Appliance Spares
Quick answer: If your drum turns freely by hand but won’t spin during a cycle, or you’ve found a black rubber belt on the laundry floor, the drive belt has snapped or stretched. Replacement is a 30–60 minute DIY job costing $25–$55 AUD for the belt. We stock genuine front and top loader belts with same-day Sydney dispatch.
The part that fixes this
- Samsung Top Loader WASHING MACHINE Drive BELT M22 0805
- SIMPSON Eziloader WASHING MACHINE DRIVE BELT 1184J6 0816
- LG Front Loader WASHING MACHINE DRIVE BELT 0814
Not sure it is the same on your machine? See every part listed by model number.
Last updated September 2026
Find your exact part with the Oz Part Finder
Is it really the drive belt? Symptom diagnosis
The drive belt is the rubber loop that transfers power from the motor pulley to the drum pulley. When it fails, the motor still runs but the drum doesn’t turn under load. Use this symptom table to confirm the belt before you buy anything.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Belt? |
|---|---|---|
| Drum spins freely by hand but not in a cycle | Snapped or slipped belt | Yes |
| Black rubber pieces / a belt on the floor | Belt shredded off the pulleys | Yes |
| Loud squeal or burning-rubber smell on spin | Belt slipping on a worn pulley | Likely |
| Motor hums, drum doesn’t move at all | Belt off, or seized bearing | Possibly |
| No power, no motor sound at all | Lid switch, PCB or motor — not the belt | No |
If the motor is dead silent with no hum, the fault is electrical, not the belt. A spinning-but-not-under-load drum is the classic belt giveaway.
Why belts squeal, slip and shred
A washing machine belt is a consumable wear item, typically lasting 6–10 years in an Australian household. Three things kill them. Heat and age harden the rubber until it cracks and shreds, leaving fragments in the base of the machine. Overloading stretches the belt so it slips on spin, producing that high-pitched squeal and a burning-rubber smell. Pulley or bearing wear misaligns the belt so it rides off the edge and chews itself apart. Before fitting a new belt, spin both pulleys by hand: they should turn smoothly and silently. A grinding or rumbling drum pulley means the drum bearings are failing, and a fresh belt will shred again within weeks. Replacing the belt is cheap insurance, but only if the pulleys are sound. If you smell scorched rubber every wash, the belt is slipping and needs replacing now before it strands the drum mid-cycle.
Belt codes explained: PJ, PH and J ribbed belts
Most Australian washers use a poly-V (multi-rib) belt, and the code on the belt tells you exactly which one. The format is a number, then a rib-section letter, then a rib count — for example 1173J5 means 1173 mm long, J profile, 5 ribs. The letter is the rib pitch: J (2.34 mm, the most common laundry size), PJ (the imperial name for the same J section), PH (1.6 mm fine ribs) and H for heavier machines. So 1184J6 is 1184 mm long with 6 J-ribs, and 1244J4 is 1244 mm with 4 ribs. Match all three numbers — length, profile letter and rib count — to your old belt or the manufacturer part number. A belt that’s the right length but wrong rib count will slip or sit proud and shred. Read the code printed along the back of your old belt, or look up your model with the Part Finder.
Front loader belt access (step by step)
Front loaders carry the belt on a large drum pulley at the rear of the tub. Safety first: unplug the machine at the wall and turn off the taps. If you’re unsure about any 240V mains component, use a licensed technician (AS/NZS 3760).
- Remove the rear access panel — usually 4–6 screws. Some compact models need the top panel off as well.
- Photograph the belt routing before removing anything.
- Slip the old belt off: hold tension on the belt and rotate the large drum pulley by hand; the belt walks off the edge.
- Inspect the pulleys for cracks, glazing or wobble. Spin the drum pulley — it must be silent.
- Fit the new belt onto the small motor pulley first, then loop it over the drum pulley while turning it by hand so it seats in the grooves.
- Refit the panel, restore power and run a rinse-and-spin to confirm.
Top loader belt access and tension
Australian top loaders (Samsung, Simpson, Fisher & Paykel) usually mount the belt under the machine on a transmission pulley. Unplug at the wall before you start. Lay the machine carefully on its back or side on a towel — check first whether yours has a removable bottom panel that avoids tipping. The Samsung M22 belt (DC66-10142A) is a common top loader size. Slip the old belt off the motor and transmission pulleys, then fit the new one onto the smaller motor pulley first. Tension matters more on top loaders: most use a spring-loaded or pivoting motor that self-tensions, so let the motor settle into position rather than forcing it. The belt should deflect about 10–15 mm under firm thumb pressure midway between the pulleys — too tight burns out bearings, too loose slips. If your model uses an adjustable motor bracket, snug the belt to that deflection, then lock the bolts. Stand the machine up and run a spin to verify.
Genuine drive belts we stock (Sydney warehouse)
All belts below ship same-day from our Sydney warehouse. Match the belt code or your model number, then click through. These are the genuine and OEM-equivalent belts for the major AU brands — the right belt fitted to sound pulleys will see out the rest of the machine’s life, so it’s worth buying the correct code first time rather than risking a cheap mismatch that shreds.
| Part / belt code | Fits | Link |
|---|---|---|
 M22 | Samsung top loaders SW50ASP, SW50USPIW, SW51ASP | |
 1184J6 | Simpson Eziloader 45S708E, 45S710E, EWF1074 | |
 1173J5 (4400FR3116A) | LG front loaders 4400FR3116A/D, 4000FR3116A | |
 1184J6 (p/n 1323531-30/9) | Electrolux front loaders EWF1074, EWF1080, EWF1083 | |
 Drive belt | Whirlpool front loaders AWM027WS, AWM029WS, AWG057 | |
 1244J4 | Beko front loaders WM5100W, WM5120S, WM5120W |
Not sure which belt? Use the Oz Part Finder with your model number.
Belt vs motor vs carbon brushes: what’s actually broken?
Not every “won’t spin” fault is the belt. Use this comparison to spend your money in the right place before ordering.
| Fault | Tell-tale sign | Typical AUD cost |
|---|---|---|
| Drive belt | Drum spins by hand, motor runs, no drive | $25–$55 belt |
| Carbon brushes (worn) | Spins briefly then cuts out, sparking at motor, bangs at high speed | $20–$45 set |
| Motor failure | No motor hum, burnt smell from motor, tripped breaker | $120–$350 motor |
| Drum bearings | Loud rumble/grinding on spin, drum movement | $$$ — often uneconomic |
Carbon brushes are the most-confused fault: on brush-motor front loaders, worn brushes let the drum tumble slowly but fail to reach high spin, often with sparking visible at the motor. A snapped belt, by contrast, gives zero drive at all speeds while the motor spins freely. Check the belt first — it’s the cheapest part and the most common failure. Safety: any motor or brush work is on 240V mains — unplug at the wall, and if unsure use a licensed technician.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a washing machine drive belt cost in Australia?
A genuine or OEM-equivalent belt is typically $25–$55 AUD. Doing it yourself saves the $120–$200 callout a technician would charge for the same 30–60 minute job.
Can I drive my washing machine with a slightly stretched belt?
No. A stretched belt slips, squeals, overheats and can shred mid-cycle, stranding wet washing. It also wears the pulleys. Replace it as soon as you notice squealing or a burning-rubber smell.
How do I know which belt code I need?
Read the code printed along the back of the old belt (e.g. 1173J5 or 1184J6) — length in mm, rib profile letter, then rib count. Or look up your model number with the Part Finder for an exact match.
Why did my new belt shred again so quickly?
Almost always a worn pulley or failing drum bearing throwing the belt off line. Spin both pulleys by hand before fitting — they must turn smoothly and silently. Replace any glazed or wobbling pulley first.
Is replacing a washing machine belt safe to DIY?
Yes, the belt itself is mechanical. But you must unplug the machine at the wall and turn off the taps first. Leave any 240V motor or wiring work to a licensed technician under AS/NZS standards.
Do front and top loaders use the same belt?
No. Front loaders use a large rear drum pulley (e.g. LG 1173J5), while top loaders drive a transmission pulley underneath (e.g. Samsung M22 DC66-10142A). Always match your specific model.
How long should a washing machine belt last?
Typically 6–10 years in an Australian home. Overloading and high-heat washes shorten that. Spreading loads and not overfilling the drum extends belt life significantly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my washing machine drive belt has snapped?
The classic sign is a washing machine drum that spins freely by hand but will not turn during a cycle while the motor still runs. Finding black rubber pieces or a whole belt on the laundry floor confirms the drive belt has shredded off the pulleys.
How much does a washing machine drive belt cost in Australia?
A genuine or OEM-equivalent washing machine drive belt is typically $25–$55 AUD. Replacing it yourself is a 30–60 minute job and saves the $120–$200 a technician would charge for the same repair.
What do the numbers on a washing machine belt mean?
The code printed on the back of a washing machine belt gives the length in millimetres, the rib profile letter and the rib count — for example 1173J5 is 1173 mm long with 5 J-profile ribs. Match all three against your old belt or the manufacturer part number.
Why did my new washing machine belt shred so quickly?
A new washing machine belt that shreds within weeks almost always points to a worn pulley or a failing drum bearing throwing it off line. Spin both pulleys by hand before fitting a belt — they must turn smoothly and silently, with no grinding or wobble.
How long should a washing machine drive belt last?
A washing machine drive belt typically lasts 6–10 years in an Australian household. Overloading and high-heat washes harden and stretch the rubber, so spreading loads out and not overfilling the drum extends belt life significantly.
Do front loaders and top loaders use the same drive belt?
No. Front loaders carry the belt on a large drum pulley at the rear of the tub, while Australian top loaders such as Samsung and Simpson models drive a transmission pulley underneath the machine. Always match the belt code or your exact model number before ordering.
Related guides
- Find your exact belt with the Oz Part Finder
- Washing machine won’t spin — full fault-finding checklist
- Carbon brush replacement for front loader washing machines
Ready to fix it?
Confirm your model and grab the right belt in two minutes. Use the Oz Part Finder and we’ll dispatch your genuine belt same-day from our Sydney warehouse — back washing by the weekend.
