Appliance Repair Wisdom for the Ages

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Field Notes: Frigidaire Dryer Front Drum Glide Replacement

If you have a Friggidaire dryer (also sold under the Kenwhore brand) that chews holes in your clothes, you probably need to replace the drum front upper felt glide kit. The picture below shows you what I'm talking about (click the picture for a larger view):

Frigidaire Front Drum Glide, Old and New

To light this candle, start by removing the front panel-- see my enlightening tome on Dryer Disassembly for instructions on this.

Next, use a stiff, sharp-edged putty knife to scrape off the old glide kit. Maybe sand it down a bit just to make a nice surface. Wipe off all the grotus and residue with a clean towel.

The kit comes with high-temp adhesive. Open the tube and slather that stuff on. Now, I'll share an old-timer's trick with you. Squeeze whatever glue you have left into a paper lunchbag then put it up to your nose and mouth and hyperventilate violently for several minutes until your vision starts to tunnel inward. Then hold your breath and wait for the special appliance trick to be revealed.

Ok, after you've awakened from your chemical slumber, slap on the new felt kit. Note the orientation: the overlap of the teflon pads should go toward the door panel. Clamp it for a minutes using the proprietary technique illustrated below:

Installing the New Drum Glide Kit

Note that this is a patented technique so, if you use it to install your glide kit, you must remit your royalty payment to the United Samurai Beer Fund.

Samurai Appliance Repair Man cast these pearls at 22:33 ET.  [permalink]

What's New at Fixitnow.com | |

19 Comments:

Although I pretty much diagnosed the problem on my own, and had already ordered the parts, I was glad to find this site to reinforce my diagnosis. The explanation and pictures were very helpful in the replacement process, and my dryer no longer sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard x1000.

I'll definitely be back to this site for future appliance repair tips.

Thanks Samurai Appliance Repair Guy!!!

By  Anonymous, at April 20, 2005 10:39 AM  

Hey, thanks for the comment! Glad to help, that's why we're here.

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at April 23, 2005 12:21 PM  

Great site. I used the patented technique and it was good. Now that I have successfully run a few loads though, I have submitted $10.00 to the beer fund. I'm hopeful the intent of the beer fund is as stated, and will not be used for food or other less useful items. Disassembly instructions for stacked units would be helpful.

By  Anonymous, at July 04, 2005 7:31 PM  

Glad you found the patented technique tasty and, oh, so expeditious.

Although it's called the United Samurai Beer Fund, the money actually goes to help pay increasing costs of running this website and the repair forum, not the least of which is the cost for my time when I could be out making REAL money by doing something useful like, oh, licking urinals at the Texaco, for ezzample.

I suppose I could have had a page that said something boring and pathetic like, "Please donate to this site," but, GAWD! could that BE any more boring? I think anyone who "gets" this website understands the real intention of the United Samurai Beer Fund. Thanks for your support!

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at July 04, 2005 7:48 PM  

I just did it and it was easy. Scraping off the old one was no problem (I used a paint scraper then some sandpaper. Just tried it out on some wet clothes and it seems good as new! Thanks for saving me the $700 I would have spent on a new dryer! (also it made me look good in front of my wife to be so handy)

By  xlycos, at April 02, 2006 1:27 PM  

Cool-- that's what it's all about, budrow!

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at April 02, 2006 4:27 PM  

Question, oh Great and Wonderous SARM. My Kenmore dryer also leaves small (2") burn streaks. Is it possible the BACK glide kit, or drum seal is at fault -- and how difficult is it to replace the rear glide kit/seal? The front one looks pretty good, but the back one is suspect.
Many thanks

By  Anonymous, at April 03, 2006 4:17 PM  

There's no glide kit in back but there is a felt seal. This can wear out creating gaps that are just the right size to pinch clothing. Easy to check, easy to fix, too. This page will help with that.

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at April 03, 2006 5:51 PM  

Well now that the dead can sleep peacefully down the street at the local cemetary with the squeaking gone from a felt guide and bearing replaced, the heating element appears not to be working. It comes on for about 2 minutes then goes off for the rest of the cycle. When the unit was opened I vac'ed all the fuzzy balls up, could I have shorted out an electronic component, all the wires appear still conected? This unit is about 6 years old and just put in $65 in parts, at what point should just shoot it and call it a day?

SS

By  Scott Sumner, at June 19, 2006 4:15 PM  

I'll bet my last warm Old Milwaukee that you inadvertently crushed the vent hose when you pushed the dry back into place. This is only thing that cause the heater to short-cycle like that. Recommended reading: The Ultimate Dryer Venting Guide.

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at June 20, 2006 9:17 AM  

I'm pretty sure that I need to replace the Glide Bearing/Seal Assembly part on my Whirlpool dryer, Model #LER7646EQ2. It's been ripping holes and leaving streaks on our clothes for months! My questions to you - do I need to also replace the 2 piece Split Bearing Support? I'm pretty sure I "ripped" a broken plastic piece out of there in my futile attempt to fix the stupid thing. I just don't want to order unneeded parts. Thanks for your help!

By  Dave, at July 05, 2006 7:56 PM  

I'd check those drum roller before replacing the teflon bearing. Loose drum rollers will create gaps in the drum as it tumbles, catching clothes. Also check that rear drum felt seal.

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at July 14, 2006 11:20 AM  

I removed the lower seal without noting the direction of the taper.

Does anyone recall if the tapered side of the lower drum seal faces towards or away from the drum?

Thanks!

Michael

By  Anonymous, at November 15, 2006 9:30 PM  

Figured it out... away from the drum.

I have to say that this was one satisfying fix. It's silent again, but it was also worth it just to clean out the inside ;-)

By  Anonymous, at November 15, 2006 11:16 PM  

I have replaced the upper glides and felt about a year ago. Now the center glide and the right glide are almost worn through and clothes are getting scorch or burn marks on them.
Should these wear out this fast? Is there more stuff that should be replaced?
Are the dryers with drum rollers instead of glides better? I have a wife and 4 daughters and this unit gets a lot of use.
Thanks

By  Anonymous, at December 30, 2006 3:35 PM  

Well, I got my Felt/Glides Assembly but everyone should know that you'll probably need the lower felt also which is separate. Step 4 of my instructions states the paint on the drum lip must be smooth with the paint intact. Mine is polished from the worn out felt but has no paint. What do you think? Score, prime, finish coaat or forget it?
And thanks for the site - I've repaired my washer, dishwasher, and now (hopefully) dryer.Donation on the way.

By  stephen, at October 31, 2007 2:51 AM  

Just thought I'd give everyone a warning: If you use the "old-timer's trick", you may wake up to discover your puppy was chewing on your newly purchased glide kit. It's better to wait until *after* you've completed the project to break out the paper bag & celebrate :)

By  jred, at March 30, 2008 10:51 PM  

Excellent instructions, although I fell forward onto the paperbag and it became attached to my face.

I am now drying in quiet bliss!

By  BeenThereDoneThat, at January 24, 2009 1:31 PM  

As usual, the honorable and wise samurai appliance repair man provided the pearls of proper fixin. Our Kenmore dryer is reassembled with just the right parts, and no longer munches on my wife's delicate clothes. She bows in respect for this grasshopper - back to you O sword swiping regent of repair! My deposit to the Beer (and website) fund forthwith!
PS To other, order the entire 'dryer maintenace kit' for this model - it had everything needed at less that the sum of items.

By  HooperPC, at May 15, 2009 7:27 AM  

Post a Comment