How to Diagnose and Fix a Noisy GE Dryer

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Fred's Appliance
April 20, 2020
Dryer Repair

Your GE dryer model DBXR463GBWW isn’t exactly quiet while it’s operating, however, there’s a difference between the everyday sound of your appliance working properly and an abnormal noise that indicates your dryer is malfunctioning. Oftentimes, the type of sound your dryer is emitting can help you pinpoint the failing part. If you’re hearing a rumbling sound, the blower wheel may be worn and loose, and a grinding or scraping noise can signal a problem with the dryer glides. Luckily, both parts are fairly easy to replace.

Dryer Repair Safety Tips

  • Before you start repairing your dryer, unplug it from the wall and turn off its gas supply.
  • You’ll encounter sharp objects as you disassemble and reassemble your dryer, which is why wearing work gloves and safety goggles is crucial to protecting your hands and eyes during the repair process.
  • If, at any point, you no longer feel comfortable continuing the repair, please stop what you’re doing and contact an experienced dryer repair technician to finish up the job.

Blower Wheel

The blower wheel in your dryer draws hot air into the appliance drum and out the exhaust vent. As your dryer ages, the blower can wear down, which causes the part to become loose on its shaft. When this happens, you’ll hear a rumbling or thumping noise near the bottom of your dryer.

How to Replace the Blower Wheel in Your GE Dryer

  1. Unthread the four screws that hold the dryer console onto the appliance. After the screws are out tilt the console forward to disengage its locking tabs, and then lift the part up and rest it on the back of the dryer.
  2. To remove the top panel, open the dryer door and take out the two screws that secure the front panel to the top panel. Next, pull the top panel towards you and lift it up and off the dryer.
  3. Now unthread the screws that hold the front panel to the dryer cabinet. Then, tilt the front panel forward until you gain access to the door switch harness, which is covered by a small metal shield. Swing the shield out of the way, and disconnect the wires running to the door switch. With the door switch wires detached, you can lift the front panel up and off the dryer cabinet.
  4. With the front and top panel removed you can take out the dryer drum. To do so, unthread the top two screws that hold the dryer cabinet to the dryer bulkhead. Once the screws are out, reach underneath the drum to remove the drive belt from the idler pulley. Then, stand-up and use the loose drive belt to help you guide the dryer drum out of the dryer cabinet.
  5. At this point, you’ve gained access to the damaged blower wheel. Before you can remove the wheel, you’ll need to unthread the screws securing the thermostat that sits on the blower wheel. Afterwards, place the thermostat on the floor of the dryer without disconnecting any wires.
  6. Next, remove the two screws that hold the blower wheel housing to the front of the dryer bulkhead. Then, move to the back of the drive motor and unthread the screws that secure it to the floor of the dryer. Once the screws are out, carefully pull the drive motor back to remove the blower wheel from its housing.
  7. Detach the blower wheel from the drive motor by unthreading the screw that secures the blower wheel clamp to the motor shaft. After the clamp is disengaged, slide the blower wheel of the motor shaft and remove the back half of the blower wheel clamp.
  8. Now that the old blower wheel is out of the way, you can grab the new wheel and start the installation process. To begin, you’ll need to slide the back half of the blower wheel clamp onto the drive motor shaft. Next, slip the blower wheel onto the shaft and install the front clamp to secure the part.
  9. It’s time to reassemble your dryer. Start by placing the blower wheel back into its housing, and then reinstall the drive motor to the floor of your dryer. Once the motor is secure, rethread the screws that attach the blower wheel housing to the dryer bulkhead. Finally, place the thermostat back on the side of the blower wheel, and rethread the screw that holds the part in place.
  10. Retrieve the dryer drum and carefully guide it back into the dryer cabinet. Make sure you line-up the shaft on the back of the drum with the cut out in the back of the dryer cabinet.
  11. Once the drum is in place, rethread the drive belt around the idler pulley and the motor shaft pulley. Then, reattach the screws that secure the dryer cabinet to the dryer bulkhead.
  12. Grab the front panel and line up the bottom of it with the bottom of the dryer cabinet, and then reconnect the wire harness that runs to the dryer door switch. Once the door switch and its wires are rejoined, finish replacing the dryer front panel by lifting it up all the way and securing it with the screws you took out earlier.
  13. Finish closing up your dryer cabinet by reattaching the top panel. To keep the panel in place, open up your dryer door and rethread the two screws that secure it to the cabinet.
  14. Flip over the dryer console, and line-up the three tabs on the bottom of the console with the three slots on the top panel. Then, push the console back until it clicks into place. Finally, secure the console by rethreading the screws you took out at the beginning of the repair.

Outer Drum Slide

The drum slides in your GE dryer supply the drum with support by providing a smooth surface for it to rotate on. Due to age and years of use, the slides in your dryer can wear down, and one of the first symptoms of failing slides is either a grinding or scraping noise. If you believe the slides in your dryer are damaged, you’ll need to replace them.

How to Replace the Drum Slides in Your GE Dryer

  1. Remove the screws that secure the dryer console to the dryer, and then lift the console up to free its bottom tabs from the top panel. Flip the console over the back of the dryer and allow it to safely rest there.
  2. Open the dryer drum and take out the screws holding the top panel to the front panel. Then, lift the panel off the dryer cabinet.
  3. Unthread the screws securing the front panel to the dryer cabinet. Once the screws are out, lift the panel up and off the front of the dryer cabinet. You do not need to disconnect the door switch wire harness, instead, lean the front panel against something sturdy, so it does not fall.
  4. On the back of the front panel around the drum slide bearing, you’ll spot the outer drum slides. Remove the damaged slides by pulling them out of their slots.
  5. Now throw the old drum slides away and grab the new slides. To install the new ones, simply insert them into the slots where the old ones sat.
  6. Reinstall the front panel to the dryer cabinet, securing it with the screws you removed. Then, reposition the top panel and open the dryer door to replace the screws that hold the panel in place. To finish up your repair, flip over the dryer console and reinstall it.

If your dryer’s blower wheel and drum slides are intact, and your dryer continues to emit odd noises, please contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you diagnose the malfunction.

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