The glass panel on a Samsung WA-series top load washer is bonded and framed inside a two-piece plastic bezel assembly. The outer bezel clips around the perimeter of the lid frame and the inner bezel is secured from below. The entire lid assembly, including the outer bezel, inner bezel, glass panel, and hinge attachment points, is sold as a single replacement unit under Samsung part numbers beginning with DC97. On most Samsung WA-series models, the lid attaches to the washer through two spring-loaded hinge assemblies, one on each side of the lid, with the hinge screws accessible from inside the open lid frame without removing the top cover of the washer.

Samsung lids on models manufactured after 2018 also include a soft-close dampener on one or both hinges, a small shock absorber that slows the lid as it closes. This dampener is a separate component that attaches to the hinge and must be transferred to the replacement lid before installation.

What Makes Up the Samsung Glass Lid Assembly

• Glass and outer bezel assembly: The tempered glass panel bonded into the outer plastic frame. Sold as the complete lid assembly including hinge attachment points. Samsung part numbers DC97-18845Q (white) and DC97-18845R (black metallic) cover many WA-series models.

• Inner bezel: A secondary plastic trim ring that snaps to the underside of the outer bezel and clips around the glass panel perimeter. It must be removed from the old lid and installed on the new lid during replacement.

• Hinge assembly: Two hinge units press into the side walls of the washer cabinet. The hinge arm connects to the lid at two screws on each side. Hinge arms stay with the washer and do not transfer to the new lid.

• Soft-close dampener: Present on many post-2018 WA-series models. A small cylindrical shock absorber clipped to the hinge arm. It must be transferred from the old lid hinge connection to the new lid before installation.

Common Reasons for Lid Replacement on Samsung Washers

Cracked Outer Bezel at the Hinge Attachment Points

The outer bezel on Samsung WA-series lids has a molded socket on each side where the hinge arm inserts. These sockets carry the full weight and momentum of the lid every time it is opened and closed. Repeated impact from the lid being dropped shut rather than guided down concentrates stress at the base of each socket. The first sign of failure is a hairline crack that runs perpendicular to the socket opening. Left unaddressed, the crack spreads into the socket wall until the hinge arm breaks through, and the lid begins to tilt or sag on one side.

Broken or Shattered Glass Panel

Samsung uses tempered safety glass in the WA-series lid window. Tempered glass shatters into small rounded fragments rather than sharp shards when broken. Common causes include tools or heavy objects dropped directly onto the glass, children climbing or standing on the lid, or the washer lid being closed while an object is resting on the glass panel. Once the glass is broken do not operate the washer. Fragments can fall into the drum during a cycle and damage the inner tub surface. Always wear work gloves and safety glasses when removing a broken Samsung lid.

Damaged Inner Bezel Preventing Proper Sealing

The inner bezel on Samsung lids creates a seal between the glass panel and the lid frame that reduces noise and prevents spray from reaching the underside of the lid during high-speed spin cycles. A cracked or deformed inner bezel allows vibration-driven noise and fine water mist to escape through the lid during operation. If the glass and outer bezel are intact but the lid rattles during spin or moisture appears on the exterior lid surface, the inner bezel may be the only part that requires attention.

Soft-Close Dampener Failure

When the soft-close dampener loses its resistance, the lid drops and closes with a sharp impact rather than a controlled descent. This impact is transmitted directly to the hinge socket in the outer bezel and is one of the leading causes of the bezel cracking at the hinge points on post-2018 Samsung WA-series models. Replacing the lid without replacing the dampener repeats the same failure pattern on the new assembly. Samsung dampener part numbers vary by model and are confirmed through the Samsung parts catalog.

Before You Begin

• Confirm the replacement part number: The model and serial number label on a Samsung WA-series top load washer is located on the back wall of the drum interior, visible when you open the lid. Enter the model number on the Samsung parts website (samsungparts.com) to confirm the correct DC97 part number for your specific production year.

• Check whether a soft-close dampener is present: Open the old lid fully and inspect the hinge arm on each side for a small cylindrical component clipped between the arm and the lid. If a dampener is present, it must be removed from the old hinge and attached to the new lid hinge seat before installation.

• Prepare the inner bezel for transfer: The inner bezel snaps off the old lid from the underside. Have a flat pry tool ready to release the snap tabs around the perimeter. This bezel must be transferred to the new lid.

Removing the Old Lid

Step 1: Open the Lid Fully

Open the glass lid to the fully upright position. This gives access to the hinge screws on both sides of the lid frame.

Step 2: Locate and Remove the Hinge Screws

Look at the right side of the lid frame where it connects to the washer cabinet. There are two screws at this connection point, one at the top of the hinge socket and one at the bottom. Use a Phillips head screwdriver or quarter inch nut driver to remove both screws. Repeat on the left side. Keep the four screws in a labeled container as they transfer to the new lid.

Step 3: Lift the Lid Off the Hinge Arms

With all four screws removed, lift the lid straight upward off the hinge arms. The hinge arms remain in the washer cabinet. If the lid resists, check that no screws remain in either hinge socket. Set the old lid face-down on a padded surface.

Step 4: Remove the Inner Bezel

With the old lid face-down, insert a thin flat pry tool into the gap between the inner bezel and the outer bezel at one corner. Work around the perimeter pressing each snap tab inward while lifting the inner bezel away. The inner bezel will separate from the outer bezel as each clip releases. Inspect the inner bezel for cracks. A cracked inner bezel should be replaced rather than transferred.

Step 5: Remove the Soft-Close Dampener if Present

If your model has a soft-close dampener, locate it at the hinge arm connection point on each side of the old lid. The dampener clips onto a post on the hinge seat. Pull it straight off the post. On some models a small screwdriver is needed to press the clip tab before the dampener releases. Transfer the dampener to the correct post position on the new lid hinge seat.

Installing the New Lid

Step 6: Attach the Inner Bezel to the New Lid

Align the inner bezel with the underside of the new lid, starting at the rear corners. Press each snap tab into its receptor slot around the perimeter until each one clicks. Once all tabs are engaged, press the full perimeter firmly with both hands to confirm none are partially seated.

Step 7: Attach the Soft-Close Dampener

Press the dampener onto the post on the new lid hinge seat on each side where a dampener was present. Push firmly until the clip engages.

Step 8: Position the New Lid Over the Hinge Arms

Carry the new lid assembly to the washer. Align the hinge sockets on both sides of the lid frame with the hinge arms protruding from the washer cabinet. Lower the lid onto both arms simultaneously.

Step 9: Install the Hinge Screws

While holding the lid in position, insert the hinge screws into the sockets on both sides. Start all four screws by hand before tightening any of them fully. Tighten each screw with the nut driver, alternating sides to keep the lid aligned evenly.

Step 10: Test the Lid Action and Lock Function

Open and close the lid several times to confirm smooth operation and controlled descent if a dampener is installed. Close the lid firmly and confirm the lid lock engages. Plug the washer in and run a short cycle to verify the lid lock sensor allows the spin cycle to proceed without a lid error.

Troubleshooting After Installation

Lid Sits Unevenly After Installation

If one side of the lid sits higher than the other after installation, one of the four hinge screws was tightened before the lid was fully seated on both arms simultaneously. Remove all four screws, lift the lid off both arms, reseat it squarely on both arms at the same time, and reinstall all screws starting from hand-tight and tightening in alternating side order.

Lid Lock Error Persists After New Lid Installed

The lid lock sensor on Samsung WA-series washers reads a magnet embedded in the lid frame. If the replacement lid was manufactured for a different production year and uses a different magnet position, the sensor may not detect the closed lid correctly. Confirm the DC97 part number of the installed lid matches the model number exactly. A part number mismatch is the most common cause of lid lock errors immediately after a Samsung lid replacement.

Soft-Close Function Lost After Replacement

If the lid now drops freely rather than descending with controlled resistance, the dampener was not transferred from the old lid or was not fully clipped onto the post on the new lid hinge seat. Remove the lid, inspect both hinge seat posts for the dampener, and confirm each is clipped fully onto its post with the clip tab engaged.