My partner was doing the washing using out Hotpoint WMA20 machine when it started making loads of "banging" noise then it tripped the house fuse. I reset the fuse and tried again but the same problem occured. I opened the front door and the drum didnt look right (it didnt seem to be sitting in the right position.
I unplugged the machine and took off the lid, I had read to look for leaks at the back of the machine which could signify the bearings gone. On inspection there was no sign of this. Then I noticed the problem, the spring holding the drum on the left (as you look from the front straight down through the top) had snapped! I have searched everywhere for one half of the spring but cant seeem to see it anywhere.

My question is will me just replacing this broken spring fix the problem or is it likly to have an underlying problem like the bearings also. I have seen front and rear springs for sale but the two springs are left and right so how do I know which ones to purchase.

Hope you guys can help.

Tom, November 2009