The fix that I described in my post above, dated 10/14/18 is still working perfectly after 2-1/2 years. Our Kenmore , purchased 18 years ago in 2003, is still purring like a kitten, just like it did when it was new. It made a loud rapping sound during spin cycles for 10 years before I figured out how to fix it, so no permanent damage was done. Note that I also separately “leveled” my machine, but that term is a gross misnomer, at best. What is really important is making sure that all four legs are pressing on the ground with about the same force. I call that “balancing” the machine. Here’s how to do that, with the machine not running: (1) Stand in front of the machine and try to rock it back and forth by pushing it digonally, say from the left front leg towards the back left leg. Note the amount of rocking you get. (2) Perform the same test on the other diagonal direction. If there’s more rocking in this direction, lengthen the front left leg adjustment a turn or so. If there’s more rocking in Step(1)...

My 15 year old Kenmore Elite HE3t was making a knocking noise during the spin cycle. So I took the lower front panel off (three screws) and taped down the safety switch on the right (Idiots, please don’t do this). When I ran the machine and got the knocking sound during the spin cycle, I pushed (with a stick of wood) on the outer tub (which does not spin), and the knock went away completely. I didn’t have to push hard. I presume that there is backlash (looseness) in one of the tub supports, or perhaps the tub is hitting the frame somewhere. Whatever, it’s been stable for a number of years now. So to fix it, I put a small spring from the top of the left front damper to an existing hole in the cabinet front. That solved the problem. The spring keeps the backlash from banging. Been working fine for a month now. I didn’t even have to move the machine to fix it.

I took the lower front panel off and taped down the safety switch on the right. When I ran the machine and got the knocking sound during the spin cycle, I pushed (with a stick of wood) on the outer tub (which does not spin), and the knock went away completely. I didn’t have to push hard. So I put a small spring from the top of the left front damper to an existing hole in the cabinet front, and that solved the problem. I presume that there is backlash (looseness) in one of the tub support somewhere, and the spring keeps the backlash from banging. Been working fine now for a month.