Next time someone complains about the price of VW parts...

[Nuje]

Point them to this rubber gasket (maybe 1⅛" outer diameter, less than 1mm thick) for a Whirlpool (or Maytag, Kenmore, Kitchenaid - all the same thing) dishwasher. Put a stupid price in your mind....then look at the actual price either at the link above; or below the image.

(This is what $42USD will buy you from Whirlpool.)

I'll never complain about a $8 M12x1.5 100mm long 12.9 grade corrosion-resistant bolt again.

Feel free to chime in with your replacement part pricing horror stories.

 

[03TDICommuter]

Wow, that is stupid expensive. Is it metal and rubber?

 

[privateTDIjet]

North America lives to consume. If this was africa, they wouldve found a way to seal it using mud and voodoo magic

 

[P2B]

Mercury outboard carb needles. Viton tipped, $92+tax each. My 30HP needs 3.

Found them on Aliexpress, 10 for $3.50 shipped. They have lasted 3 seasons so far.

 

[oilhammer]

Funny you mention Whirlpool.... I have one of the original Maytag Neptune washing machines, and the dryer. Bought them brand new in 1998, they were NOT cheap. Washer was $1100, electric dryer was $800. But I wanted something that I knew would last. And, they have. Despite having dealt with two special needs children that wet/soiled things constantly, these machines lasted through all that, often doing five to TEN loads EVERY SINGLE DAY, no joke.

They outlasted my children, but still soldier on. Eventually, couple years ago, the washer developed a bearing noise. If you are familiar with big front loaders, the main drum rides on one big giant bearing, similar to a sealed wheel bearing on a car. And mine was starting to make noise.

I called an appliance repair place, and they showed up (after I had confirmed that they did "service all makes and models") and took one look and said, no, they cannot get parts for something that old. But agreed that it was a well built machine, and anything I buy new would not last as long (duh, already knew that).

So of course, 30 seconds later I was able to find the parts myself, because they were too lazy. And two hours after the parts arrived, I had the bearing and seals replaced (I've never worked on a washing machine in my life).

BUT.... the bearing seal kit was $78. Which I thought was pretty cheap, considering. So I guess it's all how you look at it. Genuine Whirlpool/Maytag parts, delivered to my door. And my $1100 27 year old washing machine soldiers on.

 

[noob_tl]

Point them to this rubber gasket (maybe 1⅛" outer diameter, less than 1mm thick) for a Whirlpool (or Maytag, Kenmore, Kitchenaid - all the same thing) dishwasher.

That looks like a garden hose washer. I think I'd be getting creative at that price point!

 

[Nuje]

Wow, that is stupid expensive. Is it metal and rubber?

Nope - basically like if you took the inner tube out of your wheelbarrow and punched out that shape.

 

[Nuje]

That looks like a garden hose washer. I think I'd be getting creative at that price point!

Oh yeah, definitely.
Turns out, it was just the plastic nut that holds the level float in place that had worked itself loose over the years - simply tightened that nut, ran a couple short cycles with no leaks, so I think we're good.. If I did need to replace that gasket/washer, I was gonna take a look at the assortment of inner tubes in the garage and like you said....get creative, and send that Whirlpool one back (wanted to have it on hand just in case those little nubs protruding into the center hole are essential design features and not easily mimicked).

That dishwasher also has a VW hose clamp holding the drain hose on, due to the original slipping off after a couple years, proceeding to soak the underside of our newly installed bamboo flooring. 14yrs later, it's still doing its job.

 

[burpod]

Oh yeah, definitely.
Turns out, it was just the plastic nut that holds the level float in place that had worked itself loose over the years - simply tightened that nut, ran a couple short cycles with no leaks, so I think we're good.. If I did need to replace that gasket/washer, I was gonna take a look at the assortment of inner tubes in the garage and like you said....get creative, and send that Whirlpool one back (wanted to have it on hand just in case those little nubs protruding into the center hole are essential design features and not easily mimicked).

That dishwasher also has a VW hose clamp holding the drain hose on, due to the original slipping off after a couple years, proceeding to soak the underside of our newly installed bamboo flooring. 14yrs later, it's still doing its job.

uh oh... water on bamboo flooring aint usually good!!!

 

[P2B]

That dishwasher also has a VW hose clamp holding the drain hose on

I find it best to use at least one VW bit when fixing anything

 

[03Golfer]

I find it best to use at least one VW bit when fixing anything

If I ever sell my dirt bike I'm sure the next owner will be cursing my liberal use of T30 torx for all the short M6 hardware

 

[Lug_Nut]

A simple search using the manufacturer's part number (WP8531743) produces a listing of multiple suppliers starting from under $20.
The increase due to shipping costs, currency conversion, shipping time would have me grab the sissors and the blown out garden tractor tube I saved for just such gasket making purpose.

 

[02NBTDI]

How about a refrigerator crisper drawer metal slide bracket that cost 55 dollars... (SAD)

 

[Nuje]

A simple search using the manufacturer's part number (WP8531743) produces a listing of multiple suppliers starting from under $20.

Yeah - I looked at a couple of those places, but even shipping to an address in the US was $12 minimum, so $30 total. And they didn't even offer shipping to Canada, so.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ .