279264 whirlpool Bearing â& Seal Kit âis a replacement assembly comprising⤠bearings, sealsand âassociated⤠hardware intended to support⢠and â¤seal⣠a rotating⤠tub or â¤drum shaft in a laundry appliance. As a mechanical service kit, itâ supplies the âradial and âaxialâ bearing surfaces that locate the wash tub and the elastomeric or lip seals that prevent water from contacting the bearing surfaces and adjacent components.
Inside a washing âmachine the âkit functions at the âinterface between the drive âsystemâ and âthe â˘water-containing tub: bearings carry the radial and thrust loads of the rotating âŁtub, maintain concentricity âof âtheâ tub on its shaftand minimize friction; seals âisolate theâ bearings fromâ water andâ detergent. The component therefore interacts â˘directly with the tub/drum, drive shaft or â˘transmission coupling, suspension elements and the⣠appliance’s water containment system; degraded bearings or⤠seals can lead âto increased noise, vibration, imbalance, leakage and âsecondary damage âto housings or drive components.
In this â˘article readers will⤠find a technical overview of the kit’s function andâ typical contents, guidance on model⢠compatibility⣠and⢠selection, common failure symptoms and inspectionâ points, â¤troubleshooting approaches⤠to distinguish bearing problems from âother causes âŁof noise or leaksand âpractical replacement considerations suchâ as required measurements, condition âchecks for mating â¤surfaces, lubrication⢠and âtorque considerationsand verification steps after installation. The intent is to⢠provide technicians, â¤engineers âŁand⤠informed appliance â¤owners with the diagnostic context and âreplacement criteria âneeded to evaluate and service the component effectively.
Table of â¤Contents
- Functional⣠Role of the Washer Bearing and Seal Assembly in Tub Support and Drive âŁStability
- How the â279264 Whirlpoolâ Bearingâ & âSeal Kit â¤Operates âwithin the â¤Washer âTub and âDrive System
- Common Failure Symptoms and Diagnostic Indicators of⢠Bearing/Seal Degradation (Noise, Vibration, Leaks)
- Replacement Considerations, Model Compatibility,â andâ StepâbyâStep Installation Procedure for the 279264 Kit
- Q&A
- Key Takeaways
Functional Roleâ of the Washer Bearing⤠and Seal Assembly in Tub Support âŁand Drive Stability
Theâ bearingâ andâ seal âŁassembly provides the mechanical interface betweenâ the washer’s inner tub and the drive system; the 279264 â¤Whirlpool Bearing &â Seal Kit âreplaces the bearings that support the tub spindleâ andâ the mating seals that exclude water and detergent from the bearing cavity. Bearings âin this assembly carry⣠the tub’s radial loads during spin and â¤moderate â¤axial loads⢠from âuneven⣠loads or sudden torque changes, keeping⤠the â˘tub concentric âwith â˘the driveâ shaft to âŁmaintain smooth rotation. The âŁseals create a⤠controlledâ barrier⤠at the bearing journals to âprevent âcorrosion and lubricant washout; loss âŁof âsealing integrity or bearing wear increases â˘friction, allowsâ water entryand leads âto bearing race damage and increased shaft âendplay that manifests as vibration or clutch stress.
When diagnosing âdrive stability issues or choosing replacementâ parts, techniciansâ should⢠inspect shaft journals, bearing⤠boresand seal contact surfaces for âwear⣠or⤠scoring; âthe assembly performs correctly only if shaft⤠diameter,⣠bore toleranceand⤠seal seating areâ within specification. Replacingâ both⣠bearings and âthe âseal asâ a â˘matched âassembly restores preload âand concentricity, reducing fretting and spin imbalanceâ that⣠otherwise accelerate⢠transmission âand motor wear.Practical considerations include checking for shaft runout, cleaningâ the bearing bore before installation, âand confirming the seal lip contacts the shaft âŁwithout excessive drag â˘so the assembly âmaintains lubrication while preventing ingress.
- Radial support: maintains tub concentricity under spin loads.
- Axial/endplay control: âlimits fore-aft tub movementâ during torque events.
- Sealing function: prevents water andâ detergent âfrom contaminating bearings.
- Compatibilityâ requirement: correct shaft diameter⢠and bore tolerance for⤠reliable fit.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Bearing âtype | Sealed â¤journal⣠bearings sized for the modelâ spindle; replace as matched pair âforâ correct preload. |
| Seal âmaterial | Elastomer âlip seal⤠with â¤dust/counter lip for⣠hydrodynamic protection and lubricant retention. |
| Common symptoms | Low-frequency vibration, grinding noise at spin, waterâ near bearing âflange, increased âmotor â˘load. |
Howâ the 279264 Whirlpoolâ Bearing & Seal Kit Operates Within the Washer tub and Drive System
The âŁ279264 Whirlpool Bearing &⢠Sealâ Kit integrates into the lower âŁtub and âdrive shaft interfaceâ to provide radial support for the spin⢠basket and â¤to â˘isolate the bearing lubricant from wash water. In typical installation the bearings are âpressed into⢠theâ outer tub or a⢠housing and locate the inner drive shaft so that radial play is minimized; the seals sit between the rotating shaft and stationary⢠tub to⣠prevent waterâ ingress and retain grease around the bearing surfaces. Correct seating âof⢠the bearingsâ and the orientation⣠of the seals (the seal lip must⣠faceâ the fluid â˘to be â¤excluded) preserves concentric ârotation, reduces stress on the drive⣠coupling, âand⤠helps maintain the transmission lubrication â˘under heavy spin loads.Technicians should⣠confirm â˘fitment to â¤the specific Whirlpool model and inspect the tub âbore âŁand shaft for wear before installing the kit to ensureâ compatibility and reliable âoperation.
- Common symptoms indicating bearing âor â¤seal degradation: grinding âor ârumbling during spin, noticeable wobble of the spinâ basket,â waterâ or â˘oil contamination âin âthe âtuband accelerated overheating of the drive motor or âtransmission.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Bearing function | Provides âradial support for âthe spin shaft â˘and reduces friction betweenâ rotatingâ and stationary elements. |
| Seal function | Prevents water ingress and retains lubricant aroundâ the bearing to protect against corrosion and contamination. |
| Service considerations | Press-fit installation, â˘inspect bore and shaft for scoring, âŁreplace both bearings âŁand seals as a setâ for reliable âŁresults. |
During a spinâ cycle the âassembly⣠experiences combined⢠radial and intermittentâ axial⤠loads causedâ by âimbalance and centrifugal forces; bearings absorb the steady radial⤠load while⢠the seals mitigate fluid entry that would otherwise wash away grease or introduce abrasive contaminants. Progressive wear⣠typically increases radialâ play, which âamplifies âvibration and can transmit shock loads âback into the transmission or â˘motor mounting, accelerating secondary failures. Practical service stepsâ include checking shaft runout â˘with aâ dial indicator, removing corrosion or grooves in the âŁtub â¤bore, âusing⤠a correctly sized â¤driver to press bearings squarely, â˘and verifying that the⣠replacement seals seat flush to maintain the pressureâ boundary between the âwash area â˘and âthe bearing lubricant.
common Failure âSymptoms âand âDiagnostic indicators âŁof â˘Bearing/Seal âDegradation (Noise, âVibration, Leaks)
The⢠279264 Whirlpool Bearingâ & Seal Kit replaces the⣠bearing âassembly and sealing â¤elements that support the â¤wash⤠tub andâ retain âlubricant and âwater. Bearingsâ in these machines carry both â˘radial and axial loads during âagitationâ and highâspeed â¤spin; seals âŁkeep grease inside the bearing cavity â¤and⢠prevent washâ waterâ from entering⢠the bearing housing.Asâ the bearing races or rollers degrade, âŁthey generate characteristic acoustic and vibrational signatures and⣠can compromise seal integrity, allowing lubricant to be expelled and water to contaminate the âŁbearing⢠surface. âTechnicians should treat âthe bearing and seal asâ an interacting system: excessive play or âcontamination observed at â˘the âseal typically â¤indicates concurrent â˘bearing damage and a âneed for full âŁreplacement rather â˘than seal-only repair.
- Rumbling/grinding: coarse, metallic noise that increases with spin⣠speed, indicating âpitting or â˘excessive wearâ on raceways or rollers.
- Highâfrequency squeal or chirp: âoften an early sign of seal lip dragging on⤠aâ scored shaft or â¤minor race damage.
- vibration/wobble: increased â˘lateral or âŁaxial playâ of the âdrum felt at low speed,typically from worn bearings âŁor a shifted â˘bearing cup.
- Grease âŁor water leakage: visible â˘grease⣠on the boot⢠orâ waterâ at âthe tub âseam,⤠showing seal⢠lip failure and probable bearing contamination.
Practical diagnostics⢠include manual inspection for radial/axial playâ by⣠moving the drum by hand, listening with âa mechanic’s stethoscope atâ the bearing housing while ârotating the âdrumand visually â˘inspecting the seal lipsâ for cracking or extrusion.Remove belts and rotate the basket to isolate bearingâ noise from drive andâ motor sources; measure any lateral runout of the tub âto determine if bearing displacement âis present. Confirming the OEM â¤part number 279264 against the appliance parts list â¤ensures compatibility before replacement; because bearings and âseals wear as⣠a âŁunit, replacing â¤both components with the matchedâ kit minimizes the⤠risk âof recurrent failure.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Rumbling /⢠Grinding | Worn or pitted âbearing races; âdiagnose by speedâdependent noiseâ and rough feel â˘when rotating drum by hand. |
| Vibration / Wobble | Axial or radial bearing play;â check â˘lateral movement and basket runout to confirm bearing displacement. |
| Leaksâ / Grease âŁcontamination | Seal⤠lip failure allowing grease out and water in; inspect â˘seal condition and surrounding corrosion on â¤bearing surfaces. |
Replacement âConsiderations,â Model Compatibilityand StepâbyâStep Installation procedure âfor âthe 279264â Kit
279264 âWhirlpoolâ Bearing & âSeal Kit âcontains âthe bearings and lip seals that âsupport the washer â˘inner tubâ on the drive âshaft and maintain âthe⤠barrierâ between⢠the âwetâ tubâ and the gearbox/drive â˘area.⤠The⢠bearings carry radial and limited axial loads âfrom âthe spinning tub; progressive wear produces increased radial play, noise (grinding or rumbling),⤠and unevenâ load that can accelerate seal failure. The seals in the kit keep âwaterâ and⣠detergents out⢠of â˘the bearing bore and keep gearbox lubricants âŁfrom migrating into the tub. Because fitâ and âsealing depend on shaft diameter, hub/bore geometryand the press-fit mounting âmethod, always verify the appliance model tag and⢠measure⣠boreâ and shaft geometry âbefore assuming interchangeability-the 279264 Whirlpool âBearing & âSeal Kit âfits specific Whirlpool family models and mounting styles, not⤠every Whirlpool-era washer âdesign.
- Verify model⣠number against âOEM parts list and â¤confirm â¤shaft diameter and bearing outer/inner diameter before ordering.
- Gather tools: bearing puller orâ hydraulic press,sealâ driverâ set,torque⣠wrench,snap-ring⤠pliers (if âŁapplicable),andâ cleaning â¤solvents.
- Inspect⢠tub-to-housing contact surfaces âŁand shaft runout; replace âthe tub âor shaft if⤠corrosion â˘or scoring prevents aâ clean seal orâ properâ bearing seating.
- Plan for â˘proper â˘seal â˘orientation (seal lip faces the fluid to be excluded) and use recommended lubricant whenâ pressing⣠seals âto⤠avoid dry start damage.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Model verification | Cross-reference appliance model tag âwith OEM parts â¤list; dimension-checkâ shaft⣠and housing before installation. |
| Criticalâ inspection | Measure shaft â˘runout and inspect bore for⤠corrosion; âŁreplace âŁdamaged components that prevent a leak-tight â˘seal. |
| Service reference | Follow OEM service manualâ for torque â¤specs,⤠lubrication⢠typeand âŁreassembly sequence. |
Typical installation sequence begins with electrical isolation,â water⤠disconnectionand removal of the agitator/inner tub accessories toâ access the bearing housing. Support⣠the tub and remove the pulley,motor and⣠transmission components âas required by the model,then⣠remove the old bearings and â˘seals with a puller or press; apply axial force only âto the âbearing race being pressed to avoid⢠race damage. Clean and deburr the housing âbore,check the⣠fit usingâ the bearing O.D. and seal I.D., âandâ pressâ the new bearings squarelyâ to the specifiedâ seating depth; installâ seals â˘with âthe⣠sealing lips oriented toward the⣠fluid to be â¤excluded and use a seal driver that contacts âthe outer â˘diameter⢠to avoid deforming the⤠lip. Reassemble using OEM fastener âtorque values, check shaft axial and âradial play against service limits,⢠run theâ washer thru a âspin cycleand inspect â¤for abnormal âŁnoise or leakage before returningâ the appliance to service.
Q&A
Whatâ is included in âa 279264 Whirlpool Bearing & âSeal Kit?
Contents vary by seller, but a⢠typical 279264 âkit includes âoneâ orâ two tub bearings, one tub⤠seal (or⤠shaft seal),⢠retaining clips or snap rings, âand⣠sometimes a bearing sleeve or spacer.Some kits include â¤a small â˘packet of grease;â others⢠do not. Always check the parts list from the supplier before starting the repair.
What symptoms âŁindicate I need to replace the bearings âand seal?
Common signs are⤠loud rumbling or grinding noises during â˘spin, excessive wobbling or vibration of the⤠washer drum, visible water⣠leaking fromâ the bottom âof the cabinetand⤠grease or water⢠in the detergent area or around â˘the tub bolts.⤠If you hear ânoise during⢠spin âand see a â¤leak, bearings andâ the tubâ seal are a âlikely cause.
how do âI confirm the 279264 kit is compatible with â¤my Whirlpool washer?
Locate â˘the â˘washerâ model number (usually on the door frame, behind the âlidor â¤on the backâ of the âmachine).â Cross-reference âthat model number with the part compatibility â˘list from âWhirlpool or âa reputable parts supplier. Doâ not⢠rely solely on brand name-many Whirlpool parts are â¤used in⤠Kenmore, â˘maytagand other âŁmakes, but models â˘differ.
Is replacing the bearings âŁand âseal a DIY job and what tools âare needed?
Itâ can be a âDIY job for someone with mechanical skills and the right tools. Typical âtools: socket⤠set,⢠screwdrivers, hammer, punch, bearing puller âor âslide hammer, seal/bearing driver⢠or press, snap-ring pliers,â and possibly a pulley âpuller. A shop press âmakes bearing âŁreplacement easier and safer. expect several hours for⤠the job if â˘you’re unfamiliar-if you lack âtools or⣠experience,⢠consider a technician.
Should â˘I replace both bearings âŁand the âŁseal simultaneously occurring?
Yes. When bearings show wear they often have contaminated grease that will compromise a new seal; conversely, a failed seal âallows water to reach⢠bearings. Replacing both bearings and the seal together âensures a⣠proper repair and âlonger⢠service life.
Which direction âŁshould⤠the seal be installed and does it need lubrication?
Radial âŁshaft seals generally have a springed⤠lip; the springed⣠sideâ should faceâ the water/tub side (the âcavity being sealed). âLightly lubricate the⢠seal âlip and shaft with a â¤thin film of suitable high-temperature â¤bearing grease or clean silicon-based lubricant to prevent dry running â¤during⣠initial operation.⤠Do not over-greaseâ the exterior-follow the seal manufacturer’s guidance if provided.
How⢠long should the new⢠bearings and seal last,⢠and what causes premature⣠failure?
With normal use and proper installation, bearings and âseals can last many years (often 5-15 years âŁdependingâ on usage).Premature failure is commonly caused by water intrusion (failed seal), overloading the washer, unbalanced âloads,⤠worn â¤suspension âŁcomponents, âor improper installation (misalignment, damaged races,â or⣠using incorrect parts).
Where canâ I buy⢠a genuine 279264 kit and is there âŁa warranty?
You âcanâ purchase âthe 279264 kit from authorized Whirlpool parts â˘dealers,major appliance parts âwebsites,and âsome local appliance distributors. Confirm you are buying an OEM or â˘high-quality aftermarket kit. Warranty coverage⢠varies: OEM â˘parts often⢠carry a â˘limited manufacturerâ warranty (check the paperwork), âwhileâ self-reliant sellers mayâ offer their own return âŁor warranty policy-keep âreceipts and part numbers for any claims.
Key Takeaways
The 279264 Whirlpool Bearing & Seal Kit playsâ aâ central role in maintaining â˘the mechanical integrity⤠of compatible Whirlpool â¤laundry appliances. By supporting the drum,⣠reducing friction and⣠vibrationand preserving theâ seal between moving components, theâ kit helps prevent excessive âŁwear, noiseand water leakage. Properly functioning bearingsâ and seals âcontributeâ directlyâ to appliance efficiency,⢠operational stabilityand⢠service life, making the kit an⢠vital component⤠in âroutine maintenance and repair.
Accurate diagnosisâ and timely⢠replacement are⢠essential to realize the⤠kit’sâ benefits⣠and avoid secondary damage.Confirming bearing or seal âfailure through inspection and symptom⤠assessment ensures that âŁreplacement is necessary and⣠targeted. Whenâ replacement is required, following manufacturer guidance or employing a qualified technicianâ helps⢠ensure⤠correct part selection, proper installationand safe operation.⤠Taken together,â careful diagnosisâ and appropriate replacementâ minimize⣠downtime, reduce the risk of further component damageandâ help maintain reliable appliance performance.
Professional Appliance Service
If your appliance requires professional diagnosis or repair, visit
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Replacement parts for many appliance models can also be found at
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