How to Replace a Bearing on My Kenmore HE3 Washer

Unplug the washer’s power cord from the outlet to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Turn off the water running to the washing machine and disconnect the supply hoses.

Locate the three screws holding the top panel to the back of the machine with a torx screwdriver. Lift the panel up and off the back of the washer. Open the washer door and remove the screws at the hinges with the torx screwdriver. Lift the door off the washing machine and set it aside.

Slip a flat-head screwdriver behind the tension spring located at the bottom of the door boot seal. Use the screwdriver as a lever to pull the spring and attached circular clip away from the boot seal. Pull the seal off the door opening.

Remove the screws holding the back panel in place with a hex-head screwdriver. Lift the edges of the two plastic moldings at each corner of the back panel. Press the central lugs in and slide the plastic molding off the panel.

Remove the two flat cross frames at the back of the washer by unscrewing the screws with the torx-head screwdriver. Loosen the clamps securing the flexible water hose to the drum housing and gently pull the hose off.

Push the breather outlet assembly carefully through the oblong-shaped hole with a screwdriver. Loosen the screws securing the L-shaped reinforcing frame to the washer chassis. Lift the reinforcing frame off the back and place it -- and the attached fittings and electrical connections -- on top of the washer.

Slide a plastic crate underneath the front corner of the washer to support the machine. Remove the screws holding the bottom of the front panel and carefully pull the panel off the washer. Remove the plastic crate and let the washer set on the floor.

Remove the water pump located at the front-bottom of the washing machine by unscrewing the screw securing the pump in place. Lift the pump, supply hoses and return out of the washing machine. Refrain from removing the water pump from the attached wiring harness.

Unscrew the bottom of the rubber support rods counter-clockwise to remove them from the drum housing. Unscrew the top of the support rods clockwise and remove both of the rods from the washing machine.

Loosen the drain hose clamp to remove the drain hose off the washer drum. Move the drum pulley in a counter-clockwise motion and carefully slip the belt off. Use a socket wrench to loosen the bolts securing the washer motor to the drum cabinet. Carefully lift the motor out of the washer.

Slide a large wrench between the drum hosing and the drum pulley. The wrench will prevent the drum pulley from turning. Loosen the nut on the pulley with a socket wrench. Remove the pulley from the drum shaft.

Find the green ground wire and remove the screws that secure it to the assembly. Carefully pull the wire from the notches located on the drum housing. Loosen the brackets that secure the bottom green ground wire on the bottom of the cabinet with a socket wrench. Lay the wire at the bottom of the washer.

Lift each side of the drum one at a time and remove the clip that secure the spring hook brackets to the drum housing. Lay the drum housing carefully on the floor in front of you with the shaft facing up.

Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the clips holding the mating flanges on the drum housing. Lay the top half of the drum housing upside down on the plastic crate. This will allow you to access the washing machine’s inner bearing.

Pry the rubber bearing seal off the housing with a pry bar. Turn the drum housing over to expose the outer bearing. Use a pair of snap ring pliers to carefully remove the snap ring.

Flip the drum over and set on the open side of a plastic crate. Insert a metal pipe into the hole at the bottom of the drum and carefully hit the top of the pipe with a hammer until the outer bearing pops out.

Flip the drum over and lay it on several pieces of wood. Insert the metal pipe into the hole and tap the top of the pipe with a hammer in the same manner as described in the previous step. Continue tapping the top of the pipe until the inner bearing pops out.

Clean the surface of the outer bearing with a cloth and spray a thin layer of assembly lubricant on the inner surface. Insert the new outer bearing. Hold a 1-1/2-inch socket on top of the new outer bearing and hit the top of the socket with a hammer. This will drive the outer bearing evenly into the hole.

Flip the drum housing over and place on top of the plastic crate. Clean the surface of the outer bearing with a cloth. Place the new inner bearing in the hole and hold a small piece of wood on top of the bearing. Tap the top of the wood with a hammer for several blows before rotating the wood. Continue tapping and rotating the wood until the inner bearing is evenly inside the hole.

Spray the top of the inner bearing with assembly lubricant and set the new seal on top of the inner bearing. Tap the new seal gently into place. Reassemble the washing machine in the reverse order.