MHW7000AW0 Interior drum 'sliding clink' noises

[KerryOn]

Model Number

MHW7000AW0

Brand

Maytag

Age

6-10 years

Maytag Maxima XL front loader. When I turn the drum manually I hear a sloshing noise, which I presume is from the balancing fluid ring. But I also hear a clinking/clanking noise like some piece(s) of metal is sliding around. The sound definitely 'moves' from the top to the bottom when I turn the drum... like a screw sliding/falling from the top to the bottom once the centrifugal force slows down and lets it drop.

I did visual inspections through the perforations, around the tub gasket and through the heating element slot and could not see anything... was quite clean. I then removed the baffles to see if something made its way under those. Nothing. The noise seems to be coming from the back panel of the drum. I tested the drum movement by pulling it up to see if there was excessive movement. There didn't seem to be, so I'm hoping it’s not a bad bearings issue. The washer works fine and spins with a clean sounding "whir" without unusual noise and the tub seems balanced.

So, what are possible sources of the sliding clink/clank sound? Is it something to worry about? And how do you recommend I move forward from here?

I've attached a couple of videos of the clinking noise and of the drum movement test.


NOTE: In this video the ‘sliding clink’ noise shows up at about the 3 & 7 second mark. In person it sounds like a couple of pieces of gravel plinking downward against the SS drum from the top to the bottom of the back, once the centrifugal force slows down and lets it drop. It is difficult to get the videos to record the noise as it seems to exasperate the drum turning and sloshing noise above the clinking noise, though in person the clinking noise is very apparent.

Here is another video with the 'falling clink' noise between the 3 & 4 second mark...

The drum "wiggle" test:

 

[KerryOn]

Video not playing in the comment... though it looked like it uploaded. Why?

 

[KerryOn]

Couldn't figure out how to edit my original post... or how to upload video... so here are the videos on Imgur:

 

[Jake]

The videos you uploaded in your first post play fine for me.

Yes, sounds like possibly the bearings, but the new bearings only come with the outer and inner tub assembly, the price for the outer and inner tub assembly is over $1000: Tub-Outer WPW10409998

As long as it spins fine otherwise when its washing and spinning, I wouldn't worry too much about that noise, rather than spend over $1000 to fix it.

 

[KerryOn]

Thanks for replying and your thoughts. It's so annoying that so simple a thing as bearings are not repairable without buying a whole drum. Is there any other items in that area that may have lost a screw or a tab or something besides a bearing? The tub turns so smoothly that it seems odd a bearing would have disintegrated.

 

[Jake]

Is there any other items in that area that may have lost a screw or a tab or something besides a bearing?

No, not that I'm aware of.