Which bearings are best for a washing machine?

Repairing a washing machine's bearing assembly yourself is no easy task. You need to disassemble almost the entire machine, split the drum in half, knock out the old parts, and then reassemble everything correctly. Anyone who's been through this ordeal won't want to risk it all again. You can avoid repeated replacements in the coming years by installing high-quality bearings right away. Now let's figure out which bearings are considered the best and why.

The best components on the mass market

About 75% of washing machine components are supplied to retailers from China. However, the Chinese origin of parts does not indicate poor quality – the determining factor is the manufacturer.If the clips are manufactured under license from a well-known brand at a large factory, then the likelihood of purchasing a defective product is low.

It's a different matter when unscrupulous suppliers sell low-quality counterfeits under the guise of a brand. Intermediaries buy parts from artisanal factories at bargain prices, then mark them up and resell them as genuine. The consumer suffers, being deceived by the high prices and receiving unreliable components.

To avoid mistakes and overpaying, it's important to follow the manufacturer's name on the label. The following are considered the most reliable:

• CX – short for Complex – is a leading Polish manufacturer;
• SKF is the largest Swedish mechanical engineering company (their products are used in Ariston and Indesit washing machines);
• EBI is an Italian supplier of components for cars and washing machines (actively used in the production of Whirlpool, Bosch, Bauknecht).

Bearings from CX, SKF and EBI have proven themselves to be excellent.

When choosing new bearings, it's important to consider not only the brand name but other parameters as well. A suitable seal is also selected separately. Without replacing the rubber seal, repairing the bearing assembly will be futile: the old rubber will leak water and ruin even the highest-quality bearing housing.

Types of bearings

Bearings differ not only by manufacturer but also by size and the type of material used. The latter determines the key characteristics of the bearing rings, influencing the price, reliability, and wear resistance of the part. Washing machines primarily use two types of bearing rings: metal and plastic.

1. Metal bearings are more commonly used due to their availability, ease of manufacture, and affordability. They are designated as "ZZ" on the bearing label.
2. Plastic rings are more expensive because they offer increased wear resistance due to their two-layer construction. The base of the ring is made of metal, while the outer layer is made of plastic and provides additional protection from dust. Plastic rings are marked "2RS."

Bearings also vary in size: width, inner and outer diameter. It is important to select the correct rings, as different washing machines use different sized rings. As a rule, you should rely on the markings. The following component numbers are considered the most common:

• 6201 – the smallest bearing with diameters of 12 and 32 and a width of 10 cm;
• 6202 – the inner diameter of the bearing is 15, the outer diameter is 35, and the width is 11;
• 6203 – the “troika” has circumferences of 17 and 40, and a width of 12;
• 6204 – used in most machines due to its universal parameters: 20, 47 and 14;
• 6205 – a ring with diameters of 25 and 52, while the thickness reaches 15;
• 6305 – with an internal opening of 25 cm, external – 62, and thickness – 17;
• 6206 – circumferences 30 and 62, and width – 16;
• 6306 – 30 is the inner ring, 72 is the outer ring, and the thickness is 19;
• 6207 is the largest clip with sizes: 35, 72 and 17.

In some cases, washing machines are equipped with a single bearing. The most commonly used is the double-row bearing BA2B 633667. This bearing is required for repairs to some Indesit, Samsung, and LG models.

How to avoid making a mistake when choosing a bearing?

There's no one-size-fits-all bearing—the size range of bearing assemblies varies greatly, even within the same manufacturer. To ensure you choose the right bearing race, it's important to verify the quantity, type, and size of the race. There are three ways to find out:

• carefully study the manufacturer's instructions;
• "check" the serial number of the washing machine on the Internet;
• remove the old bearings and look at the markings.

You can also use the brand as a guide. LG and Bosch use metal bearings 6203-6206 and 6305-6306, while Samsung primarily uses 6203-6204, and less commonly 6205 and 6206. A Beko repair requires 6203, 6204, and 6205, while Atlant requires only 6204 and 6205. Ariston more commonly uses BA2B 306037, while Vestel and Zanussi use 6203 and 6204. But it's better to know for sure.

   

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