Washing Machine Making Grinding Noise? Here’s What To Check First
Your washing machine is making a grinding noise. Not a squeal, not a rattle — a hard, scraping, metal-on-metal sound that wasn’t there before. It might be constant. It might only happen during the spin cycle. Either way, it’s loud enough that you can hear it from another room.
Here’s the thing most people get wrong: they assume the drum bearings have failed and start looking at replacement machines. In reality, grinding has two main causes — and one of them is free to fix. Debris caught between the drum and the outer tub produces exactly the same grinding sound as worn bearings. Checking for debris takes ten minutes and costs nothing.
The good news is that the sound itself tells you which cause you’re facing. And the checks narrow it down quickly.
This page covers the two most likely causes of a grinding noise, the checks you can perform yourself, and when a repair makes sense versus when it’s time for a new machine. If you need the complete diagnostic sequence, the full guide is linked at the bottom.
Washing Machine Making Grinding Noise-Quick Diagnosis
Grinding during the wash and spin: debris in the drum or worn drum bearings.
Grinding that gets louder with spin speed: worn drum bearings.
Grinding with a metallic scrape: debris caught between the drum and the tub.
Grinding with vertical drum movement: worn bearings or a failed drum spider.
Grinding plus a burning smell: a failing motor bearing.
Why Your Washing Machine Grinds
A grinding sound means metal is contacting metal somewhere in the machine. There are only a few places that can happen:
The drum against the outer tub, if the bearings have worn
Debris between the drum and the tub, scraping as the drum turns
The motor bearings, if they’ve worn
The drain pump impeller, if debris is jamming it
The two most common by far are debris and drum bearings. And the way to tell them apart is simple: check for debris first.
The Two Most Likely Causes
Debris In The Drum
Coins, bra underwires, hairpins, screws, and small stones get past the door seal and lodge between the inner drum and the outer tub. As the drum turns, the debris scrapes against the metal. The sound is identical to worn bearings.
What to check:
Unplug the machine.
Open the door and shine a torch into the gap between the drum and the tub.
Rotate the drum by hand slowly, watching the gap all the way around.
Look for anything that isn’t part of the machine — coins, wires, hairpins.
Remove any debris with long-nose pliers.
If the debris can’t be reached, the drum may need to be removed. That’s a bigger job, but on many machines it’s still cheaper than a bearing replacement.
If clearing the debris stops the noise, the fix was free.
Worn Drum Bearings
The drum bearings support the drum as it spins. When they wear, the drum drops slightly and scrapes against the outer tub, producing a grinding sound that gets worse with spin speed.
Bearing wear is common on machines over five years old, and it’s usually caused by a failed seal letting water into the bearing. Once water gets in, the bearing rusts and grinds.
What to check:
Unplug the machine.
Open the door and rotate the drum by hand.
Listen and feel. A healthy drum turns smoothly and quietly. A worn bearing feels rough, gritty, or grinding.
Push the drum up and down. If it moves vertically, the bearings or the drum spider have failed.
Spin the drum fast by hand and listen for a rumble that continues after the drum stops.
If the bearing is worn, the drum needs to come out, and on most modern machines the bearings are part of a sealed outer tub — so the whole tub assembly is replaced. That’s $200 to $400 fitted.
What The Results Tell You
The grinding stops after removing debris: the debris was the cause. Fixed for free.
The grinding continues with no debris present: the drum bearings have worn.
The drum moves vertically: the bearings or the drum spider have failed.
The grinding is only at high spin speed: bearing wear.
The grinding is present at all speeds: debris or a failing motor bearing.
Is It Worth Repairing?
Debris removal is free. Always worth doing first.
A drain pump is $30 to $80 for the part if the noise is coming from the pump.
Where the maths changes is drum bearings. A bearing replacement is $30 to $80 for the part, but $200 to $400 fitted, because the labour is significant. On a machine under six years old, it’s usually worth doing. On a machine over eight years old, the repair often approaches the machine’s value.
The honest rule: if the bearings have failed on a machine over eight years old, and the machine cost under $500 new, replacement is usually the better call.
Safety Warning
Electrical risk. Washing machines run on mains voltage. Disconnect the power at the circuit breaker before removing any panel.
Water risk. The machine holds water. Shut off the water supply and have towels ready.
Mechanical risk. The drum and motor are heavy. Support them when working underneath the machine.
Sharp edges. Washing machine components can have sharp edges. Handle with care.
FAQ
Why is my washing machine making a grinding noise?
Usually worn drum bearings or debris caught between the drum and the outer tub. Check for debris first.
Why does my washing machine only grind when spinning?
Bearing wear gets worse with spin speed. If the noise only happens at high speed, the bearings are the likely cause.
Why does my washing machine grind even when the drum is empty?
A mechanical fault — bearings, debris, or the motor. The load isn’t the cause.
Can a coin in the drum cause grinding?
Yes. Coins, bra wires, and hairpins lodged between the drum and the tub produce the same grinding sound as worn bearings.
Is it worth repairing a washing machine with grinding bearings?
On a machine under six years old, usually yes. On a machine over eight years old, weigh the $200 to $400 repair against the cost of replacement.
Get the Complete Diagnosis
Need to determine exactly which component is causing the grinding?
The complete diagnostic guide takes you beyond the basic checks and walks through all seven noise patterns step by step.
The complete guide includes:
Full component testing with expected readings
Drum bearing and suspension testing
Belt and idler pulley inspection
Motor and capacitor testing
Drain pump testing
Brand-specific notes for LG, Whirlpool, and Samsung
Repair and replacement considerations
Repair-or-bin guidance
Washing Machine Noisy Repair Guide
Complete diagnostic guide for noisy washing machines.
What’s included:
Diagnosis for all seven noise patterns
Step-by-step testing procedures with expected readings
Drum bearing, suspension, and belt testing
Motor and capacitor diagnosis
Brand-specific notes
Required checks and tools
Repair information
Replacement considerations
Repair-or-bin guidance
Download instantly
$7.95
Have More Than One Washing Machine Problem?
If you’re dealing with several problems rather than just a noise, the LG Washing Machine guide covers the most common faults in one reference.
$7.95
Looking for Brand-Specific Guides?
Our brand guides cover washers, dryers, and dishwashers from Fisher & Paykel, Samsung, LG, Bosch, Whirlpool, Maytag, GE, and Miele.
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Repair or Bin?
Before spending money on a repair, find out what is actually wrong with your appliance.
Repair or Bin gives you the information to diagnose the problem and make an informed repair-or-bin decision.
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