How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP6006364 / WP22003441 Washer Drum Bearing

Replaced bearings and lip seal kit. Along with these I replaced the door boot seal that had significant mold (not replaced under earlier recall). Amazingly, cleaning mess left by failed seal and bearings along with residues from years of use took as long as the repair. You-rube videos were helpful along with video from Appliance Parts Pros 

Followed video and written directions to remove door, panels, tub seal and pull inner tub with shaft. Replaced both front (#22002934) and rear (#22003441) bearings along with the 'Lip Seal Kit'(#12002022). Lip seal failure is reason the front bearing had begun to fail and make the noise during spin cycle. Inner tub with shaft came out of inner bearings fairly easy but the challenge came in attempting to press out the old bearings and press in the new bearings. A 14" brass drift pin and hammer was very slow so I opted for a pneumatic chisel with the end blunted like a drift pin. Proved to be much more effective but had to use caution not to mar adjacent metal with steel pin. Took around five hours but almost half of that time was spent cleaning twelve years of scum, mold, and yuck. How can a washing machine be that dirty? 

Changed bearings and brake assembly. 

Replaced both the front and rear bearings and the front seal. The front bearing had failed. This is not an easy repair without the proper tools for removing the old bearing or installing the new bearings. There are Youtube videos that show the repair. I did the repair without a bearing puller or press but it was not easy. I also pressure washed the inner and outer drum as there was a lot of crud buildup over the years. My washer is 14 years old and with the new bearings it should go several more years. 

Our 27 year-old Maytag washer conked out just before the holidays. I ordered the parts needed (Tub Bearing Kit & Mounting Stem Repair Kit) from Appliance Parts Pros, and they arrived promptly. I had done this same repair 14 years ago, so I thought I knew what to expect - but I was wrong! Fourteen years ago, the symptom was water on the floor under the washer. This time, evidently the leakage was more gradual as we never saw any water on the floor. The moisture had eventually corroded the bearing until it seized. The symptoms were loud squealing, the smell of burning rubber from the drive belt and a tub that didn't spin. Fourteen years ago, I was able to get the washer apart without much trouble. But this time, the big challenge was getting the seized tub bearing parts off the transmission shaft. I tried penetrating oils without success. Using an 18 inch pipe wrench, I was able to separate the transmission from the tub with the seal and seized bearing still stuck on the transmission shaft. I used a rotary tool to cut the seal and bearing off the transmission shaft. Earlier, I had to cut the tub spanner nut to remove the inner tub. All of the parts I destroyed were included in the repair kits, so I knew it was OK to destroy them. Once the new parts were installed, the machine has performed as it should. The Appliance Parts Pros repair video was very helpful. 

I replaced the drain pump and replaced the bearings and seals in the tub. 

I looked for parts online and found Appliance Parts Pros had what I was looking for and a video on how to take the washer apart without using the trial and error method. The video for the lip seal repair was great but the video for the bearing replacement was for a top loading machine not a front loader. I consider myself fairly mechanically inclined and was able to do the complete job in about 5 hours. The video for the lip seal replacement was great but was done on a new machine not one that has about 12 years of constant family use. Be prepared to spent some time cleaning the machine as you go along. In the Maytag Neptune that I had to replace the tub bearings Maytag's use of an aluminum insert and steel bearings makes it hard to remove the bearing because of oxidation from normal use. Once the bearings were out it was just a matter of cleaning the aluminum surface's with some grit cloth so the bearing could be pressed in. I don't think that doing the bearing replacement would be something the general public should attempt but that is only my opinion. 

Had to replace two bearings and seal kit 

Replaced belts and bearings 

A box of quality parts, Saturday morning, cup of coffee and some good YouTube videos. And we have a 30-year-old washer running like new again. Just a good day.