Hello Wm11p owner. As I write this I have a Hotpoint WMS38 in bits all over the floor. The bearing is a sod to replace with not much of the machine not dismantled. This is the secod time I have done this, the first bearing went after only 15 months, the second replacement has lasted 30 months. The shaft on the drum got a good thrashing the first time but seems no worse this time. The two bearings and the seal are fairly easy to shift with a brass drift. However this time a piece this stops the tensioning spring (that fits in the drum shaft) from screwing up the seal has disintigrated and I don't know what it looks like so I'm stuck for now! It's not impossible but your best to to put the thing back together on the same day before you forget what you've done.
John the bodger, August 2006
