see if they have become weak or damaged.

Also, check for signs of leaking fluid in the shock absorbers that can be a sign that they have gone bad.

Washing machine shock absorbers can be easily replaced without external assistance.

But if you can’t replace them yourself, then get help from an appliance technician.

7. Suspension rods are damaged

Suspension rods in your Maytag washer are responsible for dampening the movement of the wash tub.

With time, they can get worn out, weak, and even broken such that they can’t perform their role.

When the suspension rods get weak or damaged your washer will shake and move anytime you run a spin cycle and go out of balance.

You need to open the top panel and inspect to see if there are any times of wear or damage to the suspension rods.

If they appear damaged or weak, you will need to replace them.

8. Damaged snubber ring

Your Top load Maytag washer has a rubber ring that lies between the base of the outer tub and the washer’s base.

It serves as a cushion and prevents the tub from direct contact with the base.

If the ring is damaged or worn out, it can be the reason why your Maytag washer is unbalanced, and you will need to replace it.

9. Corroded Shaft

The inner tub on your Maytag washing machine sits on a metallic shaft.

This shaft needs to be in a good condition at all times but with time, it can get corroded by water and detergent fins way to them.

To check if the shaft is in good condition, open the lid of your Top load Maytag washer, and lift the tub up and down.

The inner tub should move about ¾ inches.

If it doesn’t move at all, then the shaft is probably corroded and gummed up.

A corroded shaft can be fixed but it involves some technical handiness.

If you can’t carry out this repair by yourself, then get an appliance technician to do that for you.

10. Broken dampening strap

Most Maytag top load washers have four rubber straps that hold the tub firmly to the 4 corners of the washer frame.

Again, these rubber-dampening straps undergo wear and tear and once they get damaged, your Maytag washer will be unbalanced during spinning.

We advise that you replace all four straps even if you find out that only one of them is damaged.

Conclusion

You don’t need to panic if your Maytag washing machine goes out of balance, because it may not be a huge problem.

In the worst-case scenario, you may have to replace some broken mechanical problems.

We hope that our article will help you fix the unbalanced movements of your Maytag washer.

Start with investigating the temporal reasons first and if the issue isn’t resolved, then you can go ahead and dig into the mechanical reasons we explained.

Other helpful posts on our blog:

Maytag washer out of balance? (Problem Solved!)

Why is my Maytag washer out of balance? (Troubleshooting)