How to Fix Squeaking GE DCVH515EF0WW Dryer-Replace Drum Glides

How to Fix Squeaking GE DCVH515EF0WW Dryer
How to Fix Squeaking GE DCVH515EF0WW Dryer

My GE dryer was sounding like it had sand in it and I did research and found out there are plastic “wearing” bearings that wear out over time and must be replaced.  Often the dryer will make a squeaking sound when they wear out, although mine was not “squeaking.”  After doing some research, including watching the video here, I learned how easy it is to replace them.  Follow along if you are experiencing noise when your dryer runs to replace the drum guides.  Here’s a vide of the scraping sound my dryer was making:

How to Fix Squeaking GE DCVH515EF0WW Dryer-Replace Drum Glides

Parts Needed:

Tools Needed

How to determine your GE Dryer model: Open the door and look at the bottom right edge of the dryer’s opening:

dryer identification label
Open the dryer door and look at the bottom right corner for the label
Dryer Model Identification Label
Dryer Model Identification Label: Model DCVH515EF0WW

Step 1: Unplug your dryer.

If it is an electric dryer like mine you are dealing with 220V.  Regardless, make sure to unplug it before working it on so you don’t get electrocuted.

Unplug Dryer Before Working On It
Unplug Dryer Before Working On It

Step 2: Remove the 3 Phillips screws on the top edge of the back of the front bezel.

Dryer Top Back Molding Screw Location
Dryer Top Back Molding Screw Location

Once you have removed those three screws you can put your fingernails in the seam and slide the bezel toward the back of the dryer.

Top Back Molding Removed
Top Back Molding Removed

Set the bezel and the three screws aside.

Step 3: Remove the top two cover screws.

They are Phillips head screws:

Top Panel Screw Locations
Top Panel Screw Locations

Step 4: Remove the top panel.

Lift up the front edge of the top panel and slide the panel toward the front and remove the top panel.

Lift the front edge and slide the panel toward the front
Lift the front edge and slide the panel toward the front

Step 5: Disconnect the light, switch, and control panel wiring connectors.

Before you proceed you need to disconnect three wiring connectors.  One is a parallel computer-type ribbon cable for the controls, one is for the light, and the other is for the door light switch (the latter two have tabs you must lift in order to disconnect them):

Dryer Wiring Connector Locations
Dryer Wiring Connector Locations

I put one finger on the left side under the ribbon cable and the other on the right side of the black connector, wiggling the connector and pulling up to remove it:

Ribbon Wiring Connector Removal
Ribbon Wiring Connector Removal

The other two connectors are a similar style where you must lift up the “catch” and pull them apart as shown below:

Lift the tab to remove the connector
Lift the tab to remove the connector
Wiring Connector Disconnected
Wiring Connector Disconnected

Step 6: Remove the control panel.

Remove the two top control panel mounting screws:

Bezel Mounting Screw Locations
Bezel Mounting Screw Locations

Then lift the control panel up and off:

Lifting Control Panel Off
Lifting Control Panel Off

Set the control panel aside in a safe location.

Step 7: Loosen the lower front panel screws.

I found it easier to get at them by propping the front edge of the dryer up on my screwdriver case as you can see below.  Loosen, but do not remove, the lower front panel screws:

Lower Front Panel Screw Locations
Lower Front Panel Screw Locations

Step 8: Remove the upper front panel screws.

Remove the two Phillips screws from the upper front panel:

Upper Front Panel Screw Locations
Upper Front Panel Screw Locations

Once you have removed the upper front panel screws you will want to hold the front panel on to the dryer and swing shut the dryer door.

Step 9: Lift the front panel up and off the dryer.

Lift the front panel up and off the two lower screws that you loosened in Step 7.  Be careful because the door will want to swing open.

Front Panel Removed
Front Panel Removed

Step 10: Turn the front panel around and lean it against the dryer and locate the four drum glides.

The drum guides are shown by the arrows in the picture below:

Drum Glide Locations
Drum Glide Locations
Left Drum Glide Locations
Left Drum Glide Locations up close
Right Drum Glide Locations Up Close
Right Drum Glide Locations Up Close

Step 11: Remove the 4 worn-out drum glides.

You will want to be careful not to drop part of each drum glide down into the drum bearing frame if they are as worn as mine were because they will fall apart when you lift them up.  I took a pocket knife and slid it under each guide, while grabbing the right end with a needle nose pliers so I didn’t lose the end down in the plastic frame:

Old Drum Glide Removal
Old Drum Glide Removal
GE Model DCVH515EF0WW Dryer Old Drum Glide Removed
Old drum glide removed

Remove all 4 glides.  My glides were really worn out:

Worn Out Drum Glides
Worn Out Drum Glides

If you did not change the drum glides and the plastic frame that holds them has worn out, you will need to replace it as well.  That part can be purchased here: GE WE14M124 Top Bearing Assembly for Dryer

Step 12: Install 4 new drum glides.

Each drum glide location has a hook and a slot as seen below:

Ready to install a new drum glide
Ready to install a new drum glide

Step 12a: Insert the drum glide end with the hole in it into the “catch” slot and hook the hole on the catch:

Insert the end with the hole into the catch slot
Insert the end with the hole into the catch slot

Step 12b: Bow the drum glide with your fingers and insert the other end into the open slot:

Bow the glide and insert the other end
Bow the glide and insert the other end

The drum glide properly installed:

New drum glide installed
New drum glide installed

Repeat steps 12a and 12b for the other three drum glides.  This is what you should have once you have replaced all four glides:

Four new drum glides installed
Four new drum glides installed

Step 13: Reinstall the front panel on the dryer.

You will need to slip the two bottom “slots” on to the two screws you loosened in Step 7.

Reinstalling Front Panel
Reinstalling Front Panel

As you lean the top of the front panel towards the dryer you will need to move the wiring connectors out of the way so they don’t go into the drum and also you will need to lift the drum up so it slips on to the bearing assembly:

Lift Drum Up to Slide onto Bearing
Lift Drum Up to Slide on to Bearing

You will also need to line up the curved tab on each edge of the front panel with the notch on the sides of the dryer.  I needed to squeeze the sides of the dryer in to line it up (both sides are the same):

Line Up Curved Tab With Notch
Line Up Curved Tab With Notch

Here’s a picture of the front panel in place:

Dryer Drum On Bearing
Dryer Drum On Bearing

Reinstall the upper front panel screws:

Reinstall the upper front panel screws
Reinstall the upper front panel screws

Tighten the two lower front panel screws:

Tighten the two lower front panel screws
Tighten the two lower front panel screws

Step 14: Reconnect the light and door light switch electrical connectors.

These connectors only have one way they can go on and one has 3 wires and the other has 2 so you can’t get them mixed up:

Reconnect the light and light switch connectors
Reconnect the light and door light switch connectors

Step 15: Reinstall the control panel.

The control panel has a slot on the bottom edge that sits down over the metal lip on the dryer body as illustrated below:

Reinstalling Control Panel
Reinstalling Control Panel

Here the control panel is set back on to the body (arrows indicate where the control panel fits over the edge of the metal frame):

Control Panel Installed
Control Panel Installed

Reconnect the control panel ribbon cable.  The female side (on the dryer) has a notch that fits a piece that sticks out on the connector so it will only fit one way:

Reconnecting Control Panel Ribbon Cable
Reconnecting Control Panel Ribbon Cable
Reconnect the light and door switch connectors
Reconnect the light and door switch connectors

Reinstall the two screws into the left and right ends of the control panel:

Reinstall the 2 Control Panel Screws
Reinstall the 2 Control Panel Screws

Step 16: Reinstall the dryer top panel.

There are two “catches” that hook into the underneath side of the top metal panel (circled below).  Set the back edge of the top panel on the top of the dryer and slide it back, centering it on the top of the dryer, and once it locks in place you can set down the top.

Reinstalling the dryer top panel
Set the back edge down on the to and slide back to lock in place

Then reinstall the two long top panel screws:

Reinstall the two long top panel screws
Reinstall the two long top panel screws

Step 17: Reinstall the back molding.

Slide the back of the bezel in place and reinstall the three Phillips head screws:

Reinstalling the back top molding
Reinstalling the back top molding

Step 18: Plug it back in and enjoying clothes drying with no more squeaky dryer!

Amazon Associate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. The price of the item is the same whether it is an affiliate link or not. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to Share Your Repair readers. By using the affiliate links, you are helping support Share Your Repair, and I genuinely appreciate your support.

Tags from the story
, , , ,
Written By
More from John Mueller
How to Change Your Primary PayPal Email Address
If you want to change the primary email address associated with your...
Read More

3 Comments

  • Very informative with a complete and thorough explanation of how to make repairs. You did an excellent job demonstrating the step-by-step process to get my dryer back to life

  • You just saved me some serious money. Thank you so much! I tip my hat to you, sir.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *