How to Troubleshoot & Replace Bosch AP4324453 / 00667489 Door Boot Gasket

Replaced it! The instructions for getting the last spring clamp on that came with the replacement part were very helpful. Struggled for 20 minutes, then read the directions. Done in five. Go figure. Also, needed to remove the drum weights. The bottom mounting bolts kept sliding out. Held them with a little duct tape until snug. 

Removed the top, detached the control panel (but left it plugged in), removed the door. Took out the old gasket fairly easily (do the front first, then remove the panel that the door closes into). Decided that the gap between the concrete ballasts and the inner seal was too small for my fingers, so removed the concrete ballasts (that's why I needed the sockets). Wiped clean, then seated the gasket on the inside, put on the new clamp (I could do that with one person). Replaced concrete ballasts. Replaced panel, then seated the gasket on the outside. Put on the new clamp (needed two people and two sets of needlenose pliers to stretch the spring enough). Replaced front panel, control panel, and top panel. Definitely needed two people to put on the second spring clamp. If we'd know what we were doing, we could have done it in 30 minutes, but it took about an hour. 

I had to take off a few parts to access the boot. I took out the boot, which was fairly easy. Instructions indicated I had to reroute a tube , which was easy, but I needed to also remove the top of the washer to access the area. I watched a you tube video before buying the part and attempting this myself. The most difficult part was replacing the clamp springs. I googled this after failing a dozen times. http://fixitnow.com/wp/2010/10/25/tips-for-installing-the-spring-loaded-door-gasket-ring-on-a-bosch-washing-machine/ I needed a star head screwbit and a flat head to stretch the spring. 

Once we received the replacement seal which came with instructions and new spring clamps I was expecting to have a tough time given the space you have to work with. After removing the old seal which was quite easy I began by stretching the seal around the drum making sure the position tab was at the top of the drum per the instructions it was a little tight getting the seal between the drum and the concrete weights I next put the spring seal on after applying some dish liquid to it. I was surprised it went on quit easy. Next I attached the seal to the door frame and putting the spring on that was a little more difficult it kept popping off just as I would have it stretched to ware the spring seats into the door frame. With my wife's help holding it in place at the sides of the frame I was able to get it on. 

My husband travels a lot and with two kids and two large dogs in the house, I can't leave repairs for when he comes back home. I like to fix things but it has always been little stuff. I was a little intimidated with this repair since I had never done anything like this before. If I did it wrong, I would have water issues not to mention a cranky husband plus a repair bill. I checked out a youtube video and set to work. It really wasn't hard at all. The hardest part of the whole thing was getting the spring back in place. I spent way too much time trying to get it on. Once I got one side on then the other popped off or I couldn't get it stretched far enough to get it into place. I then decided to cheat a little by opening up one end of the wire holding the spring to release it. I then was able to get it completely around the gasket groove. I then stretched the spring back onto the wire and closed it. Took way less time and it seems solid. I ran my first load of laundry with baited breath. Perfect, everything ran perfect. Woo Hoo!! Girl power. 

Replaced boot gasket. I had to remove the top,front and counter weights from the unit in order to have enough room to get the rear clamp back on, but the assembly/reassembly was not difficult. This model does not have a kickplate so look for twos screws at the very bottom under the middle of the front cover in order to remove it. Hardest part was replacing the from clamp. Helps to have two people, one to hold the gasket and clamp in place while the other spreads the spring as much as possible to get it in place. 

We unscrewed the top control panel, then unscrewed the front panel. We took off the door, but I do not think that was absolutely necessary. Once the front panel was removed, we removed the counter weights. This allowed for more room to work. We removed the old door gasket. Install the new gasket rear portion first, then put the weights and front panel back on. Once this was done we secured the front portion of the boot gasket. The most difficult part of this job is installing the wire/spring attachment. We were finally able to attach the wire/spring using to people stretching each end of the spring with needle nose pliers and one person holding the top of the wire onto the gasket so it would not slip off. 

Removed & replace front loading washer door gasket. Removal was simple. Installation of interior seal took some time and patience. Installing the inner seal wire spring was a real hassle, finally requiring removal of upper control panel to access top of seal so that I could get some vice grips and leverage on the wire spring to get it installed. After that the outer seal and spring were a snap. 

Replaced with part ordered here. 

I need it to remove the upper control panel, door ( T-15 torx drive) and also the right side weight balance to have more room to insert the new inner spring ring. I used two needle nose vise grip to hold each end of the spring apart I was able to insert the ring inside the groove and it work great I also did the same for the outer spring ring.