Appliance Spares
Quick answer: Top loader suspension rods and front loader shock absorbers are matched to your machine’s model code, not to the brand alone, and they are always replaced as a complete set. A top loader takes four rods; a front loader usually takes two dampers. Replacing one and leaving the rest is the most common mistake — the new part carries the load alone and the machine still moves. Find your model code in the table below and the set is settled.
Last updated August 2026
The fitment table
A drum bearing kit typically costs $50-$59 AUD (median $56.95) and suspension parts $45-$70 AUD (median $54.95), as at August 2026 — suspension is the less expensive of the two jobs, and the one that prevents the other.
| Your machine | What it takes | The set |
|---|---|---|
 Samsung top loader, WA13M8700 and DC97 group | 4 rods | Samsung suspension rod kit, 4 pack |
 Samsung top loader, WA10J8700 and WA10J7700 | 4 rods | rod kit for the WA10J range |
 Samsung top loader, WA70F5G4 and WA70F5S2 | 4 rods | rod kit for the WA70F range |
 LG top loader, WTG6520 / WTG7520 / WTS6520 | Suspension assembly | LG suspension assembly, WTG6520 group |
 LG top loader, WTG1034 / WTG1234 | Suspension assembly | LG suspension assembly, WTG1034 group |
 LG top loader, WTG1432 / WTR1132 | Suspension assembly | LG suspension assembly, WTG1432 group |
 Samsung front loader | 2 shock absorbers | Samsung shock absorber damper, 2 pack |
 Haier front loader | Shock absorber | Haier front loader shock absorber |
 Fisher & Paykel front loader | Shock absorber | Fisher & Paykel front loader shock absorber |
Fisher & Paykel and Haier share manufacturing platforms, which is why the same damper part number appears under both badges. If you are unsure which variant you own, Samsung and the other makers keep their manuals online by model code. Where your model appears in more than one row, either listing is correct for your machine.
Rods or dampers: which one you have
The two designs do the same job in different ways, and the language gets muddled online.
- Top loaders use suspension rods. Four of them, one at each corner, running from the top of the cabinet down to the outer tub. Each has a damping cup with friction material inside. They hang the tub and slow its movement.
- Front loaders use shock absorbers, sometimes called dampers. Usually two, mounted below the drum, working with counterweights and springs. They resist rather than hang.
Both wear as friction parts. They do not break suddenly; they fade, and the machine gets progressively worse at controlling an unbalanced load. That is why owners describe it as “it has always done that a bit” right up until it walks across the floor.
Why they fail faster in winter
Suspension wear is driven by unbalanced loads, and winter produces the worst ones. Doonas, towels, blankets and heavy jumpers absorb a great deal of water, and they clump into one side of the drum rather than distributing. On the spin, that lump is a rotating imbalance the suspension has to absorb thousands of times per cycle.
The symptoms in order of progression: a bit of knocking on the spin, then walking across the floor, then banging hard enough to hear from another room, then the machine aborting the spin because its own balance sensor gives up. If you are already at the last stage, the load is not the problem any more.
The brand-specific symptom guides cover the diagnosis in detail — Fisher & Paykel WashSmart banging on spin and Samsung top loader banging on spin — and the replacement job itself is walked through in front loader suspension rod kit replacement.
Always replace the full set
This is the rule that saves the second repair. Suspension parts wear together because they share the load, so a machine with one visibly failed rod has three others at a similar age. Fit one new rod against three worn ones and the new part takes a disproportionate share of the load, the machine still moves, and you are back inside it within months.
The check before you order: with the machine empty and unplugged, push down firmly on the drum or tub and let go. A healthy suspension lets it settle in one or two movements. If it bounces on and on, or if one corner drops further than the others, the set is done.
Worth being straight about the cons as well. It is a fiddly job rather than a difficult one, it usually needs the top or front panel off, and on some top loaders getting the rods out means tilting a heavy machine. If a worn suspension has already been left long enough to damage the drum bearing, you are looking at a much bigger job, which is the real reason not to leave it.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I fit two rods now and two later?
A: You can, but it defeats the purpose. The new pair carries more than its share against the old pair, wears faster, and the machine keeps moving in the meantime. Do the set.
Q: My model code is not in the table. What now?
A: Send it to us. The table lists the groups we have confirmed; it is not a statement that other machines are excluded. Photograph the model sticker — on a top loader it is usually under the lid or on the back panel.
Q: How do I tell worn suspension from a worn drum bearing?
A: Suspension shows up as movement — knocking, walking, banging on spin, with a normal-sounding drum. A bearing shows up as noise — a rumble or roar that rises with drum speed and is there even on a balanced load.
Q: The machine only bangs with towels. Is that still a fault?
A: Early-stage, yes. A healthy suspension handles an awkward towel load without walking. Reacting only to heavy loads is exactly how the wear announces itself before it gets worse.
Q: Is levelling the machine enough?
A: Level it first, always — an unlevel machine on a flexing floor produces the same symptoms and costs nothing to correct. If it still knocks once level and balanced, the suspension is the next thing to look at.
Q: Do front loaders need four dampers like top loaders need four rods?
A: Usually two, though it varies by model. Check what is fitted before ordering, and replace them as a pair regardless.
Get the right set first time
Photograph the model sticker on your machine and run the code through the part finder, or send it to us with a note about whether the machine knocks, walks or aborts the spin. We will confirm the correct set and tell you honestly if it sounds like the bearing instead. Same-day dispatch from Sydney’s Northern Beaches on orders placed before 12pm.
Disclaimer: this article is general information only and is provided without warranty of any kind. Appliance designs vary between models and production runs — always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, switch off and unplug the appliance before starting any work, and confirm parts against the model number on your appliance’s model sticker. Any repair is undertaken at your own risk and Oz Appliance Spares accepts no liability for injury, loss or damage arising from work performed after reading this guide, to the maximum extent permitted by law. If in doubt, use a qualified technician.
