Hi Joel, a loud metal tumbling sound in a dryer is almost always something loose, and the good news is that it’s often a free fix. Here’s how I’d track it down.
Start with the easy stuff (unplug the dryer first)
- Look inside the drum. Coins, keys, screws, a bra underwire or a zipper pull are the usual suspects. Run your hand around the edges of the drum and the door opening.
- Pull out the lint screen and shine a flashlight down the slot. Coins and small metal bits love to fall in there. A shop vac or a long magnet will get them out.
- Check the fins (baffles) inside the drum that lift the clothes. If one is loose, it rattles and clanks with every turn. Wiggle each one. They’re held on with screws or clips and are cheap to tighten or replace.
- Turn the drum by hand. Listen and feel for scraping, thumping or a rough spot.
If it’s none of those
Then the noise is coming from parts that hold or drive the drum. On GE dryers, the usual ones are:
- Drum slides (glides): plastic pads at the front that the drum rides on. When they wear through, you get metal scraping on metal.
- Drum rollers at the back: a worn roller makes a thumping or rumbling noise.
- Idler pulley: this keeps tension on the belt. A bad one squeals or rattles.
- Sometimes an object gets between the drum and the cabinet, and the only way to it is to open the front.
These parts are usually $15–$60 each, and kits with all of them are common. If you hire a technician, plan on about $150–$280, depending on which parts it needs.
Try the four quick checks first. I’d bet good odds it’s a coin or a loose fin. If it’s not, tell me whether it sounds more like scraping, thumping or rattling, and I’ll point you to the right part.