How to Fix a Dryer Belt (in 3 Steps)

The dryer belt (sometimes called a drive belt) is one of the main components in your dryer that helps it to rotate around during a cycle. If it becomes defective or snaps, your dryer won’t be able to work properly or not at all.

In this guide, we will tell you how to locate the dryer belt, inspect it for damage, and if necessary, replace it.

Let’s get started.

Step 1 – Locate and remove the dryer belt

1. Start by making sure the power to the dryer is switched off.
2. Next, locate the screws that hold the top panel in place and then unthread them. The top panel should then be able to clip off.
3. Next, remove the control panel. You can do this by unthreading the screws that hold it in position and then moving it out slightly so you can disconnect the wire harnesses. You should then be able to take the control panel off.
4. Open the dryer door and locate the lint filter. Just below the filter should be a couple of screws that you need to remove. 
5. Next, unthread the screws that hold the front panel to the support piece and then remove the panel and disconnect the wire harness that is attached to the door switch component.
6. Disconnect the wire harness from the light bulb.
7. Next, unthread the screws that are connected to the support piece. This should allow you to then remove the support piece and place it out of the way.
8. Next, disconnect the wire harness from the harness restraints (but don’t fully remove them—you just need to get them out of the way).
9. Disconnect the wire harness from the sensor.
10.  Unthread the screws that hold the bulkhead in place and then remove the bulkhead from the dryer.
11. Inspect the belt for any signs of damage and if it is positioned in the middle of the drum. You also need to make sure it is connected properly to the idler pulley. 
12. If the belt can be realigned, you won’t need to replace the belt. However, if it is damaged, the belt will need to be replaced.
13. To remove the belt, start by taking the dryer belt off the idler pulley.
14.  Pull the drum out from the dryer and then remove the belt off it.
15.  You should now be able to install the new dryer belt (see below). 

Step 2 – Install a new dryer belt

1. To install a new dryer belt, you first need to place the new dryer belt around the drum (make sure the groove side of the belt is against the drum).
2. Next, put the dryer drum back into the drum, ensuring that it sits correctly on the drum rollers and is positioned correctly against the bulkhead.
3. Thread the new dryer belt through the idler pulley and motor pulley just like the old one was set up.
4. Check that you can turn the drum around without any obstruction and that the dryer belt goes through the pulleys correctly.
5. If the dryer belt is correctly installed, you can now put your dryer back together again.

Step 3 – Reassemble your dryer

1. To reassemble your dryer, start by reattaching the bulkhead. You can do this by placing it back into position and then securing it into place with the screws you removed earlier.
2. Reconnect the wire harness into the sensor and then reconnect the wire harnesses back into the harness restraints, followed by reconnecting the light bulb.
3. Next, place the support piece back into position and secure it into position with the screws you removed earlier.
4. Reconnect the wire harnesses into the control panel and then place the control panel back into position. You can now secure the control panel back into position with the screws you removed earlier.
5. Next, attach the front panel back onto the dryer and then secure it into position with the screws you removed earlier.
6. Rethread the screws back into place underneath the lint filter.
7. Place the top panel into position and secure it into position with the screws you removed earlier.
8. Your dryer should now be reassembled. The final step is to connect your dryer back up to the power and then test if the new dryer belt is working. If so, you can start using your dryer again!