If your Estate dryer is tearing or otherwise damaging clothes, the most likely causes are worn or loose parts that let the drum sag and catch fabric between the drum edge and the front bulkhead. Start by checking the rear drum support bearing for looseness or failure, since a bad bearing will misalign the drum. Next inspect the front drum glides or slides — worn glides let the drum drop and create a wider gap at the bottom where clothing gets trapped. Look over the drum assembly itself for sharp edges or cracks by shining a flashlight and running a cloth across the surface. Also inspect the lint filter cover for cracks that can snag fabric. Finally check the drum roller axles and rollers; worn rollers or bent axles make the drum wobble and increase the gap. You can remove the belt and turn the drum by hand to test rollers and bearings. When you know which part is worn, enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact replacement part for your dryer.
01 - Estate Dryer Drum Support Bearing
The drum support bearing is a component used on some dryer models to support the rear of the drum and allow the drum to rotate freely. If the bearing is loose or broken, the drum can become misaligned and damage clothing items that become trapped between the edge of the drum and the front bulkhead. You will need to disassemble the dryer and uninstall the drum to inspect the drum support bearing and to determine if it should be replaced.
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The drum glides (also called slides) might be worn out. The drum glides are small plastic pieces that support the front of the dryer drum. As the drum rotates, it slides on these plastic pieces. Over time, the drum glides wear out. If the drum glides are worn out, the dryer will usually make noise and the drum will drop down and have a wider gap at the bottom allowing clothes to get caught in the gap. To determine if the drum glides are worn out, inspect them for wear. If one or more glides are worn out, replace all of the glides as a set.
As the drum assembly rotates, the clothing could be catching on a damaged section of the drum resulting in tears or holes in the clothing. Inspect the inside of the drum with a flashlight and run a cloth across the surface to see if it catches on anything. If the drum assembly is damaged or has cracks, it should be replaced.
The filter cover holds the lint filter in place. If the filter cover is broken or damaged, clothes can get caught and tear on the cover. Inspect the filter. If the filter cover is cracked or damaged it will need to be replaced.
One or more of the drum roller axles might be worn out. Most dryers have two drum support rollers on the rear of the drum, and some dryers have two more rollers, supporting the front of the drum. Over time, the drum rollers and axles wear out, causing a loud rumbling noise and the drum to drop down and have a wider gap at the bottom allowing clothes to get caught in the gap. To determine if the drum roller axles are worn out, remove the belt from the dryer and try turning the drum by hand. If the drum does not rotate freely, check the support rollers for wear. If the rollers spin freely without wobbling, the axles do not n...eed to be replaced. If a roller wobbles and/or does not spin freely, we recommend replacing all of the axles and rollers as a preventative measure.
One or more of the drum rollers might be worn out. Many dryers have two drum support rollers on the rear of the drum, and some dryers have two more rollers supporting the front of the drum. When the drum rollers are worn out, they can cause the dryer to make a loud rumbling noise and if worn badly the drum will drop down and have a wider gap at the bottom allowing clothes to get caught in the gap. To determine if the rollers are worn out, inspect the rollers. If one or more of the rollers are severely worn, we recommend replacing all of the rollers at the same time as a preventative measure (The roller shaft can often be r...eused if it is in good condition. Clean the shaft thoroughly before installing the new rollers).