OEM vs Aftermarket Suspension Spring for Frigidaire: Honest Comparison (134144700)

You just watched your Frigidaire washer walk halfway across the laundry room during spin cycle. The machine's shaking so violently that you're worried it'll damage your floor. You've diagnosed it down to a broken suspension spring — now you're staring at two options online: a $49.99 aftermarket spring set or a $95–$110 OEM Frigidaire part. Let's cut through the marketing and figure out which one actually makes sense for your situation.

Quick Answer

For suspension springs, aftermarket wins for 95% of DIY repairs. You're getting identical spring tensile strength at half the OEM price. The only time OEM matters is if you're flipping appliances professionally and need the Frigidaire sticker for resale value. Otherwise, save your money — these springs handle the exact same load cycle after cycle.

Side-by-Side Comparison

When OEM Makes Sense

There are exactly three scenarios where paying double for the OEM spring is justified:

You're under manufacturer warranty. If your GLTF2070DS0 is still covered by Frigidaire's original warranty, using aftermarket parts voids coverage on related components. In that rare case, bite the bullet and order OEM so you don't lose protection on the transmission or motor.

You're repairing for resale. Appliance flippers know that "all OEM parts" adds $50–$75 to resale value when you can show receipts. If you're fixing a washer to sell on Craigslist next week, the OEM sticker might pay for itself.

You've had catastrophic aftermarket failures before. If you installed a truly garbage no-name spring that snapped in three months, I get the hesitation. But that's about vetting your supplier — established aftermarket brands like what we stock have failure rates identical to OEM.

When Aftermarket Wins

For everyone else — which is most people reading this — aftermarket is the smarter call.

The engineering is identical where it counts. Suspension springs are simple mechanical components. They need correct spring rate (tension), proper mounting hole diameter, and corrosion-resistant coating. The aftermarket 134144700 matches all three specs. There's no secret Frigidaire engineering here — it's a coil spring with rubber insulators.

You're fixing shaking and movement issues. The most common reason you're replacing this part is violent spin cycle shaking. Aftermarket springs solve that problem just as effectively because they're engineered to the same load specification. Your FTF530FS1 doesn't know the difference between a $50 spring and a $100 spring when it's spinning a wet towel load.

You actually get a better warranty. This trips people up. The aftermarket spring comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty versus Frigidaire's standard 90-day parts warranty. If you're worried about longevity, you're actually more protected with the cheaper part.

You're not waiting a week. OEM parts typically ship from regional Frigidaire distribution centers. If they're out of stock, you're looking at 7–10 days. Aftermarket suppliers keep high-turnover parts like 134144700 on hand because they fit 200+ models. You'll have it installed by this weekend instead of doing laundry at your mom's house for two weeks.

Our Verdict

Unless you're in the narrow warranty or resale scenarios above, the aftermarket suspension spring delivers identical performance at 53% of the OEM cost. This isn't a complex electronic board where firmware matters — it's a spring. Physics doesn't care about brand names. Save the $50 and put it toward the next repair, because if one spring failed, the others aren't far behind.

One practical tip: if your GLTF1670AS0 or GLTR1670FS1 is shaking, don't just replace the obviously broken spring. Replace all four at once. Suspension springs wear at similar rates, and you don't want to tear apart the cabinet again in six months when the next one snaps. Order two kits and do them all — the aftermarket pricing makes this actually affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will using an aftermarket spring void my Frigidaire warranty?

Only if you're still under the original manufacturer warranty. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act says manufacturers can't void warranties just for using aftermarket parts unless they can prove that specific part caused the failure. But if you're within the first year of ownership, safer to use OEM. After that, you're clear to use whatever parts make financial sense.

How long do aftermarket suspension springs typically last?

You're looking at 5–8 years under normal use, which matches OEM lifespan. Spring failure is usually about load cycles (how many times you run the washer) and whether you're overloading. If you're cramming 20 pounds in an 18-pound capacity machine, even OEM springs will fail early. Treat the aftermarket spring right and it'll outlast your patience with the washer's other quirks.

Can I mix OEM and aftermarket springs on the same washer?

Technically yes, but don't. Mixing spring rates creates unbalanced loads during spin cycle, which defeats the whole point of the repair. If you've got three OEM springs and one aftermarket, the machine might still shake because the tensions don't match perfectly. Either go all OEM or all aftermarket — consistency matters more than brand name here.