Thanks to some Samurai info - it Looks like there's been a...um... re-design... of the damper rod. Hmm - so I'm going to spend $30 per rod to fix their design problem. Thanks Samsung !
Being the Mechanical engineer/cheapskate that I am, I removed the rods and made a 3/4" spacer that goes under the lower spring retainer - preloading it, but not changing the spring rate. Looks like the rod design improvement also includes a heavier spring and a rubber damper collar.. Hmm.. Maybe a Chevy big block valve spring and some bike inner tube dampers?
Bottom line is that although my basket is now much harder to push down with the greater spring preload - it still gets out of balance at the start of the spin cycle.- and throws the "dc" code. If I run it in spin test mode, then it powers thru the imbalance - and spins just fine.
Debating whether to add my own rubber dampers to the springs - or just spend the $120 on new damper rods... Since I'm currently between jobs - I think it's time for another Scottish Engineering job !
CAN ANYONE TELL IF THE NEW & IMPROVED DC97-05280W DAMPER RODS ACTUALLY FIX THE "dc" ISSUE?
THANKS!!!