GE's own article for a front-loader that vibrates, shakes or moves lists four causes for the PFW950: an unbalanced load (pause the appliance, open the door and redistribute it; run a rinse and spin with no load to see whether the vibration is normal), a clogged drain pump (pet hair and loose items), shipping bolts and braces still in place (press down on the drum with the door open; if it will not move, the bolts have not been removed) and legs and leveling (all rubber legs must firmly touch the floor and be locked, with the legs as short as possible). GE says the washer is designed to move up to 1/4 in in a spin to reduce forces on the floor, which is normal on occasion.
Differential
Likely causes of “GE PFW950 front-load washer shakes, walks or bangs during spin”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Shipping bolts and braces not removed
What separates it There is severe vibration from the first use because the shipping bolts and braces were not removed
How to confirm Remove them as the installation instructions show, and then level the washer
- 2
Rubber legs not touching the floor or extended too far
What separates it There is rocking and heavy shaking because the rubber legs are not touching the floor or are extended too far
How to confirm Adjust so all legs touch and lock; keep them as short as possible
- 3
An unbalanced load
What separates it There is shaking in the spin because the load is unbalanced
How to confirm Pause, open the door and redistribute the load
- 4
A clogged drain pump
What separates it There is vibration with a slow drain because the drain pump is clogged
How to confirm Clean the pump filter, and then run a spin
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the washer moves more than 1/4 in
- Whether the drum will move when pressed with the door open
- Whether the legs are extended far out
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedCheck the drum
ReversibleOpen the door and press down on the drum; if it will not move, the shipping bolts are still in.
Level the washer
ReversiblePush and pull the back right and back left corners; adjust the rubber legs so all touch the floor and lock.
Shorten the legs
ReversibleShorten the legs, since the more the legs are extended, the shakier the washer is in the spin.
Test with no load
ReversibleTest with no load, by running a rinse and spin, and if it is normal the load was the cause.
Clean the pump filter, and then run a spin
ReversibleClean the pump filter, since loose items and pet hair can cause vibration, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Floor requirements
- GE's installation section says the floor must be a hard surface with a maximum slope of 1 inch per foot and that you may have to reinforce it so the washer does not vibrate or move; if the floor is in poor condition, use an impregnated plywood sheet solidly attached to the existing floor covering. The washer should not be installed on carpet, in an area exposed to dripping water or outside weather, or where it contacts curtains or drapes.
- The automatic redistribution
- During spin the washer rebalances the load sometimes to reduce vibrations, and when it does the estimated time increases. GE says the timer adds up to 3 minutes per rebalance and that 11 or 15 rebalances may be done, so a slow cycle with a bouncy drum can be the washer working correctly to settle a hard load before it reaches full speed.
- Parts for this problem on the PFW950 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-20)
- shock absorber, part number WH03X29516, at $28.18; add to cart damper gasket clamp front genuine oe, part number WH01X29612, at $7.91; add to cart shipping bolt genuine oem part # wh0, part number WH01X29641, at $9.73; leveling leg, part number WH01X29505, at $11.58.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models GFW655, GFW650, GFW550, GFW510, PFQ97, GTW840, GTW725, GTW720, GTW585, GTW525, GTW465, GTW335, GNW128.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the washer keeps moving after the bolts, legs and load are checked, schedule GE service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
GE's own support articles for front-load washers, each.
GE's own support articles for these symptoms.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-20.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my GE Profile washer shake?+
An unbalanced load, a clogged drain pump, shipping bolts or leveling.
How much can it move?+
GE says up to 1/4 in on occasion is normal.
How do I test the load?+
Run a rinse and spin with no load; if normal, the load was unbalanced.
What floor is needed?+
A hard floor with a slope of no more than 1 in per foot; reinforce it if needed.
Can I install on carpet?+
No, do not install it on carpet, since it makes the washer shakier.
Should the legs be long?+
No; keep them as short as possible.