Direct answer
A new front-load washer that shakes violently from its first spin may still have rear shipping bolts or packing installed. Continued operation can damage the suspension.
What this covers
- Washing machines · installation
- The exact symptom in the title before component-level repair
- Consumer-accessible controls, connections and maintenance areas
What it does not cover
- ×Smoke, burning odor, swelling, liquid on powered parts or damaged wiring
- ×Opening sealed panels, bypassing interlocks or live-electrical testing
- ×Account ownership, billing or warranty disputes
Observe before changing anything
ReversibleCheck the installation record and compare the rear panel with the exact model’s unpacking diagram.
Isolate the failing boundary
ReversibleWith the washer off and empty, identify only the fasteners explicitly labeled as shipping hardware in the manual.
Apply the narrow correction
ReversibleHave the installer remove and retain all specified bolts, sleeves and blocks, then level the machine.
Verify the result and stop at the boundary
ReversibleStop using the washer until shipping hardware is removed; do not guess which rear bolts are structural.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Visible sources support the visible claims. Home Product Support records the publisher, the fact used and the review date; community reports can suggest an issue but do not become a published fact on their own.
Body reads 'the shipping bolts have not been removed' and gives the push-the-tub test plus the foam shipping block check.
Body reads 'the shipping bolts have not been removed' and gives the push-the-tub test plus the foam shipping block check.
Exact questions
Common follow-ups
What should I check first for “How can I tell if washer shipping bolts were left installed?”?+
Check the installation record and compare the rear panel with the exact model’s unpacking diagram.
How do I know whether the problem is external or inside the device?+
With the washer off and empty, identify only the fasteners explicitly labeled as shipping hardware in the manual.
When should I stop and request repair?+
Stop using the washer until shipping hardware is removed; do not guess which rear bolts are structural.
Answer for the exact device and software version shown above.