Our Electric Maytag dryer is about 12 years old. Model #LDE7304ACE
Here is a run down of what happened.
The dryer made a thunking noise every time it started and slowed down, but it ran fine and dried fine.
Diagnosis on other sites said blower wheel needed replacing.
Bought blower wheel and before I had a chance to install it, the dryer started making a terrible squealing, screeching noise. At first it was only part of the time. Then full time. I unplugged it and opened it up and it was clogged with a lot of lint everywhere. I cleaned it out and looked up the squeal problem.
Diagnosis said idler pulley.

So... Bought the idler pulley, drum glides, rear rollers and new belt and installed them all along with the new blower wheel. Everything seemed to spin much more smoothly. Used Silicone spray on the moving parts. I cleaned out the whole cabinet and put the thing back together. When we started it up the darn squeal was still there, as loud as ever. Went back in, and tested the motor without the drum and belt in place. It still make a grinding noise on start-up and also squeaks some, even without the weight/resistance of the belt and drum. Coil heats fine. Blower is spinning. Any ideas on what's next? Hate to invest in all the parts and all the time just to junk it now.
Thanks.

Screetching has to do with too much friction. Blindly going with "that's the problem" is a waste of time and money as you found out. You need to look at "What CAN be the problem" and then check out those components individually.

Some places that can be the problem:

1) motor bearings
2) Drum bearings
3) Drum rollers
4) Fan bearings
5) Fan motor bearings
6) Any idlers

That's a lot of stuff.

The first think I would have done is cleaned everything thouroghly and would have inspected what I could for friction. Next I would have done a load on AIR and hopefully the dryer would have squeeked and I'd try to identify where that noise was.

If I could not identify, I'd wait for it to finish and then feel for hot spots.

If that didn't work, I'd try lubercating possible parts one at a time until it didn't squeek.

The identified part might be able to be cleaned with WD-40 and/or dissassembled. It's only when lubercation fails in the long run or there is obvious friction and mechanical wear do those parts need to be replaced.

Based on your replace everything approach, you seemed to have missed the motor bearings. I'll bet you will find that the shaft is difficult to turn by hand. WD-40 may or may not be able to clear it up.

Troubleshooting is a skill and so is being mechanically inclined.

Dear KISS,

While I appreciate the time you took to reply to my posting, there was no need to be condescending. If you refer back to my original letter you will see that the first thing I did was clean everything. And I did not blindly toss parts at the machine without checking the original parts for wear. Of course screeching is caused by friction, so I looked for the source before opening any parts and installing. The felt was torn, the glides had holes worn through, the blower fan hole was misshapen, the belt was frayed and cracked and the roller wheels did not roll freely. The only questionable replacement was the idler pulley wheel, but considering the wear on the other parts it seemed reasonable. Replacing all the above parts would improve the function of the machine whether it solved the squealing. I may not be a pro, but I am sure not a moron either. Yes, I ran it on air, yet couldn't find any hot spots.
I guess it's time to check the motor bearings, since all other bearings needed replacement.
Again, thank you for trying to help.

Giving advice is a skill and so is being gracious.

notapro:

I occaisionally ruffle feathers sometimes, unknowingly. It's a known quirk, among others. I'll be starting therapy soon, so hopefully I'll improve. Looks like you've just about restored the dryer.

KISS

Notapro;;; There is one item that I did not see that you checked :: I have brought this up many times as to the possible answer to your squelling, I know some have laughed at my answer ,but some have answered back (IT WORKED) What I you to try is ,is take some 3 in 1 oil and squirt acouple of drops in where your tub axels Or say front and tub carrier shafts, then try to see if the squeel is gone . Hope this solves your problem . I've ran across this on a lot of dryers. . :: Have a good day GOD BLESS ;; F.B.E.

Maytag gas dryer - makes buzzing noise when you hit start button, sometimes motor would start, when it didn't start you would smell something electrical burning, now when you hit start button it doesn't do anything no buzzing no motor start, unit is getting electricity, is it the motor, capacitor, or timer?