On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 07:33:58 -0800 (PST), jives11
wrote:

My washing machine is getting louder and louder on spin cycles with
some rattling as well. Me thinks after 8 years of hard work the
bearings are worn.

It could also be the attachment points of the spider to the drum,
these tend to develop stress cracks and are often not that easy to
repair.