Laundry Is Unbalanced

• GE washing machines are usually noisiest when they enter the spin cycle. During the spin cycle, the drum rotates at high rates of speed to release excess water from laundry items. It's possible that the laundry became distributed unevenly inside the machine during the wash cycle, causing the drum, in turn, to spin unevenly and produce a thumping sound. If you hear these sounds, stop the washing machine and redistribute the laundry inside.
  
  

Overloaded Machine

• Putting too many items in your washing machine at one time or washing larger items, such as a quilt, can cause your washing machine to occasionally make excessive noise. Laundry can get trapped around the agitator and will hamper its movement, causing it to work harder to spin. Stop the wash cycle and remove the excess laundry on top. Take big, bulky items to a laundromat or drycleaners to wash in an industrial machine equipped to handle such items. A washing machine is more effective at cleaning laundry when water and suds can surround the clothes and penetrate fabrics.
  
  

Defective Balancing System

• GE washing machines have a balancing system that includes counterweights, springs and pistons that help to evenly distribute weight inside the wash tub. If any of the system's components break, it can interfere with the drum's rotation. Rather than spin evenly in the machine, the drum might be imbalanced up or down and produce a knocking sound. The noise might become louder and more persistent each time you do a wash load until you replace the faulty component.
  
  

Washing Machine Not on Level Surface

• Place your washing machine on a flat surface, preferably a concrete slab. If the floor underneath the washing machine is sloped, even the slightest bit, it can cause the machine to vibrate when it spins and agitates. Place both hands on either side of the washing machine and try to move it. If the machine moves, then adjust its feet at each of the bottom four corners of the machine by tightening or loosening the bolts with a wrench until the machine is level on all four sides.