How to Troubleshoot & Replace Ge AP3884118 / WH05X10009 Suspension Spring

I researched the problem and found that normal wear and tear will cause the Damper shocks and the Suspension spring to fail. I decided to replace all Damper Shocks and the suspension Springs since I had the washer apart already. The Suspension Spring requires a lot of pull to get it in place correctly. I made a hook tool (from political yard sign frame) to hook the old spring to remove and pull the new spring up. It helps to have a second person use leverage (use a short 2x2 board) under the tub to lift it so you are not working against the weight of the tub as well as the spring tension. took about 5 minutes per spring. It helps if you get on a stool or something to get above the spring for better leverage. The Damper shock comes with directions. First they recommend a 6" Crescent wrench opened to 7/8". Mine would not open wide wide enough because the top of the shock where you are to grip is 15/16. I found that a 15/16 Crowfoot wrench on a 3/8 ratchet with an extension would reach into the close space and allow the 90 degree twist to disengage the top of the shock. I used a channel lock plier to dislodge the pin on the bottom end. All went smoothly and my wife is pleased with the result. Took about 2 hrs total. The folks at Appliance Parts Pro did an outstanding job getting the parts out and delivered in short order. The video associated with the Damper Shock was very helpful. Thanks Appliance Parts Pro! 

Replaced all 4 shocks, and 2 suspension springs. The overall fix was easy for the shocks which only require a quarter turn with a cresent wrench to replace. The suspension springs are more difficult because the bottom of the washer drum must be supported due to the substantial weight. I used a car jack to support the drum from the bottom and a long bunge wrapped around the main drive pulley. I.would not have been able to do this as a one person without it. While replacing the suspension parts, I also did the drive pulley belt. It did require some ingenuity to get the new belt on. Some videos show the belt easily winding onto the pulley like a bicycle chain. For mine, I needed to wrap the belt with twine very tightly in one spot and then wind the pulley by hand one revolution, then cut the twine. I was afraid of pinching a finger otherwise. 

After trying a new control board without success, I replaced the entire drum suspension system of this front loading machine. This included the suspension springs from above and the four shocks below. The machine now works as when new (currently 5 years old). I believe the issue was that the shocks had failed and the control system was not able to balance the load enough to take it into high speed spin mode resulting in the damp clothes. 

The repair was not too difficult, but it took three of us. Two to maneuver the tub and one to replace the parts. The weights could have been removed to make this step easier, but we chose not to take the time to remove them. Additionally, washer cabinet is compact and added difficulty to the repair. Actually removing and replacing the damaged parts was straight forward. 

Removed top cover and found suspension spring broken ordered 2 to replace both springs installed and straighten the gasket reassembled just like new now hope to get another 10 years out of machine 

Used a 2x4 across the top of the washer and a ratcheting strap to take the load off of the remaining spring. Replaced both springs, no problem easy fix. 

Wife said washer door seal is twisted, we figured we overloaded it. Started disassembling to fix door seal and noticed the broken spring lying in the bottom. With spring broken, the tub shifts causing door seal to twist. Ordered two springs figuring if one stressed to failure the other might follow soon. I used a small hydraulic bottle jack to lift the tub up and a hooked rod to stretch the springs into place. Note: When my spring broke and the tub dropped, it pinched & cut one of the wires running from the inverter board to the motor. So I had to splice a wire too. 

The drum on the washer dropped. The top cover is easily removed. Immediately it was obvious that one of the drum suspension springs was broken. My washer is about 7 years old. So while I had it open I decided to replace a few other parts as well. Sometimes the washer klunked, so I purchased new shocks along with the spring. The tension spring on the door boot was rusty and would also fail soon, so I replaced that too. I'm a single women in my early 50's. The drum was too heavy to lift and install the suspension spring without help. I live alone so help wasn't readily available. I needed to make the drum lighter. Therefore, I removed the counter weights on the top and front of the drum. That made it considerably lighter. Next, I rigged up a simple foot lever so I could lift the drum with my foot, leaving my hands free to replace the springs. Once the drum was lighter, and I had the foot lever in place, replacing the spring wasn't too difficult. The shocks were very simple to replace too. The door boot ring requires needle nose pliers to grip and pull the spring. It is impossible to replace the spring just by using your hands. The washer now operates like new again. If you have the slightest mechanical ability, you will find replacing these parts really easy. If you get stuck anywhere along the way, watch the video. Good luck! 

Replaced spring that was broken and replace unbroken spring on the other side also. It was very easy to use a pole to lift up the tub drum to install the spring. Tring to lift tub from the front was too much work. Using a pole tied to the spring made it so easy to lift the drum and the spring together the. All you had to do was push it into place. 

Replaced the suspension springs and it works fine again. Assuming the springs break and not the brackets/weights, you will not need to use any tools *after you remove all of the panels) The drum is unbelievably heavy, however. Side note: love appliancepartspros. This is the 2nd order for parts from them signed in and purchased 1 as a guest. The parts are as good as OEM and waaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper. The drum boot from everywhere is well into $150+ but I got it from them for like $80 the shipping is good, we live in SW MO and the parts always come from Kansas so normal cheap shipping for like $10 comes in about 2-4 business days.