Clothes dryer - repair or replace ?

I am trying to decide whether to replace or repair a dryer.

It is making a squeaky noise when running. It does run, just very squeaky noise, and the noise is not consistent, it may squeak for a minute then quiet for 2 seconds.

MAYTAG MODEL MDE8506AYW SERIAL 13560639UU

It was manufactured in 1998, so 17 years old.
I am not familiar with dryer repair, but since it doesn't really seem to have that many parts, I took the dryer apart to look. I was looking at all the moving parts.
There is a round "felt" on top and bottom of the drum, they look fine, at least not torn apart, so I didn't touch those.
I removed the drum and saw two wheels, and one wheel spinned freely but the other made some noise, so I sprayed some WD40 to the metal "pin" in the middle and it seems to spin much better.
So I reassembled the dryer sat it back up right, plugged it in and turned on the dryer, and no more squeaky noises...
UNTIL a day later and it came back. Not sure what the problem is. Do I replace the wheels, or should I just get a new dryer since it's 17 years old?
Here are some pictures I took of the inside of the dryer.













Should I repair or replace given the look and age of the dryer?

 

It's probably the belt & or the spring assembly that maintains the tension not the pulley. Replace the belt first..

 

And, remember, WD-40 is a water displacement product, not a lubricant. If the pulley has a viable bushing, then use a product like PB Blaster. In a hidden situation like this, where you don't want to go back for another 17 years, use their garage door lubricant. It seems to stick better. Of course if that, and replacing the belt doesn't fix it, there may be a new dryer in your future.

 

I looked at the belt it looks OK...not that I know anything about it but I didn't see any fray or deformation etc...I was looking for something that is metal rubbing against metal. Or should I replace all the rollers, pulley, spring, belt?

 

Replace the roller and axle.

Whirlpool 6-3129480 Dryer Drum Roller Axle - AppliancePartsPros.com

Whirlpool 12001541 Drum Support Roller - AppliancePartsPros.com

 

I still say replace the belt first. It could be stretched.

 

I would vote for belt as well. They are a wear item, relatively inexpensive, and, unlike older automotive belts, a visual inspection alone is not always sufficient.

 

Those belts are good or bad. Either it looks good or it's all cracked and needs to be replaced. The belts do not usually make noise. The two rollers in the back that the drum sits on are a usually source of noise as well as the pulley that is on the tensioner.

I'll defer to fairbanks..... I've changed plenty of drum rollers but not the actual axle.

I have removed the rollers, cleaned the axles with a light oil and then used some black lithium grease with good results. You want to go easy on the lubricant so that it doesn't run inside the barrel. As mentioned..... WD-40 is not a proper lubricant.... especially in this case.

 

Rollers and the idler pulley usually make the squeak noise. On Maytags look closely at idler pulley. Good dryer there and easy to work on

 

Thanks! I will replace the axle, roller (2) and the belt just to be on the safe side.

I need a snap ring plier to remove the rollers, do I need special tools to remove the axle?

 

Any chance it could be the belt tension pulley? Do I need to replace that too?

 

To me, it's just like a car. You replace the belt first. Then you replace the tensioner & the pulley.

 

Belt on dryer almost never the problem, Replace if cracked or split but belts hardly ever break. Usually all you need to do is take pulleys off axle and lube it. Unless you see wear on axle leave alone and usually just a wrench will take them off. Some dryers take a complete disassemble to replace axle, Can't remember if your does. Most squeaks from Maytags I have found are from idler pulley and I would replace it. Get a cheap pair of snap ring pliers from auto zone or someplace like that, Harbor freight also good place for them. 2 screwdrivers will do it also just more problem.

 

I called up a local appliance parts place and checked to see these items are in stock.

The guy asked me what problems I have on my dryer. I told him about the squeaky noises. He told me most times this is wearing of the guides causing metal to metal contact and I need to replace the guides.

So, the guides are the two blue color strips in my last picture on the first post right?

I really don't want to remove the dryer, take it apart, change one part, put it back together and see if it fixes it, and if it doesn't, try another part and repeat. So I might just replace all these:

Roller axles (2)
Drum support rollers (2)
Belt tension pulley
Belt
Guides (2)

Is that it? Anything else I might as well do while I am in there? I hope they don't add up to the cost of a new dryer LOL.

 

That's not the way I troubleshoot problems. Can you run it with the top off? That way you have a better chance locating the noise.

 

Been retired a couple of years but if I remember right there are 4 glides, 2 blue, 2 grey and in over 10 years I have replaced 1 set. Yours are riveted in and unless they are torn or worn out i would leave them alone. Not to expensive so if you want to get them to have if necessary. Ask if they are returnable as I don't think they will be needed.
If this was a GE I would say you will need all the front plastic slide parts.

 

OK I bought some parts - new rollers, axles, pulley etc...

and they arrived today.

Problem is the new axles still in bags, are rusted. Here is a pic.



At first I thought they were lubricant but they are not, the shafts are not wet and they have this brown spots all over and they look like corrosion to me.

Should I be concerned or no problems?

 

if just spots should be ok. look closely or pits where spots are.

 

I opened up the dryer.

Removed the rollers, the axles, the tension pulley.

Put on the new axles - by the way the old axles look better than the new somewhat rusted axles but I replaced them anyways. The nut behind the axle is hard to get off on the right side where there is no room for a socket wrench. Put on new rollers and the tension pulley.

There is a lot of lint inside the cabinet, I spent more time cleaning that up and it filled a two gallon bucket. I wonder if it means I have some leak in the duct.

One thing is, the new rollers come with two washers, one on the back and one in front. When I removed the old roller, it had the same black colored washer in the front, but a thin metal washer in the back.

I put it back together and no more squeaky noises, so hopefully it'll stay that way. I didn't lubricate or grease up any parts.

 

A lot of lint in dryer usually means a clogged vent to the outside, Clean vent from dryer to outside.