Are your clothes coming out still dirty, or is the wash plate in your washer cracked and spinning loose? When the wash plate wears out, it cannot move your laundry through the water properly. Swapping it is a job you can handle at home.
The Whirlpool washer wash plate (part W10752283) is the large disk at the bottom of the tub that moves your clothes during the wash. Once it is cracked or stripped, a new one drops right in with a few basic tools.
In this guide you’ll learn:
- What the wash plate does and why it fails
- The tools you need first
- Simple safety steps
- How to remove the old wash plate and install a new one
What Is the Whirlpool Washer Wash Plate?
The wash plate sits at the bottom of the tub on many top-load washers. As the tub turns, the plate pushes your clothes through the water and detergent so they come clean.
Over time the splines that grip the drive can strip, or the plastic can crack. When that happens, the plate spins without moving your laundry, and clothes come out poorly washed. That is the sign it is time for a new wash plate.
What You’ll Need
- A replacement wash plate (part W10752283). Confirm it fits your model first.
- A flathead screwdriver
- A 7/16-inch socket wrench with a long extension
- Two hook tools
Note: Tools can vary by model. Check your owner’s manual for the exact fasteners on your machine.
Safety First
- Unplug the washer from the wall outlet before you start.
- Turn off the water supply at the valves behind the washer.
- Keep the work area dry and clear.
How to Replace the Wash Plate on Your Washer
Ready? Follow these steps in order.
- Unplug the washer and shut off the water supply.
- Open the lid to reach the center of the tub.
- Pry off the wash plate cap in the center with a flathead screwdriver.
- Loosen the center bolt. Attach the 7/16-inch socket with the long extension to the bolt and turn it counterclockwise. If it is stuck, it may take a few tries to break it loose.
- Hook the wash plate. Insert one end of a hook tool into an opening on the edge of the wash plate and the other end into the opposite opening.
- Lift out the old wash plate, wiggling it side to side if it does not come up easily.
- Drop in the new wash plate so the splines on the bottom line up with the splines on the drive shaft.
- Reinstall the center bolt and tighten it, then press the cap back on.
- Run a short test cycle to confirm the wash plate moves your laundry as it should.
Pro Tip: If the new plate will not seat flat, lift it back out and recheck that the splines are aligned. Forcing the bolt on a misaligned plate can strip it.
Also Read: How to Replace the Wash Plate Cap on Your Washer
When to Look a Little Deeper
If the wash plate is fine but the washer still will not agitate or spin, the belt may be worn, and our guide on a worn washer drive belt can help. While the machine is open, you may also want to check the lid, since a faulty lid can stop the washer from starting. Here is how to handle a washer lid assembly replacement.
For other common top-load issues, these easy fixes for a Whirlpool washer that will not drain are worth a look, and if the lid itself is damaged you can install a new lid on a Whirlpool top-load washer.
Wrapping Up
A fresh wash plate gets your laundry moving and your clothes clean again. Here’s the short version:
- Unplug the washer and shut off the water.
- Pry off the cap and remove the center bolt with a 7/16-inch socket.
- Hook out the old plate and drop in the new one, aligning the splines.
- Reinstall the bolt and cap, then run a test cycle.
Nice work. You just saved yourself a service call.