279264 Whirlpool Bearing â& seal⣠Kit is a âŁreplacement service kit that typically contains the bearings, seals,â and associated retaining components used to â˘support and seal the rotating tub or⣠drum assembly in compatible Whirlpool â˘washing machines. As â˘a mechanicalâ subassembly, theâ kit âreplaces worn bearing races⣠and âlip seals that maintain the coaxial alignmentâ of the tub⣠on its âdrive shaft âand prevent washâ water from migratingâ into the⣠bearing âcavity.â The âcomponents âare generally steel bearings and elastomeric seals designed for press-fit âinstallation and compatibility with the OEM housing and shaft âdimensions.
Inside the appliance, the bearings provideâ the radial and limitedâ axial support required for smooth drum rotation whileâ the seals prevent water and detergent from entering the bearing âlubrication zone.The bearing and seal elements therefore interact directly⣠with the tub/drum, the drive shaft or transmission â˘output, the chassis bearing housingand indirectly with⤠the⤠drain/pumpâ system since seal failure â˘can lead âto leakage that affects downstream components. Proper âinstallation and âcorrect mating of bearing inner/outer races⤠and seal lips areâ crucial⣠to â˘maintain⤠runout â˘tolerances, âreduce⤠vibrationand preserve lubricant integrityâ under the âcyclic loads and wet âhabitat âtypical of âŁlaundry machines.
In this article â¤readers will â¤findâ a technical â¤overview of the âkit’s âfunction and design, guidance⢠on model compatibility and âhow to verify correct part selection, common âfailure symptoms to watch for⢠(such⤠as noise, wobble, vibrationorâ leaking), troubleshooting steps to isolate bearing â¤versus⤠seal faultsand practical replacement considerations.â Those considerations will include â¤inspection⤠pointsâ (shaft and â¤housing condition), required tools and press-fit⣠techniques, âlubrication and seal seating best practicesand secondary items to âinspect or replace during service to achieve a reliable ârepair. The âŁfocus âis on technicalâ diagnosis and sound mechanical practices rather than promotional claims.
Tableâ of Contents
- Functionâ and Role of the⤠Bearing and Seal in Washer Drive andâ Drum âSupport
- How the⣠279264⢠Whirlpool âBearing & âSeal Kit âOperatesâ Within the Transmission and Tubâ Seal Interface
- Common Failure â˘Symptoms: Noise, Leakage, Vibrationand Wear⤠Patterns
- Replacement Considerationsâ and Installation Procedures for bearing, Sealand Hub Components
- Q&A
- Concluding Remarks
Function and Role of the Bearing âŁand Seal inâ Washer⣠Drive⣠andâ drumâ Support
The 279264 Whirlpool â¤Bearing & â¤Seal â¤Kit replaces â˘the bearing assemblies and the rear hub seal that together maintain drum concentricity and keep lubricants â˘seperate from the âwash environment. Bearings âcarry the drum’s⣠radial and âŁaxial loads during âspin and agitate cycles,â minimizing friction and controlling⣠runout so the motorâ and transmission â¤are not subjectedâ to uneven forces. the seal provides a dynamic lip interface that â˘excludes water andâ detergent from the bearing cavityâ and retains grease on the bearing race; if the⣠seal lip âor bearing surfaces areâ undersized,⤠hardened,⣠or âscored, the assembly will allow contaminationâ that accelerates corrosion and bearing failure.â Theâ components in the kit are dimensioned to â˘match theâ factory housing and â¤shaft tolerances âso correctâ fit and preload are restored when installed with appropriate â˘tools and procedures.
Wear and seal degradation produce characteristic behaviors technicians can measure and âobserve: audible growling âor rumbling at high RPM, lateral drum play, â¤visible âŁleakage at the rear huband⤠increasedâ motor load or overheating during spin. Because contamination of the âgrease rapidly shortens âbearing life, service â¤practice calls for replacing both bearings and the seal⢠together rather than reusing an⣠old seal. Proper â˘replacement requires a controlled, âeven press fit of the bearing⣠into the⣠tub housing, correct orientation of â¤the seal lip toward â¤the wash cavityand verification of smooth, â˘low-friction rotation after assembly; incorrect seating â¤or use of improper tools can â¤introduce runout or damage seal lips âand defeat the kit’s purpose.
- Primary functions: radial/axial support,reduce friction,maintain drum concentricity
- Seal role: exclude water,retain grease,prevent contamination-driven corrosion
- Common failure signs: growling noise,lateral play,visibleâ leakage,increased motor âload
- Service⤠note:â replace bearings and seal together and use âproper press tools
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Bearing | Supports radial and⢠axial loads; press-fit into tub housing âto control runout |
| Seal | radial⢠lip design that prevents water ingressâ and retains bearingâ grease |
| Installation | Requires evenâ pressâ seating,correct seal orientation,and post-installation âspin check |
How the 279264 Whirlpool Bearing⣠& Seal Kit Operatesâ Within the transmission and Tub Seal⤠Interface
The 279264 Whirlpool⤠Bearing & Seal Kit replaces theâ bearing assembly that⢠supports the transmission âŁinput/output shaftâ and theâ tub seal⢠that isolates⤠the transmission cavity from â˘the wash âtub.⣠The bearing provides âradial and limited âthrust support so the transmission output shaft remains concentric with the wash tub during high-speed spin; this concentricity reduces abrasive wear⢠on gear teeth and minimizes vibration transferred to the suspension. The tub seal is âa dynamic lipâ seal that rides on âthe driven shaft and seals âagainst theâ tub⣠face⤠to⤠prevent water andâ detergent from âŁentering⢠the transmission sump. âŁIn practical terms, installing this kit restores correct shaft alignment and âthe hydrodynamicâ sealing interface âŁso the transmission operates under protected lubrication conditions rather than exposure to wash waterâ and contaminants.
Failure âŁmodes andâ real-world⢠behavior are predictable: a⣠worn bearing produces increased shaft runout and vibration, accelerating gear and seal wear, while a degraded⤠lip or backing causes water ingress âŁand contamination of transmission⢠oil. Technicians should verify âŁshaft tolerance and seating surfaces during installation-press-fit depth and proper retaining clips dictate âaxialâ positioning of the bearing⤠and the seal lip â˘engagement with the⤠tub face.â Typical indicators that the kit is⤠required âinclude audible rumbling or grindâ during spin, visibleâ oil or grease inâ the âŁtuband lateral play of the inner shaft.⤠Practical âŁmaintenance always includes cleaning⣠mating surfaces, checking for housing corrosion âŁthat can prevent a proper sealand using the correct installation tools to âavoid preloading the bearing.
- Common symptoms: shaft play,loud spin noise,oil in tub,seal lip damage.
- Functional outcome: â˘restores concentricity, âŁreduces vibration, prevents water ingress.
- Installation notes: verify model compatibility and press-fit⤠depth; replace retaining hardware if corroded.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Bearing | Supports radial/thrust loads and maintains shaft concentricity âto minimize wear and vibration. |
| Tub seal | Dynamic âŁlip seal that prevents wash water and detergent from⣠entering the â˘transmission cavity. |
Common Failure Symptoms: Noise, Leakage, Vibration, âand⢠Wear â˘Patterns
The 279264 Whirlpool Bearing â& Seal⣠Kitâ contains the⣠replacement â¤bearing(s) and lip seal(s)â designed to restore â˘theâ tub-to-shaft interface in compatible Whirlpool frontâload and someâ topâload models. âBearings provide⢠radial and axial support âŁfor the rotating âŁtub and maintain concentric alignment âŁwith the drive⢠shaft; seals retain lubricant and âŁexclude water from the bearing cavity. Proper fit â¤requiresâ matching bore diameter, outerâ race seatand seal flange dimensions toâ the washer’s housing-mismatch⣠accelerates wear or allows leakage. under correct âassembly, the bearing â˘should rotate â¤freely with minimal axial⣠play and the seal⣠lips should contact the shaft without cutting or excessive drag.
typical failure progresses from seal compromiseâ to bearing damage:â seal lip deterioration or a cracked seal lets water flush out â˘grease and introduce contaminants, which creates abrasive wear patterns onâ raceways âand⣠rollers leading to grindingâ noise, increased radial⢠runout and vibration.Technicians check⤠for symptoms by ârotating the tub byâ hand to feel for roughness, âmeasuring axial andâ radial â˘play with a dial indicator âor pry bar,⢠and⣠inspecting lubricant âŁfor metal particles.⣠During âŁrepair, replace both bearings and seals as an assembly, verifyâ shaft â¤and⢠housing surfaces for scoringand use correct â˘grease and torque on theâ shaft nut âŁtoâ prevent⤠premature recurrence.
- Grinding or rumbling: Metal-on-metal âŁnoise indicates âpitted â˘raceways or contaminated rollers-inspect for metal shavings in âŁlubricant.
- water leakage: Water â¤seeping at the rear of âthe âtub or âunder the⢠machine signals failed seals that allow⢠lubricant loss⢠and corrosion.
- Excessive âŁvibration orâ wobble: Increased radial⢠runout from worn bearingsâ or warped drum causes imbalance during spin cycles.
- Visible wear patterns: Grooves, scoringor deformed seal â˘lips pointâ to abrasive contaminants or misalignment.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Noise | Inspect bearings for ârough rotation and check lubricant forâ metal particles; replace bearings if âŁrough or scored. |
| Leakage | Examine seal lip and seating surface; replace â˘seal âand verify â¤housing bore for damage allowing bypass. |
| Vibration | Measure âradial runout and check for axial play; âinspect drum and bearing seats for deformation or loose mounting. |
Replacementâ Considerations⣠and⢠Installation Procedures âfor Bearing, Seal, âand Hub Components
The 279264 whirlpool Bearing & Seal Kit replaces the rotating bearing and fluid-retaining seal where the washer drum or hub â¤interfaces with the⣠transmission or axle.â Bearings carry radial and limited axial loads from the â¤rotating drum; seals prevent water and detergent ingress that â˘wouldâ contaminate âthe bearing âgrease andâ accelerate wear. Compatibility depends on shaft⢠diameter, hub boreand spacer geometry-verify that⢠the kit â˘matches the appliance model⤠or that measured dimensions of the shaft and hubâ correspond to the replacement components âbeforeâ installation. typical failure modes are âmetal-on-metal noise,increased lateral⣠play at the hub,and lubricant leakage; â˘theseâ symptoms guide whether to replace only the seal,the bearing,or the entire hubâ assembly for reliable⢠long-term operation.
Replacement requires attention to fitment and assembly technique: remove corrosion⤠and distortions from the âhub⣠and shaft,⣠use an arbor press or⣠suitable⣠driver to seat bearings squarely withoutâ applyingâ force through the inner raceand install â˘seals with theâ sealing lip oriented toward theâ fluid⣠source. Apply⢠theâ specified grease and check⣠mating⣠surfaces for â¤pitting-pitted hubs or shafts will rapidly degrade new bearings and seals. After assembly, â¤verify axial play, radial run-outand that retaining hardware is torqued⤠to⤠the appliance manufacturer’sâ specification;â perform a trial spin to confirm the drumâ rotates âsmoothly and that noâ fluid paths exist past the seal. If the hub â˘showsâ significantâ wear or the bearing seats are compromised, replace the hub or housing rather than⤠attempting a partial repair.
- Pre-replacement checks: measure shaftâ and bore diameters; inspect forâ pitting, corrosionand ârun-out.
- Required tools: â˘press or driverâ set, bearing⢠installers, seal⤠driver, calibrated torqueâ wrench, â¤cleaning solventsand appropriate grease.
- Critical steps: clean â¤mating surfaces, press bearings squarely (drive on the outer race where applicable), install seals flush with âŁcorrect orientationand verify end-play and âŁrun-out.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Bearing | Radial â¤ball/roller element sized to shaft and hub bore; supports rotation and axial loads. |
| Seal | Elastomeric âlip seal that prevents water intrusion and retains grease; oriented toward fluid source. |
| Hub/Spacer | Interface geometry that locates the bearing and transmits loads; âmust be free of pittingâ and distortion. |
Q&A
What is the 279264 Whirlpool Bearing & Seal Kit and what dose it replace?
The⣠279264 kit⤠is aâ bearing-and-seal replacement â˘package designed for certain Whirlpool-family washing âŁmachines. It typically replacesâ the âtub bearingsâ and the tub seal that prevent waterâ from⤠leaking into the wash-tub hub and âgearcase area. Always verify compatibility⢠with your⤠exact model number before purchasing.
What symptoms indicate I need⢠to replace the bearings and seal?
Common signs include a loudâ grinding or rumbling noise during â˘spin, excessive drum playâ or wobble, visible â¤water leakage from the tub⢠areaand metallic â˘contamination in the gearcase or drain. â˘If bearings⣠are worn,the drum will often âhave lateral⣠and verticalâ movement beyond normal tolerances.
What parts are included âŁin the kit and are any additional parts commonly required?
The kit usuallyâ contains one or⢠twoâ bearings (depending on the design),â a rubber âlip sealand⢠sometimes retaining clips or â¤a spacer sleeve. Additional parts that are commonlyâ replaced âat the sameâ time include the tub hub (if â¤corroded or scored), shaft or spindle componentsand the motor âŁcoupling orâ drive â˘components if they were âdamaged by âthe failing bearing.
How difficultâ is the replacement â˘and what tools âŁare required?
Replacing tubâ bearings⢠and the â˘seal is a moderately advanced repair. It typically requires disassembling the washer to⣠remove the inner/outer tub and â¤driving out the â¤old bearings.Tools⣠commonly required:⤠socket/wrenchâ set, bearing puller or press, bearing drivers or appropriate-size sockets, hammer or â˘mallet, seal driver, snap-ring pliers (if applicable)and penetrating oil. A hydraulic or arbor press makes the job far easier âand reduces risk of damage to the new⣠parts; it â˘can be done without a⣠press but requires care and improvised drivers.
How long will the repair take?
For a technician or experienced DIYer with the right tools, expect 2-5 hours âfrom start â¤to finish. Time⤠depends â˘onâ model-specific disassembly complexity and whether a press is âavailable. Longer âif⤠parts are corroded or if⢠additional repairs are needed.
Can I replace âonly the seal and leave the bearings⢠if there⤠is a small leak?
It⣠is not recommended. If the sealâ has failed, contaminants and⢠water âusually have reached the bearings âŁor bearing surfaces, accelerating wear.â Replacing both bearings and the seal together is best practice to ensure long-term reliabilityâ and âŁto avoid repeating â˘the repair shortly after.
Anyâ special tips to ensure a triumphant installation⢠and⣠prevent future â¤failure?
Key tips: clean⢠the âhousing â¤and hubâ mating⢠surfaces thoroughly; use proper drivers to â˘seat bearings and the â˘seal⢠squarely without damaging lips; avoid getting grease on the â˘sealing lip (use manufacturer-recommended lubricant if any); inspect the tub hubâ and shaft for scoringâ or corrosion and replace âŁif â¤damaged; torque fasteners to specifiedâ values; and test-run the washer empty to check for noise, wobbleand leaks before âreturning âit to service.
Is the 279264 kit an OEM part and is⢠there a warranty or places to buy it?
279264 â¤isâ a part number sold for Whirlpool-family â¤washers; âŁavailabilityâ might potentially⢠be through OEM Whirlpool parts suppliers and reputable aftermarket appliance partsâ vendors. Warranty coverage varies by seller-OEM parts often carry a⢠limited warranty. buy from trusted retailers, confirm model compatibility, âand keep your⢠receipt⣠and part numbers for warranty claims.
Concluding Remarks
The 279264 Whirlpool Bearing & Seal Kit⢠plays⢠a centralâ role in maintaining a⣠washing machine’s mechanical integrity by supporting the â¤tub, reducing ârotational frictionand providing a sealing⢠barrier⤠to prevent water⣠intrusion â˘into theâ bearing assembly.When functioning correctly, the kit helps preserve smooth⢠drum rotation,â minimizes vibration and noiseand limits wear to surrounding⤠components-contributing directly to appliance reliability and service life.
Accurate diagnosis and timely replacement of the 279264 kit are âimportant âto avoid escalating⣠damage âand higher repair costs. Common signs⣠of bearingâ or seal failure-such as loud or grindingâ noises,excessive wobbling,visible âleaks,or water in the â˘bearing⤠area-warrant inspection âand corrective action. Replacing a wornâ or âdamaged kit with theâ appropriate components â¤and âŁfollowing recommended service â¤procedures restores âperformance⣠and âŁhelps prevent secondary failures, making âŁcareful assessment âŁand prompt, correctâ repair a practical approach to appliance maintenance.
Professional Appliance Service
If your appliance requires professional diagnosis or repair, visit
Revolff Home Services
for expert appliance repair services.
For local appliance service information see
Dryer repair Henderson
.
Replacement parts for many appliance models can also be found at
Reliable-Parts-Hub
.
