LG Washer Making Loud Noise: Motor, Bearing, and Spider Arm
Quick Answer
A loud LG washer usually indicates a worn tub bearing or a corroded spider arm. The most common fix for a rumbling noise is replacing the rear tub bearing, while a grinding sound often requires a new spider arm assembly.
Most people ignore that rumbling for months until the bearing seizes and takes the whole outer tub with it. I've seen LG spider arms crack clean through because somebody put off this repair too long. If you're hearing grinding or banging during spin, you're probably a few weeks away from a really expensive decision about whether to replace the whole drum assembly or just buy a new machine.
LG Washer Making Loud Noise: Motor, Bearing, and Spider Arm
LG washers are Direct Drive, meaning there's no belt to replace. That's actually good news for most repairs. But the tradeoff is that when noise problems do show up, it's almost always the tub bearing or that cast aluminum spider arm. Both are real repairs. Budget $150-350 for parts if you're doing it yourself, or $400-700 if you're calling a tech.
Most Likely Causes
Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:
Bearing25%
Spider arm corrosion20%
Hall sensor15%
Foreign object15%
Normal DD clunk15%
Pump10%
Symptoms You May Notice
A deep rhythmic rumbling that starts around 800 RPM and gets way worse as the spin cycle ramps up, sometimes vibrating the whole floor.
Loud grinding or metal-on-metal banging during spin, sometimes bad enough that the machine actually walks across the floor.
High-pitched whining or screeching that kicks in specifically during drain, not during wash or spin.
A clunking sound when you manually rotate the drum by hand, especially noticeable if the drum feels loose or wobbly when you grab it and wiggle it side to side.
Rhythmic slapping during spin that's kind of like a playing card in bicycle spokes, changes speed as the drum ramps up.
Can you reset a Lg washer to clear the NOISE code?
Unplug the washer from the wall. Wait a full 5 minutes, not just 60 seconds. LG's motor controller needs time to fully discharge and reset properly. Plug back in. Don't immediately run a full cycle. Press Power once to wake it up, then run a Spin Only cycle on the lowest speed setting first to check if the noise is still present before you commit to a full load.
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
ComponentComponent Under Test
Expected Range7–12 ohms
ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fix a loud LG washer?
Depends heavily on what's wrong. Foreign object? Free. Drain pump is $30-60 in parts and about 45 minutes of work. Hall sensor runs $20-40 for the part. Tub bearing kit is $60-120 in parts but it's a 3-4 hour job if you've never done it before. The spider arm is where it gets painful. If it's cracked, you're often looking at $150-250 for the part, and sometimes the whole rear tub too, pushing total parts cost to $300-400 easily. Add labor if you're not doing it yourself and you're looking at $500-700 all in.
Can I keep using my LG washer if it's making noise?
Short answer: for a little while, but you're borrowing time. Foreign object? Pull it out and you're fine. Bearing or spider arm? Every load you run makes it worse. A worn bearing gets hot, and eventually it can seize mid-cycle and damage the stator or outer tub in ways that cost way more to fix. I've seen people run a noisy washer for six more months and turn a $200 repair into a $600 one. Get it looked at soon, seriously.
Is the LG spider arm problem common?
Honestly, yeah. It's one of the more common LG-specific failures I see, especially in houses with hard water. The spider arm is cast aluminum, and aluminum corrodes when it's constantly wet and exposed to hard minerals. LG's been using this design for years and it's got a known weakness right where the arms meet the center hub. I replaced three of these last month alone. If you're in Phoenix, Vegas, or anywhere with mineral-heavy water and your LG is over 5 years old, keep an ear out for it.
What does a bad tub bearing sound like compared to a bad spider arm?
People mix these up all the time. A bad bearing sounds like a low rumbling growl that gets louder as spin speed increases, kind of like driving on a worn tire at highway speed. Steady and rhythmic. A bad spider arm sounds more like knocking or banging, sometimes intermittent at first, then constant. The drum might also feel loose if you grab it and wiggle it side to side. Bearing noise is smooth and progressive. Spider arm noise is clunky and random. Both get worse, not better.
Is it worth fixing an LG washer with a broken spider arm?
Depends on the age. Under 6-7 years old, usually yes. The parts are real money but still less than a new washer. Over 8-10 years old and you're looking at $400-600 in parts and labor, that math starts getting hard to justify. Also worth knowing: if the spider arm's gone, the bearing is probably worn too, because a wobbling drum destroys bearings fast. You might end up fixing both at once. Get a quote, then price out a comparable new machine and make the call based on real numbers.
Models Known to Experience NOISE Errors
This repair applies to most Lg washers with this error code. Common model numbers include: