Drum Felt Model 71622310 — What It Fixes and How to Replace It
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Understanding the Problem
What this part is: The drum felt (model 71622310) is the soft seal/liner that sits around the dryer drum edges (front and/or rear) and keeps the drum centered while preventing metal-on-metal contact. Over time it wears, compresses, frays or melts and causes noise, rubbing, hot spots or damaged clothes. Step-by-step diagnostic and repair steps: 1) SAFETY FIRST: Unplug the dryer or switch off the breaker. Work in a well-lit area and allow the dryer to cool if it was recently used. 2) Confirm the problem: Open the dryer door and manually rotate the drum. Listen for squeaks, rubbing or grinding. Inspect the drum edges visually for a thin fuzzy seal (felt) or missing/worn sections. Use a flashlight to check the front and rear drum lips for thin, shredded, or compressed felt. 3) Differentiate from rollers/bearings: Lift and push the drum laterally (in/out). If the drum moves several millimeters and you hear rubbing at the felt contact points, the felt is likely worn. If the drum wobbles and the rubbing is intermittent or comes from the wheel area, check rollers/axles and bearings as well. 4) Remove access panels: Depending on your dryer model (top-remove, front-remove or rear-access), remove the required panels to access the drum. Typical order: unplug, remove top (or front) panel screws, lift top, remove front panel and door seal if necessary. 5) Remove the drum: Release the belt from the idler and motor (note belt routing), slide the drum forward/back to clear rear bulkhead, and remove the drum. Place it on a clean surface. 6) Inspect felt and adjacent parts: With the drum out, inspect the felt ring(s) for gaps, shredding, compression, or burned spots. Also inspect the drum lip, bulkhead edge, rollers, shaft, and rear bearing for scoring that could wear new felt prematurely. 7) Replace the felt: Remove the old felt by pulling it off the drum lip or by removing any retaining clips/staples. Clean the drum lip and mating surface with a solvent-safe rag to remove residue. If the new felt uses adhesive, apply high-temperature adhesive as instructed; otherwise slide or clip the new felt onto the drum lip until fully seated. Ensure orientation is correct (pile direction toward the drum to reduce friction). 8) Reinstall drum and related parts: Reinstall drum into the cabinet, route belt, re-tension with idler, reconnect any sensors or harnesses, and reattach access panels. Replace any worn rollers, glides, or rear bearing if they were scored. 9) Test run: Plug in the dryer, run on an empty cycle and listen for noise. Check drum rotation for smoothness and confirm no rubbing. Recheck after a few loads. 10) Final checks and adjustments: If you still hear noise or see rubbing, re-check fitment and that the felt is fully seated and not trapped under the drum seam. Replace any additional worn support parts if needed. Safety note: Always disconnect power before working on the dryer. If you’re not comfortable disassembling the cabinet or if the drum bearing or bulkhead is badly damaged, consider professional repair—continuing to run a dryer with metal-on-metal contact can cause a fire hazard or damage the heater assembly.
Common Symptoms
Loud squeaking or rubbing noise during rotation, visible shredded/compressed felt around the drum edges, burning or hot spots on clothes, drum wobble or scraping sounds, and faster-than-normal wear on clothes near the drum edge.
Common Causes
- Normal wear and tear — felt compresses and fibers break down over years of use
- Heat damage from blocked venting or overheated cycles that melt or harden the felt
- Drum misalignment or worn rollers/bearings causing excessive friction at felt contact points
- Contaminants (oil or melted fabric softener) that degrade felt adhesive or fibers
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Helpful Repair Tip
To confirm the felt is the problem, remove the lint trap and with the dryer off, rotate the drum while shining a flashlight at the drum edge — if you see light or metal-to-metal contact or feel roughness where the felt should be, the felt needs replacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a dryer drum felt last?
Typical drum felt lasts several years (often 5–15) depending on usage, maintenance, and venting. Heavy use, poor venting, or damaged rollers can shorten its life. Inspect the felt whenever you have loud noises or rubbing symptoms.
Can I run my dryer with a damaged drum felt?
You can short-term, but it’s not recommended. Running with damaged or missing felt allows metal-on-metal contact that causes loud scraping, accelerates wear on the drum and bearings, can damage clothes, and may create hot spots that increase fire risk. Replace the felt promptly and fix any underlying alignment or roller issues.
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