Model #WL26CW2

Hi,

I have been working on this but cannot solve it!

For months the machine has had a worsening out of balance problem needing constant adjustments moving the clothes to get through a load, which can take 1.5-2 hours.

I did some research and the consensus is change the suspension rods. I did and no difference. I then changed the bands that attach to the drum. No difference. I removed the inner drum to be sure nothing was caught between the inner and outer drum. Nothing. I pressure washed the accumulated crud off of it and weighed it. It's 24 lbs. 3 oz. just like Fisher Paykel told me it should be. I reassembled everything and wiggled it and felt about 1/4" total movement at the top of the drum. Fisher Paykel says they don't have a spec for how much play the bearing can have, but a tech there claims in his 20 years in repair, he has only changed one bearing on these machines.

I ran the machine with a light load and the lid off. I can see the inner drum moving around from the bearing play, but it's not much. The suspension rods jump up and down as the out of balance gets violent. There was water leaking which is supposedly from the bearing seal, but it could be the pump or hose connection too. (?)

On the one hand the bearing being bad makes sense, but it doesn't seem so bad to get so violent.

How can I get a good diagnosis on this without guessing at more parts?

Thank you!