Do-It-Yourself Story

After a few days of our 16 YO Frigidaire Affinity front-loading washer (model ATF7000EG0) dancing around the room bellowing like an elephant in musth, I decided to fix it. Well, technically, my wife decided I would fix it. I postulated that the OEM tub suspension system was rapidly deteriorating, so I ordered the shock absorber kit (5304485917), three nylon pins (131268300), two suspension springs (134362800), and a new drive belt (134051003) for good measure. These parts all arrived in three separate orders on three consecutive days. The executive summary is “I fixed the problem.” The details are a little more involved. Yes, John’s shock absorber tutorial is extremely helpful, but not completely accurate. Accessing both shock absorbers through the back panel on this model is not possible, so plan on removing the front panel, too. The video on replacing the drain pump (AP5684706) shows how to remove the front panel. The driver’s side shock (that is, the left shock) can be pulled through the back panel but replacing the lower (left side) nylon pin is easier when done from the front panel. The right-side shock cannot be pulled through the back panel without removing the motor control board (134743500) which, of course, can’t be done without disassembling the outer drum and drive motor. With the front panel removed, the right-side shock can be accessed; but on my washer the detent end of the lower nylon pin cleared the motor control board heat sink by a scant two millimeters. So, a half inch socket could not be pressed on the pin to depress the detent. Instead, I used a long shank flat screwdriver in my right hand to push in the detent on the pin while my left hand pulled the pin with a pair of pliers. Okay, that was not easy to do (but no turning back by then, so I finished it). The remaining three nylon pins could be removed with a half inch socket depressing the detent as suggested by John in the video. Matt’s suspension spring replacement video is accurate. A Phillips-head screwdriver and a length of rope (I used parachute cord) are the only tools needed. The tub assembly weighs probably 50 pounds, so a strong back is recommended. A wife willing to risk fingers can help with guiding the new spring hook into the slot. Replacing the shocks and springs required about three hours for this backyard mechanic. I suppose someone more familiar with dissecting the front and back panels could move faster. Overall, the job was moderately easy to do. Any toolbox contains the necessary tools. Parts and videos from AppliancePartsPros made the DIY work possible.