How to Change a Bearing on a Front-Loading Dryer

Disconnect the dryer from the electrical outlet in the utility room wall.

Insert a narrow metal putty knife into the front seam of the dryer, just beneath the top panel. Move the knife along the seam to the left or right until the knife hits one of the two clips holding the top of the dryer to the front of the cabinet.

Press the putty knife against the front of the clip until it releases the dryer top from the cabinet. Repeat with the remaining clip at the other end of the seam.

Lift open the top and let it rest against the wall behind the dryer. Release the front panel from the sides of the cabinet by removing the screws from the top of the front corners.

Pull the front panel away from the cabinet. Lay the panel against the cabinet to avoid disconnecting the door switch wires.

Reach beneath the dryer’s drum to locate the idler pulley. The pulley is located in front of, or near, the dryer motor. The dryer drum belt wraps around the drum, the idler pulley and the motor.

Push on the idler pulley to release the tension on the belt. Depending on the dryer model, you release the tension by pulling the idler pulley away from the drum or pushing the pulley toward it. Pull the belt off the motor and idler pulleys.

Lift the dryer drum from the rear drum bearing. Use the drum belt as a handle to help pull the drum from the bearing and out of the dryer.

Remove one of the screws on the bracket that holds the rear drum support bearing. Swivel the bearing from the bracket. Since you have only removed one screw, the bearing is still attached to one side of the bracket. Replace the screw you removed from the bracket.

Take out the other screw in the bracket. Carefully lift the bearing from the bracket, so you do not lose the ball bearing inside. Pop the ball bearing from inside the rear drum support bearing and set the ball bearing aside.

Apply high-temperature grease to the small hole in the rear of the dryer cabinet where the rear support bearing was installed. Apply additional grease to the small hole in the back of the replacement rear support bearing. Pop the ball bearing into the small hole in the support bearing.

Slide the rear support bearing into the side of the bracket that does not hold a screw. Thread the screw you originally removed from the bracket through the hole in the bracket and the new support bearing. Tighten the screw.

Remove the screw on the opposite side of the bracket. Push the other side of the rear drum support bearing into the bracket, and then replace the screw. Apply enough high-temperature grease to fill the U-shaped cavity in the rear drum support bearing.

Remove the three center screws from inside the dryer drum. This releases the drum shaft from the rear of the dryer drum. Install the replacement drum shaft with the screws you originally removed.

Reinstall the dryer drum inside the dryer cabinet. Ensure that you insert the new shaft into the new rear drum support bearing.

Wrap the drum belt back around the motor and the idler pulley. Rotate the drum clockwise by hand to ensure the belt centers on the drum and it rotates freely.

Complete the reassembly of the dryer by reversing the steps you used to take the dryer apart.