The dryer has a long, thin belt that goes around the drum and two pulleys. One pulley is for tension and the other is on the motor. With regular use, this belt can break over time. If the belt breaks, the drum won't turn. To check if the belt is broken, reach into the dryer and try to turn the drum by hand. If the drum spins very easily, the belt is probably broken. Look at the belt to confirm it is broken. If the belt is broken, you need to replace it. Replacing the belt will allow the drum to turn again.
Look at the idler pulley for the dryer drum belt. Make sure it can spin easily on the shaft. If the idler pulley is stuck, worn out, or damaged, you should replace it. When you replace the idler pulley, also put in a new belt for the drum drive. Replacing both together will help make sure your dryer runs properly.
Check the idler part to see if it's worn out. If the idler is worn or broken, you should replace the drive belt too when you replace the idler part. Replacing both together will help make sure the noise is fixed and doesn't come back.
The drive motor turns the drum and blower wheel to push out the air. First, see if the motor makes a humming noise. If it still hums, take off the belt from the motor. Then check that nothing is blocking the blower wheel. Next, with the belt off, try to turn the drum by hand. If the drum doesn't spin easily, find out what's stopping it from turning. If the drum spins freely and nothing blocks the blower, the drive motor may be bad. If you think the motor is the problem, replace it. That should fix your dryer.
The blower wheel in the dryer moves air through the drum. The motor that turns the blower wheel also runs the belt for the drum. So if the blower wheel gets blocked, it could stop the drum from turning too. Check the blower wheel and housing for anything blocking it. If you see an obstruction, replace the blower wheel or housing. Replacing the part will help get the drum turning again.
The drum bearing supports the back of the dryer drum. It can wear out over time. If it's worn, the dryer may make noise. To check, remove the belt and try turning the drum by hand. If the drum spins easily, the bearing is likely ok. But if the drum makes squeaking or grinding noises and is hard to turn, the bearing could be bad. Check the drum bearing and replace it if needed. That should fix any noises from a worn bearing.
Most dryers have two rollers in the back of the drum. Some also have two rollers in the front. The rollers need to spin easily to work right. If the rollers or axles are worn out, the drum can't turn properly. To check them, take off the belt and try turning the drum by hand. If the drum doesn't spin freely, the rollers or axles may be worn out. Look at the rollers and axles to see if any are worn. If one or more are worn, replace all the rollers at the same time to prevent future issues. You can reuse the axles if they're in good shape. Make sure to clean the axles before putting on the new rollers.
A dryer repair kit usually has a new belt, idler pulley, and may also contain rollers, a rear drum bearing, a felt seal, and other parts. A broken belt, bad idler pulley, and worn out rollers or bearings are the main reasons a dryer drum won't turn. So putting in a new maintenance kit should fix the problem of the drum not spinning. The kit replaces the parts that typically cause the drum to get stuck.
The blower wheel moves air through the dryer drum. If the blower wheel is damaged or loose on the motor shaft, it can make noise. Or if something is blocking the blower housing, that can also cause noises. Listen for scraping, rattling, or vibrating sounds. Check the blower wheel and housing and fix any issues you find. That should stop any rattling or vibrating noises coming from the blower.
Some dryers have a drum support bearing in the back. This bearing holds up the rear of the drum and lets it spin smoothly. If the bearing gets loose or breaks, the drum can move out of alignment. Clothes can get stuck and damaged between the drum edge and the front panel. To check the bearing, you'll need to take apart the dryer and remove the drum. Look closely at the bearing to see if it is worn out or broken. If it is damaged, the bearing will need to be replaced. Putting in a new support bearing will hold the drum in proper alignment. This prevents clothes from getting trapped and ripped.
The drum glides (also called slides) may be worn out. These are small plastic pieces that hold up the front of the drum. When the drum spins, it slides along on these plastic glides. After a lot of use, the glides can wear down. If the glides are worn, the dryer will often make loud noises. The drum can also drop lower, leaving a wider gap at the bottom. Clothes can get caught in this gap and damaged. To check the glides, inspect them closely for wear and tear. If one or more glides are worn, replace the whole set. Putting in new glides will stop the noise and keep the drum supported properly. This prevents clothes from getting trapped in a gap.
Check inside the drum for things that may have fallen out of pockets. Screws, nails, and coins often get left in pockets and can make noise if loose in the dryer. For scraping sounds, also look for items stuck between the front and back drum seals and bulkhead. Removing any loose items in the drum should stop noises from things rattling around.
Most dryers have two rollers in the back of the drum. Some also have two rollers in the front. The rollers need to spin easily to work right. If the rollers are worn out, the drum can't turn properly. To check the rollers, take off the belt and try turning the drum by hand. If the drum doesn't spin freely, the rollers may be worn out. Look at the rollers to see if any are worn. If one or more are worn, replace all the rollers at the same time to prevent future issues. You can reuse the roller shaft if it's in good shape. Make sure to clean the shaft before putting on the new rollers.
One or more of the drum roller axles may be worn out. Most dryers have two drum rollers in the back, and some also have two rollers in front. These rollers hold up the drum. Over time, the drum rollers and axles can wear out. This causes loud rumbling noises. It also makes the drum drop lower, leaving a wide gap at the bottom where clothes can get caught. To check the axles, take off the dryer belt. Then try spinning the drum by hand. If the drum doesn't turn easily, the rollers likely need replacing. Check if the rollers wobble or don't spin smoothly. If so, you should replace all the axles and rollers as prevention. New rollers and axles will stop the loud noise. They'll also keep the drum supported properly so clothes don't get damaged.
Check that the dryer is level. If a dryer is not level, it can put too much wear on parts like bearings and glides. This causes it to be noisy when running. If the dryer is not level, adjust the leveling legs as needed. This will prevent extra wear and noise from an unlevel dryer.