LG Washing Machine Shaking and Vibrating: Causes and DIY Fix Guide
If your LG washing machine shakes violently or vibrates loudly during the spin cycle, the problem is almost always one of three things: an unbalanced load, leftover shipping bolts, or uneven floor contact. Before you call a repairman, you can safely check and fix the first two causes in under 10 minutes.
Before You Start: Quick Triage Checklist
Run through these five checks before diving into any disassembly. Each item is a pass/fail test that takes less than a minute.
- Unbalanced load? Open the door and redistribute items. Bulky items like bedding or towels should be paired with smaller items to balance the drum.
- Floor level? Place a spirit level on top of the washer. The bubble must be centered both front-to-back and side-to-side.
- Shipping bolts still installed? Check the back panel for plastic spacers or bolts with colored rings. Even if you removed them at installation, one might have been overlooked.
- Machine rocking on floor? Push down on opposite corners of the top panel. If the machine rocks, the leveling feet need adjustment.
- Excessive wobble only at high spin? Listen to the pattern: a thumping sound every few seconds suggests suspension wear, not a simple load issue.
If you answered “fail” on any of these, the corresponding fix below will likely resolve the shaking. If all five pass but vibration remains, the problem lies deeper in the suspension system—skip ahead to the suspension section.
The Counterintuitive Fix: Shipping Bolts You Thought Were Removed
Most owners believe they removed all shipping bolts on day one. In reality, many LG machines are delivered with four bolts, and it is common to miss one, especially if it’s hidden behind a lower panel or covered by a plastic cap that looks like a factory plug.
Symptom: Violent vibration that shakes the entire machine, often immediately upon starting a cycle, even with a light load.
Cause: One or more transit bolts still locking the drum to the cabinet. The drum cannot float freely, so every rotation transmits vibration through the frame.
Check: Pull the machine away from the wall. Look at the rear panel for four holes (typically in a square pattern). At least one may still have a bolt inserted. Also check under the bottom edge of the front panel—some LG models have bolts accessible from the front.
Fix: Use a 10 mm or 12 mm socket wrench to remove each bolt. Pull out any plastic spacers. Install the supplied plastic hole plugs to prevent dust ingress. After removal, run a rinse-only cycle to confirm the vibration vanishes.
Verification: Start a rinse-and-spin cycle with a small load of mixed items (e.g., two towels and three shirts). If the machine hums evenly without hopping, the bolts were the cause. If the machine still vibrates noticeably, the drum may still be bound by a hidden bolt—re-check the rear panel carefully—or the issue is floor leveling.
Branch: If the vibration is gone, you are done. If it persists after confirming all bolts are removed, move immediately to the leveling section below. Do not attempt suspension repairs unless the floor is verified level first.
Note: If your machine is more than a few months old and was working fine before, shipping bolts are unlikely. Skip to the next section.
How to Level Your LG Washer Properly
Even a slightly uneven floor causes a front-load washer to hop and shake during the spin cycle. LG machines rely on all four feet making firm, equal contact with the ground.
Step 1: Check floor slope. Use a 4-foot level on the washer top. If the bubble is off by more than one division, the floor is not flat. Do not rely on shims alone—adjust the washer feet first.
Step 2: Adjust the front feet. Turn the locking nuts clockwise to raise the foot or counter-clockwise to lower it. The rear feet are self-adjusting on most LG models, but if the machine rocks from back to front, manually turn the rear feet as well.
Step 3: Lock the nuts. Once the washer is level (bubble centered in both directions), tighten the lock nuts against the cabinet using a wrench. Overtightening can strip the plastic base.
Common mistake: Placing shims under only one foot without checking level again. This often creates a pivot point, making the shaking worse. Always readjust all four feet after adding any shim.
Verification: After leveling, run a full spin cycle with a medium load (e.g., a mixed load of jeans and t-shirts). The machine should not rock more than 1/8 inch at the top. If it still rocks more than that, either the floor is warped beyond the feet’s adjustment range (use a thick rubber mat under the entire base) or the suspension components are worn.
A washing machine must be level on all four corners to operate without vibration. Adjust the legs until the machine does not rock at any point. – LG Installation Guide
For a deeper look at what else can throw a washer off balance, see our guide on common causes of an off balance washing machine 2.
Identifying Failing Suspension Parts: Shock Absorbers vs. Spider Arm
If your LG is level and the shipping bolts are gone, yet it still shakes during the spin cycle, the suspension system is the next suspect. Front-load LG washers use two or four shock absorbers; top-load models use suspension rods with springs. The repair approach differs, so identify your type first.
Check for worn shocks (front-load): Disconnect power. Push down firmly on the top of the drum. If it drops easily and bounces multiple times, the shocks are weak. A healthy shock provides firm resistance and returns to its original position within one bounce.
Check for loose suspension rods (top-load): Open the lid and lift the drum by the plastic tub lip. If it moves more than 1 inch side-to-side without resistance, the rods are stretched or the rod sockets are cracked.
Hardware comparison table:
| Symptom | Likely Cause | DIY Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Drum bangs against cabinet during spin | Worn shock absorber (front-load) | Moderate – requires removing front panel |
| Machine walks across floor only on spin cycle | Loose or broken suspension rod (top-load) | Moderate – snap-in replacement |
| Loud scraping or metal-on-metal noise | Broken spider arm (drum support) | High – requires full drum disassembly |
Trade-off: Replacing shocks is a straightforward weekend job with basic tools. A broken spider arm almost always means removing the entire drum and pressing the spider off the shaft – a task most DIYers should leave to a professional due to the risk of damaging the front seal or bearing.
Branch after suspension check: If you confirm weak shocks but the drum still feels centered and rotates smoothly, replace only the shocks. If the drum wobbles side-to-side even when static, the spider arm is likely broken—stop DIY and call a repairman.
If you have a top-load Samsung but the same symptoms, the tips for fixing an unbalanced samsung washing machine apply similarly to LG top-loaders because the rod-and-spring mechanism is nearly identical.
Red Flags That Mean Stop and Call a Repairman
Some shaking problems cannot be solved with leveling feet or a few new shocks. Stop your DIY attempts and call a technician if you encounter any of the following:
- Water leaking from the drum area – cracked bellows or a failed door boot seal.
- Drum tilted or visibly off-center – indicates a broken concrete counterweight (heavy and dangerous to handle).
- Error code “UE” or “OE” flashing after three consecutive rebalancing attempts – the machine’s own logic detected an unrecoverable imbalance, often due to a failed vibration sensor or drum bearing.
- Metal-on-metal grinding – likely a broken spider arm or failed drum bearing, both requiring full disassembly.
- Machine shakes despite all above fixes – could be a cracked tub or a failing main control board that misreads RPM feedback.
Understanding the full range of common causes of an off balance washing machine helps you know when to continue and when to call it quits.
By starting with the simplest checks—load redistribution, shipping bolts, and leveling—you eliminate 80% of shaking causes. For persistent vibration after those steps, inspect suspension components. If you encounter broken counterweights or drum misalignment, it is time to contact a technician.