Kenmore Dryer: making noise

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your Kenmore dryer making unusual noises like squeaking, grinding, or thumping? These sounds often indicate mechanical issues such as worn drum support rollers, a damaged blower wheel, or foreign objects in the drum. Identifying the cause early can prevent further damage and costly repairs.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Kenmore Models

  • Drum support rollers and blower wheel failures are frequently d causes of noise in Kenmore dryers.

Possible Causes

Worn drum support rollers

How to Identify: Clunking, rumbling, or banging noise; wobble when spinning drum by hand; flat spots on rollers

Part: Drum support roller

Damaged blower wheel

How to Identify: Rumbling, vibrating, or loud noise from rear as air isn’t circulated properly; noise may persist after spin-down

Part: Blower wheel

Drive belt issues (frayed or broken)

How to Identify: Thumping, slapping, squealing; visible wear or fray on belt

Part: Drive belt

Idler pulley wear

How to Identify: High-pitched squealing or squeaking when starting or during run; pulley doesn’t spin freely manually

Part: Idler pulley

Foreign objects in drum

How to Identify: Rattling, clanking sounds; metal objects visible or found after inspection

Part: Drum interior

Worn drum bearings or glides

How to Identify: Grinding or persistent squealing; drum doesn’t rotate smoothly by hand

Part: Drum bearings / glides

DIY Solutions

Remove foreign objects and clean drum

Easy 10 minutes
Tools Needed: Flashlight
  1. Open dryer door and remove all clothes
  2. Inspect drum interior and under baffles for coins, buttons, etc.
  3. Remove foreign objects
  4. Run a short empty cycle to verify noise is gone
⚠️ Safety First: Disconnect power before crawling inside drum if needed

Check and level dryer

Easy 10 minutes
Tools Needed: Level, Wrench
  1. Place level on top of dryer to check balance
  2. Adjust leveling legs to ensure all four feet contact floor
  3. Tighten any lock nuts on legs
  4. Test noise levels during operation

Inspect drum support rollers and replace worn ones

Moderate 45-90 minutes
Tools Needed: Screwdrivers, Socket set, Work gloves
  1. Unplug dryer and access drum by removing panels
  2. Spin drum by hand and observe roller movement
  3. If rollers wobble or show flat spots, remove and replace rollers
  4. Reassemble dryer and test noise level
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure power is disconnected

Inspect and replace drive belt

Moderate 45-90 minutes
Tools Needed: Screwdrivers, Socket set
  1. Unplug dryer and remove access panel
  2. Inspect belt for fraying/cracks
  3. Remove worn belt and install replacement
  4. Reassemble and test
⚠️ Safety First: Power off before work

Professional Repairs

Blower wheel replacement

Estimated Cost: $80 - $200

Idler pulley replacement

Estimated Cost: $50 - $150

Drum bearing/glide replacement

Estimated Cost: $100 - $250

When to Call a Professional

Noise persists after DIY part replacements
Grinding or metal-on-metal sounds indicating wear beyond rollers/belt
Blower wheel or motor area issues difficult to access
Dryer still under warranty

Preventive Maintenance

  • Clean lint trap every load: Foreign object buildup and airflow issues
    Frequency: every use
  • Inspect drum rollers annually: Roller wear leading to noise
    Frequency: annually
  • Check belt condition annually: Belt wear causing squeaks/thumping
    Frequency: annually

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Kenmore Dryer making noise?
Common causes include worn drum support rollers, damaged blower wheel, and foreign objects in the drum.
How do I fix Kenmore Dryer making noise myself?
Check for foreign objects, inspect and level the dryer, and replace worn drum support rollers or drive belts.
How much does it cost to fix making noise?
Professional repair costs range from $50 for idler pulley replacement to $250 for drum bearing or glide replacement.
When should I call a technician for making noise?
If the noise persists after DIY fixes or involves complex components, it's best to consult a technician.

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

100%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: DIY

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Misaligned belt causing friction (1 mentions)
  • Foreign object in the drum (1 mentions)
  • Worn or damaged rear rollers (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Check rollers, blower wheel, idler pulley, and realign the belt.

    Success rate: 20.0%

  2. Remove foreign object from the drum.

    Success rate: 20.0%

  3. Check the rear rollers for wear and damage.

    Success rate: 20.0%
Analysis based on 4 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Sounds like a problem with the dryer. Thoughts on fixing thi...
  2. Dryer noise Kenmore dryer 87673100
  3. Just got this used Kenmore, of course the dryer wasn't makin...
  4. Dryer making funny sounds - help?

Community Discussions

Hitting noise

Check the rear rollers for wear and damage.

DIY View on Reddit →

making increasingly louder thump and squeal sounds

A small object was found in the drum, which was likely causing the noise.

DIY View on Reddit →

sounds off, misaligned belt causing friction and noise

Check rollers, blower wheel, idler pulley, and realign the belt.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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