Product review (5 stars): Perfect five-year maintenance kit
Our 8-year old Whirlpool 29in dryer had been howling and squealing for the last six months, on and off. It finally got to the point where a large load caused the drum to jam and the belt burned through and broke.

I did a bit of Internet browsing and this kit turned up at the least cost. Figuring that the cost of the kit was a fraction of a replacement dryer, I decided to purchase it. Arrived within the promised time-frame.

The kit actually is better than the original design, especially the tensioner pulley. The original fitted at the factory was a semicircular tension plate with a section of low-friction plastic, which had worn through, fallen off and the belt was up against the metal surface. This is what was causing the howling noise.

The kit also has the four triangular nylon washers that hold the support wheels in place and a new non-slip washer for the left-hand support bracket (shown in the instructions).

It took a small adjustable wrench, a pair of long-nose pliers and a cross-head screwdriver to take the machine apart. Nice and simple. The instructions just don't show to pull UP on the front to get it off though- I bent the brackets (which went back to shape with a thump from a piece of wood, so no harm done) trying to pull it towards me.

The instructions don't show it but the bearings are plain, and there is no instruction for any kind of lubricant. I applied a bit of grease to the bearing shafts as they showed signs of wear. They originally had some on as I cleaned the wadded up hair (yuk) out of the bearing shaft I got my fingers covered in old grease. I applied some general purpose grease to all the bearing surfaces for good measure. The wheels spun freely after that, whereas the old ones were hard to turn.

Putting the belt on required laying on the floor and reaching down inside (no beautiful assistant available) whilst supporting the drum and holding the tensioner back. Not particularly easy but the routing is simple. I found putting the drum on the rollers and THEN putting the belt on to be the easiest method, rather than stringing the belt around the motor pulley and tensioner and then trying to get it round the drum.

Assembly was reverse of removal. Put it all back together, plugged it in and turned it on.

Checked again that it was actually running, as the air conditioner was running and I couldn't hear it.

Recommended. Spent an hour in total taking it apart, cleaning it out and refitting it, and came out richer as I found over four dollars in change in the bottom of the machine!

Hoping it lasts another 5-8 years of hard use.