A grinding noise usually indicates a mechanical failure where metal or hard plastic components are rubbing together under load. Start by spinning the inner drum by hand while the machine is off. If it sounds like a jet engine or feels rough, your main tub bearings have failed and likely need professional replacement.
Look, I've shown up to jobs where someone kept running a grinding washer for three extra weeks, and by then the drum had seized and taken the motor with it. What might've been a $30 pump fix turned into a total loss. The sooner you track down where this noise is coming from, the better your odds of actually saving the machine. And honestly, sometimes it really is just a coin stuck in the pump.
Here's the deal. Nine times out of ten when I get called for a grinding noise, it's either shot bearings or something dumb like a quarter stuck in the pump. But the gap between those two repairs is basically the gap between $8 and $500. So before you panic and start shopping for a new machine, do the hand-spin test first. Takes 30 seconds. Could save you a ton of money.
Most Likely Causes
Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:
Worn or rusted main tub bearings35%
Stripped drive hub or splutch assembly25%
Foreign object caught in the drain pump15%
Worn wash plate or agitator splines15%
Failing drive motor or loose pulley10%
Symptoms You May Notice
A deep roaring or jet-engine sound specifically during high-speed spin. The kind that makes you walk in from the other room to check if something's about to fly apart.
Harsh metal-on-metal scraping during agitation that stops when the cycle pauses between direction changes.
Fine white plastic dust or small metal shavings on the floor directly under the machine. Something is actively disintegrating in there right now.
The drum feels notchy or rough when you try to spin it by hand with the power off, like there's gravel packed into the housing.
Rust-colored water stains on the laundry room floor, which tells you the tub seal has already been leaking into the bearing housing for a while.
Tools Required for Diagnosis
Phillips #2 screwdriverFlathead screwdriverSocket set with 7/16 and 1/2 inch socketsNeedle-nose pliersPutty knife or pry toolFlashlight or headlampTowels or a shallow drain pan for pump accessMultimeter
Diagnostic Checklist
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
ComponentComponent Under Test
Expected Range5–30 ohms
ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.
Replacement Parts
If your diagnostic testing proves the component has failed, you will need a replacement. We recommend OEM parts over aftermarket for water-handling components.
Part Name
OEM Number
Estimated Price
Washing Machine Drive Hub KitW10324651 · $15–$35
W10324651
$15 – $35
Drain Pump AssemblyWH23X28418 · $45–$90
WH23X28418
$45 – $90
Tub Bearing and Seal KitW10435302 · $60–$120
W10435302
$60 – $120
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth fixing a grinding washing machine?
Depends on what broke. If it's a stripped drive hub or something stuck in the pump, absolutely fix it. Parts are cheap and it's an easy call. But if the main tub bearings are shot, you're realistically looking at $400-600 to repair it properly, and that's assuming the tech can even access the bearings without replacing the whole outer tub. For anything older than five or six years, a bearing failure is honestly a pretty clear sign the machine's had a good run. I tell most customers at that point: put that repair money toward a new one.
Can I still use my washer if it makes a grinding noise?
Don't do it. Seriously. A grinding bearing doesn't just get a little worse, it gets way worse, fast. The metal-on-metal friction generates heat, and that heat starts melting nearby plastic components. I've seen customers keep running a grinding machine and by the time they called me, the drum shaft had worn through the spider arm, turning what was a $150 bearing job into a $600 outer tub replacement. Or the motor overheats fighting a seized bearing and burns out completely. Just stop using it until you know what you're dealing with.
Why does my washer grind only during the spin cycle?
That's almost always the main tub bearings. During high-speed spin the drum is running at 800, 1000, sometimes 1200 RPM depending on your machine, and that speed puts massive centrifugal load on the bearing race. If the bearings have lost their grease or started to rust because the tub seal leaked, they'll run OK at slow agitation speeds but start roaring once the RPMs climb. Try this: notice exactly when the noise kicks in. If it only screams at high speed and sounds fine during agitation, bearings are your answer. Pretty much every time.
What does a stripped wash plate sound like?
It's a pretty specific sound once you know it. Kind of a rhythmic ratcheting or chattering that happens during agitation but not during spin. The motor's humming and running fine, but the clothes aren't actually circulating the way they should. Sometimes you can actually watch the wash plate twitch back and forth slightly instead of making full sweeping strokes. Pull the agitator or plate off and check the splines. If they look like worn pencil erasers instead of actual gear teeth, you found your problem.
How much does a washing machine bearing replacement actually cost?
The parts themselves are actually pretty affordable, usually $30-80 for a bearing and seal kit. But the labor is what gets you. On most machines you have to completely disassemble the outer tub to reach the bearings, which is easily 3-4 hours of work at $100/hr or more. So all in, you're looking at $350-600 at a shop. Some Samsung and LG front-loaders have bearing kits specifically designed to be serviceable, which helps. Others, like older Frigidaires, basically require buying a whole new outer tub assembly. Before you authorize any bearing repair, ask your tech which situation you're in.
Models Known to Experience GRINDING-NOISE Errors
This repair applies to most Generic washers with this error code. Common model numbers include: